"Here they come! I read at least thirty capital ships, a dozen cruisers among them. They're releasing their fighters right now." The female voice announced.
"Copy. Let's close in and then let the big guy take out some cruisers. Fireball?"
"Got it, Top Sword. Let's put the pedal to the medal."
"Colt, blow away some of those pesky fighters."
"On it! Maverick-blasters and missiles engaging!"
Ramrod and the Star Sheriffs, along with the other ships of the Seventh Fleet which had been over Coruscant alongside them, had arrived not even a hour ago back in the New Frontier and were already back at the frontline, a system further neighboring the system Tombstone was located in.
Apparently the enemy had either not liked the result of the trial or wanted to use the distraction to his advantage. Or maybe even both as he had started a new offensive shortly after the end of the trial.
Spewing blaster fire from it's top canon and dozens of small guided missiles from the missile launchers besides the cockpit, Ramrod and his crew fought their way into the flank of the enemy fleet.
And then Saber Rider gave the signal and the spaceship transformed in it's huge mecha form.
Avoiding enemy fire and swatting enemy starfighters out of space like they were pesky flies, the Star Sheriffs raised the huge canons in the torso of the gigantic robot and blew the first kilometer long enemy cruiser apart.
The canons had to recharge for a moment so Ramrod was back at taking out flights of starfighters, while the Heir, the flagship of Prince Roland of the Kingdom of Jar, along with the ships that had already accompanied the Heir and Ramrod to Coruscant, steamed into the breach Ramrod had opened and exchanged broadsides with enemy capital ships.
Ramrod blew the next cruiser apart, it's full blast ripping the ship apart in it's middle and even destroying two frigates behind the larger warship.
Concentrated fire from the Heir destroyed a third cruiser.
But now the enemy began to react, whole wings of enemy starfighters took course towards the ships of the Seventh Fleet.
Dozens of snubs released hundreds of guided missiles and the point defense of the Heir couldn't fend off all of them. The shields barely held somehow but definitely wouldn't stand a second wave.
Even Ramrod was busy dodging missiles, partly making the best of the situation with flying as close as possible to the enemy capital ships while being chased by missiles, so that some hit the enemy ships or at least their shields.
Another wing of fighter bombers got ready for a bombing run on the Heir and formed up in a broad line when suddenly almost half of the three dozen ships exploded.
A pitch-black A-Wing with dark-grey stripes over it's frame rocketed right into the brawl between warships and starfighters.
"Howdy Guys, thought I pay back the support you gave me."
"If that isn't the Man that almost broke the Galaxy apart. Greetings SunTzu."
"Where do you guys need me, Saber Rider?"
"Keep the Heir out of trouble while we're taking care of the cruisers."
"Copy. Alright AICA, let's vaporize some Outriders."
While SunTzu destroyed the rest of the bomber wing, Ramrod tore further into the enemy formation.
After just a few minutes SunTzu and AICA switched from destroying bombers to hunting starfighters while more and more enemy capital ships fell victim to the Heir and Ramrod. Other ships of the Seventh now followed the example and moved from a defensive formation to an open offensive one.
The battle soon was over, the Star Sheriffs, Prince Roland and SunTzu had proven that violence of action not only worked with infantry and special forces on the ground but also in fleet battles.
The last Outrider capital ship tried to flee but was stopped by SunTzu with an EMP-Missile. He thanked his friends on the Far Side for rearming AICA with the best they had at their disposal and began to close in onto the ship, which was around 400 meters long.
"Don't get so close!" April warned him from inside Ramrod but it was already too late. AICA's quick reaction saved SunTzu's life as she put everything on the front deflectors in milliseconds as her sensors picked up an energy spike from the enemy's ship even before April had tried to warn them.
With a glaring light the frigate exploded after the forcefully stopped warship had activated it's self destruction mechanism as SunTzu had steered AICA closer to it.
SunTzu swung AICA immediately around as debris hit the A-Wing's shields.
"That was close." SunTzu said more to himself than to anybody else.
"Yeah." AICA replied.
