Just a few days later, Taskforce Sol, now supplemented with a Jedi Healer, a scientist and an engineer as well as another two platoons for 3rd Batallion more as part of it, was back in space.
And a certain German starfighter ace was quite happy about it. Officially because they were back at fighting the good fight.
Unofficially SunTzu was happy that a certain someone wasn't more than six and a half thousand kilometers apart from him anymore. At max just a few hundred meters, at least in Hyperspace. Nonetheless it seemed that since ever they had danced together Setsuna had become unreachable at all for him though. She wouldn't even look at him at meetings or do any talk outside of the mandatorily one for duty with him.
It was one thing to give her space and time but being treated like that made SunTzu feel that there would never be a chance for him to be with her.
And it gave him an uneasy feeling of pain inside his chest. Being back on Earth had reminded him that he had anything a man could dream about but somehow he still felt empty, and not only because of the things he had seen and done, but also for that one thing he seemed to not be able to have, love.
His heart leaped whenever he saw Setsuna lately but It felt like she always had something to do and was busy when she spotted him, even if he was with the other Outers. More than once Michiru, when she had seen it firsthand, had told him to keep up and not be sad about Setsuna's behavior, she had her reasons but it didn't help much to bring SunTzu's spirits up.
After a particular harsh mentioning that she was busy after he had asked her if she would wanted to grab a cup of tea with him and Haruka, he decided to give it all a break and just focus on his duty as pilot and officer.
Two days after leaving it's home system, Taskforce Sol arrived at Bilbringi. From there they would escort a replenishment convoy into the Northern Wildspace to supply the combined forces from several Fleets who were defending the area from enemy forces, the enemy force was made up mainly from Domain Shai and the Vagaari. The area west of Ansion was still highly contested and battles took place almost every day.
The motivation on the ships was high, apart from the Rago Battalion there were enough veterans from the Fall of Rago onboard the three ships that wanted to get some revenge on the rogue Yuuzhan Vong Domain.
The Eternal was in the back of their convoy, while the Far Side lead the convoy.
The Voyager and AICA started from their mothership and overflew all the ships to make sure that the five ships they escorted, consisting of a middle-sized tanker, two ammo transports, a fleet tender and a hospital ship, in midst of them the Starstruck, were in line and ready to go.
"Looks all good to me. Hotaru, we land at the Far Side." Haruka came in, in the helmets of Hotaru and SunTzu who sat behind her in AICA.
SunTzu gave her the chance to get some flying time in AICA in but although he hadn't told her yet, after their stop in Ansion she would be left behind on the Eternal and even flying in a Y-Wing would only be done by her in an exceptional case. SunTzu still remembered well enough how the Vong almost had killed Michiru and Haruka over Rago. Matter fact, it was one of those things he still had nightmares of, back then it had been just too close and if he wouldn't have used AICA to get between the plasma shot and the Voyager his two friends would be dead now.
Just thinking about that, made a cold shiver run down his spine.
Not that he had to keep himself in check, he knew that all eyes, especially Cilghal's, would be on him, whenever the slightest sign of the Vong would come into view. Last time, at the Fall of Rago he wanted to use nuclear weapons against them, even accepting collateral damage. And on top there were enough voices in the Jedi Order who would have convicted him for genocide after he had triggered the destruction of the Linta System.
Nevertheless it was a pleasure to be back with the Taskforce and flying with his wingwomen again. And seeing the natural talent that Hotaru was in a cockpit.
It felt like that she never ever should have been somewhere else, SunTzu thought to himself as she let AICA touch down inside the central hangar of the Gladiator-Class, that once was their flagship. Her fingers flew over switches fast as lighting as she deactivated the A-Wing's engines, while her eyes were glued at the cockpit's monitors, as she already checked AICA's systems for an post-flight analysis.
SunTzu smiled as the raven-haired teenager began to speak with AICA about the system check. After a moment his gaze wandered to his left and fell onto the gunner station of the Voyager.
Head resting on her hand an equally content smiling Michiru glanced over to them. When she saw SunTzu looking over she lifted her head and formed a heart with her two hands, making both of them smile even more.
As the Taskforce and the quintet of ships it escorted jumped into Hyperspace a few moments later, on to the Stinton system near the frontlines, the four guardians left their ships and headed towards the mess hall.
A few hours later the small fleet arrived at Stinton.
Various flotillas of various size, some made up of just a few frigates, some being a Star Destroyer with support, others made out of various Star Destroyers and Cruisers, were scattered throughout the system. Quite a few of the ships showed signs of battle and all of them waited for supplies, be it propellant or ammunition, as the undamaged ships wanted to get back into the fight.
The four Guardians were back in their snubs and escorted the hospital ship, a former Mon Cala cruise ship turned into a mobile sick bay, towards a group of several ships. These ships, a corvette, two frigates and two cruisers, all had seen better days. Their hulls partially blackened, one of the frigates missing parts of it's superstructures and one of the cruisers, an assault cruiser of larger design, even had parts of it's hull missing, gave insight that these ships had taken heavy damage and more than probably had enough work on their boards for the staff of the hospital ship.
Meanwhile the other ships of the convoy maneuvered close to a planetoid in the system and positioned to give out their respective service to the ships of the fleet.
Soon after ships were getting replenished, shuttles carried wounded over to the hospital ship and the capital ships of the Taskforce formed up again.