April came in again. "You guys okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks to AICA." SunTzu answered.
"Rule number five, never close in onto a seemingly defeated Outrider ship, they vaporize themselves and go back to the Vapor Zone, you become stardust.
"Guess I just learned something new today." SunTzu replied dryly. "But this means we're done here. Anyone feels like dinner as well?
After having a meal with the Star Sheriffs inside Ramrod, SunTzu wanted to leave again, to go somewhere else to fight. The fear to put his friend's lives on the lines by being too long close to them was still there, lingering.
He was about to say his goodbyes but the Star Sheriffs weren't having it.
"We really could use your help here, repacifying this system." Saber Rider told him.
"Ah, it's the old I can't stay at one place too long thing. Don't worry partner, nothing will happen to us." Colt chimed in and then April took the word.
"Large parts of the Cavalry Fleet are crossing trough the system and will fly to the bordering sector in sublight speed. I don't think there's no way the enemy will bring a fleet big enough to endanger us here after that last defeat. Not undetected."
"And even then we can protect ourselves pretty well." Fireball stated.
Four pairs of eyes were laid onto SunTzu, who rolled his eyes, although more for show than out of real annoyance. The Earthling was actually pretty happy that someone insisted on having him around.
"Okay. Fine. I'll stay. But I hope you guys know that I mean no good luck."
"I think there are a few dozen ship crews thinking otherwise." April replied with a smug smile.
"You can have my room, I'll stay with April." Fireball said with a happy smile.
"I swear if you guys are too loud at night..." Colt remarked. "Owww!"
April had playfully hit his shoulder with her fist. "As if we would be louder than a snoring Cowboy!"
It was early morning on the planet Virginia and the inhabitants of the small village of Pinewood Creek were already busy working on their agricultural fields.
Suddenly the sound of Outrider Assault Fighter engines filled the valley the village was located in.
The common farmers only could watch on in shock as Outrider starfighter's rushed over their fields and opened fire on the village and some of the Outrider ships even opened fire on the ground a just few meters apart from the villagers on the fields.
The attack was typical for the Outriders, and was probably aimed to hector the villagers enough to extort food or other supplies from them.
Or maybe it was just a way of killing time for the sadistic attackers.
A few man of the village tried to defend their homes with blaster rifles, a really futile attempt regarding the well armed attackers, although the people still wouldn't give up their belongings without a fight.
It seemed that the village was lost as suddenly two of the Outrider's crafts exploded.
Like the tip of an arrow a black A-Wing rushed down from the sky and stopped just two meters short of the ground when he moved in behind another enemy fighter.
Short behind the A-Wing was another starfighter, one known well in the New Frontier, and Colt in his Bronco Buster didn't waste any time as well and blasted another Outrider and his ship out of the sky.
A valley further the other three Star Sheriffs thwarted another attack on a village as well, the other half of that Outrider contingent.
Saber Rider sliced right through Outriders and their equipment while Fireball blasted them out of the sky with his Red Fury Racer.
April was in Ramrod on standby, overlooking the counter attack, also ready to engage in minute's notice.
After a few minutes of heavy fighting it was over and both villages were saved.
AICA and the Bronco Buster were parked in front of a few cottages of the village and Colt, in his armor but without his helmet on, and SunTzu, dressed in his flight suit, pilot helmet under his arm were talking with the Mayor and the Sheriff of the village.
A squad of medics was already on the way and because the fast and resolute intervention of Colt and SunTzu the situation was less worse than initially thought. A blaster wound, severe but not life threatening, was the worst injury.
Not long after the medics arrived inside a gunship and three minutes later the wounded were on their way to a field hospital.
SunTzu and Colt observed the professional work of the medics in front of their ships when Colt suddenly nudged SunTzu.
"Hey, see that girl over there?" He motioned towards a young brunette, maybe in her twenties, who was staring at SunTzu from across the street.
"I guess little Miss Farmstead has a thing for pilots in black. She's been staring at you since ever you left the cockpit. Might should go over and introduce yourself."
SunTzu looked at the girl and then glanced at Colt.
"Don't know. I'm not in a mood."
"Not in a mood? What happened to you? last time I saw you, you were quite the ladykiller. Did jail made you all chastely?"
"Nah. I'm just… you know how my last relationship ended."
"Yeah. Dayum. Sorry to bring it up."
"It's okay. Actually there's more to it, i have to admit as well. I think I might have fallen for someone."
"Really? I'm sure she must be one hell of a lady if you won't even talk to that fine girl over there."
"Oh, she… she's a goddess." SunTzu just replied and then put on his flight helmet again. "C'mon, let's get out of here and meet up with the others."
More and more Galactic Alliance Forces, mostly from the New Frontier's Cavalry, had landed on Virginia and after a small debriefing, the Star Sheriffs got back to patrolling.
While Ramrod and it's crew patrolled on Virginia, AICA took a long patrol on the flanks of the passing war ships heading into the next system.
SunTzu was back in the evening time the place the Star Sheriffs were on on the planet, AICA and him had even searched the asteroid fields but things seemed to be safe, at least in Space.
The situation was different on the planets though, the Star Sheriffs had fended off two more attacks and small skirmishes between Cavalry units and Outriders had been reported from all over the place.
At least the Star Sheriffs and their friend could get a few hours of sleep in as the combat ebbed down significantly in the night, possibly because the missing military infrastructure of the Outriders without their starships.
But the next day they were awoken early, two companies of Cavalrymen had run into what looked at least a battalion-sized element of Outriders.
The outriders were stretched out over a lush green valley with lots of vegetation, partly rocky hills and a river that also flew through a village.
The main target was to free the village from the Outrider's occupation. The other main target was the utter destruction of the enemy formation.
After a small briefing, it was decided that SunTzu would go, AICA accompanying him while the Star Sheriffs would stay on standby as QRF.
SunTzu wouldn't fly with AICA though, but rather stay on the ground and act as Forward Air Controller for Close Air Support, AICA would be along the craft in the air and to organize supplies and medical evacuations.
The first forward elements of the two companies were already in contact with the Outriders when AICA sat down on a clearing where the leadership of the Cavalrymen, a Major and a Captain had taken post.
At least two platoons of soldiers were around, getting ready to move out and join their comrades in combat.
To his absolute surprise, SunTzu noticed that the young soldiers, male, female, non-human and human, reacted to his arrival. When AICA lifted up again and SunTzu made his way to the two officers, they stood up in surprise when they saw him, looked at him in awe and notified their comrades about who just had arrived.
Some soldiers even stood at attention, without saluting of course as they were in combat, and not because he was an officer.
The name "SunTzu" was heard through the ranks of the ground based warriors.
When a young Corporal asked him to take a picture with him, it finally dawned on SunTzu. His arrival, his mere presence, had uplifted the moral of these fine young individuals.
Somehow, somewhen, he had become a symbol for the Forces. Not only for the snub jockeys and the simple guys and girls in the Fleet, but even out here, in the middle of nowhere, these bunch of warfighters knew him and appreciated his work in the Shadow War.
Maybe there are good sides to become the Personification of War… And If only if these boys and girls feel better going into combat.
He took a moment, posed for pics with some of the soldiers, shook hands, gave fist bumps and gave answers to questions.
He was asked how it felt to be free again and back at the front.
"Fucking great. Feels good to be back with some fine pipe hitters like you guys and fuck up the enemy's day."
This sparked quite some cheering although it ebbed down fast when a First Sergeant appeared and moved to the group around SunTzu.
"Shut it maggots! The Captain is needed with the company commanders. If you'd follow me, Sir."
"Sure thing, First Sergeant."
While walking up to the small command post the two company commanders had set up, the First Sergeant confirmed SunTzu that his presence here gave a lot to the young soldiers.
"I don't know if you know that, but at most of the military of the Alliance was on your side. Myself and the platoon included. If you ask me, you did the right thing and saved thousands of us."
The praises had humbled SunTzu down and he was a quite lost of words, so he decided that he would make up for it and not rest on his laurels.
The briefing was short as the mission objective was simple. And because the battle had already begun.
SunTzu needed five minutes with the two officers and then he was ready to step off.
"You're going with Forn-3. That's the platoon the First Sergeant that brought you here is part of.
SunTzu nodded with a half smile, the soldiers that had greeted him so enthusiastically.
Five more minutes later the platoon and their newly assigned JTAC were on the way into battle on the double.
It didn't took long before the platoon arrived at a place where a squad, that had been sent out for reconnaissance, was pinned down by the fire of a heavy repeating blaster, which was emplaced in a tree line across a forest clearing.
The squad had a heavily wounded and couldn't break the contact.
Immediately SunTzu got to work and checked in with AICA, who was on station a few hundred meters in the air, ready for some action.
Smoke grenades were tossed as distraction and for concealment and cover fire was laid down, while SunTzu briefed AICA.
"Okay, Darling, standby for a Nine Liner."
"Standing by, Warlord."
"270 Right, 9.1, 320. Heavy Repeater emplacement. 450 meters south into the valley, tree line behind a clearing. Concussion Missile. North, 250, infantry platoon in contact, Danger Close, I say again, Danger Close CAS Mission. Egress North. Advise when ready for Remark."
Twenty seconds later AICA came in again.
"Ready to copy remarks."
"Final attack heading 250-310"
"320, 450 meters south into valley, tree line behind a clearing, final attack heading 250-310."
"Inbound."
"Copy, Lasing."
"Spot."
"AICA, cleared hot."
"AICA, Rifle, one away."
"Incoming!" The First Sergeant yelled as SunTzu gave the fire order and some of the soldiers made themselves smaller while laying in cover.
Only SunTzu had been on his knees, using a small laser to mark the target for AICA.
The missile hit the huge repeater blaster dead center and whirled lots of smoke and debris around and the repeater immediately fell silent while the Cavalry soldiers began to loudly cheer.
"Good effect on target." SunTzu told AICA through the radio while the first two squads of the platoon began to cross the clearing, covering each other.
"Copy Warlord, AICA back on station." The AI replied and ascended into the skies again.
As soon as AICA had checked out, SunTzu checked in with the headquarters and gave another Nine Liner out for the evacuation of the wounded.
The fight for the Valley lasted until the early next morning and because of the air support of AICA and drones, that were scouting for the ground troops the GA Forces had a huge advantage.
Without the force multipliers in the sky the battle would probably had gone on for days and SunTzu had been on the ground all the time, doing what he had resolved to do.
When the battle was over the Captain of the Company Forn 3 was part of, thanked him personally with a handshake for the help.
Of course the soldiers did thank him too, the Sergeant even joked that he had filed a request for SunTzu being a permanent part of the platoon.
When SunTzu left the former contested valley in AICA he felt great, the crass opposite as when he had arrived, not knowing his worth to his comrades. The platoon had zero casualties and only minor injured. A small miracle given the heavy fighting that had occurred in the vally.
Nevertheless SunTzu was happy, when he was back in AICA. He was proud to have helped the boots on the ground as air controller but there was nothing better for a pilot than flying one owns ship.
The next days Ramrod, AICA, the Star Sheriffs and SunTzu were held back as Quick Reaction Force in case of larger fighting again. But that didn't meant much rest for SunTzu, as he trained a lot while on standby. Either with, or against Colt, in the sky and space, or with Saber Rider on the ground. The extraordinary swordsman and leader of the Star Sheriffs teached SunTzu a lot about sword fighting that was new to him and would come in very handy for fights where SunTzu would use his new purple-colored light saber. The light saber he had built and after his trial been gifted with from Grandmaster Luke Skywalker.
In just a few days Saber Rider had not only freshened up SunTzu's training but later also had become skilled enough to be able to properly fight with the weapon in combat. Nonetheless SunTzu knew he had to work, or rather train hard to become a skilled light saber fighter, somehow he knew that he would need that blade in the future.