Terra Squadron, the Voyager and AICA flew a formation of honor across the flotilla of battered ships as the ships released the coffins of their fallen crew members into the sun of the Stinton system.
There was absolute silence in all eight cockpits as the starfighters passed the ships and saw the streams of durasteel coffins head out from the capital ships towards the sun, reminding everyone watching how close death was lurking around them.
A few hours later, the starfighters had returned to their motherships SunTzu had been ordered onto the bridge.
He arrived and found Endymion and Artemis observing the planet of Stinton in the far distance.
SunTzu walked up to the two leaders of the Taskforce and both other men turned around.
"Ah SunTzu, good that you're here. We have a mission for you."
"Your Majesty, what you need me to do?"
"We are going to join a meeting of the government of Stinton and the local military command. You're going to join us, as both institutions want to meet you in person."
"Looks like my reputation precedes me."
"Don't worry, both sides want to meet some war heroes who can help in the creation of defensive planes for the system. I'm sure you can be of help."
"I'll do my best."
Six hours later, the Royal Shuttle, escorted by AICA and the Voyager, landed on the surface of Stinton.
Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion, accompanied by the Inners, were welcomed with military honors at the main space port of the Capital of the Planet, from the government of the system, the planet and the city, as well as the local military commanders.
The two starfighters landed as well and the two Outers and SunTzu joined the delegation from Earth, Michiru and Haruka in their Senshi forms and SunTzu in service uniform.
It was afternoon local time and after what could have been described as tea time, the lush choice of sweet pastry much to the Queen's liking, an informative meeting had been scheduled to introduce everyone involved officially again.
While Queen, King and the Senator, the two Outers and Sailor Venus acting as their guards, would confer with the goverment, Ami, Makoto and SunTzu would work together with the local military command on an update for their defensive plans.
The whole diplomatic and advisory mission was scheduled to last at least until the day after tomorrow.
Meanwhile Chibiusa, Hotaru and Setsuna had stayed on the Eternal. At least officially, because as soon as her parents had left the flagship the future leader of Crystal Tokyo had been secretly shuttled over to the Starstruck by her best friend to meet her boyfriend, proudly looking forward to see him in his new position as third in command of the warship.
Hotaru had landed the two-seater Y-Wing on the Starstruck and then stayed onboard the Corvette, which was patrolling the space in system.
Hotaru's mother had stayed on the Eternal and was working closely together with Cilghal to refine the effect of the Bacta wound gel both had been working on since the beginning of the Shadow War.
The next day was a day filled with work for both groups on the ground and apart from that, the Far Side had landed on the planet and the Rago Bataillon along with various squadrons of starfighters and bombers of the Taskforce was out on an exercise with a local regiment of infantry.
While the Neo Queen, her husband and the Senator of Sol debated about financial aid for the system, to help it keeping up it's military spendings as well as the spending to prepare the planet, it's economy and it's citizen for an attack and also how fast the system could be evacuated. Rei as part of the military board of the Galactic Senate spoke for the senate in military matters, as well as being also member of the committee responsible for it, the refugee and evacuation situation.
The military delegation, made up of Ami, Mako and SunTzu created new plans for the defense of the system. Strategical important locations on maps were surveyed, units and their combat performance assessed and orders for and of battle were developed.
It was late afternoon, the three Earthlings had donned their olive service dress uniform jackets off and were in shirts and loosened ties as most of the attending officers and were leaned over a large map of the sector, determining supply corridors and defensive positions for a pre-emptive defence of the system.
Suddenly the door to the room opened and an adjutant appeared and with fast steps walked up to the commanding officer, a General, and conveyed a message to his superior.
The General ordered to turn on a speaker.
The voice of a distressed sounding Captain of a ship came in.
"This is the Bria Tharen, transporting refugees of war, we're being chased by Yuuzhan Vong. We're requesting immediate support at our location."
The Captain repeated his plea for help while the attending officers began to chat with each other. The ships that were in system right now all had critical roles in the defense of the system and couldn't just jump into the next system to help the Bria Tharen.
Makoto, Ami and SunTzu looked at each other worried, the Eternal was posted over Stinton and the Starstruck was patrolling the system but without starfighter complements there wasn't much they could do. Performing a rescue mission needed time to get under the way in that moment.
Suddenly the communicator on SunTzu's Rolex became alive.
"SunTzu, did you hear it yet? There's a evacuee ship under attack in the bordering system."
"Copy, Hotaru. Where are you?"
"Still on patrol." AICA had left the planet again after SunTzu had landed there yesterday and was used by Hotaru for patrolling the system, after she and Chibiusa had come back from the Starstruck. The teenager continued.
"Listen, AICA and me can help. We could jump into Hyperspace right now."
"Too dangerous, we don't know what awaits us there. As far as I get it from here, they're assessing what they can send down here."
"I communicated with the Bria Tharen already, it's six Coralskippers and a probe ship closing in on them fast. We can handle that, the Tharen not. It's an unarmed transport ship. I calculate a 73 percent chance that we will win, because of Hotaru's pilot skills." AICA now chimed in to urge SunTzu to allow them to go.
Both pilots and the AI knew, that Artemis or other officers wouldn't allow them the dangerous rescue attempt. SunTzu thought about it for a second, the Bria Tharen only had a few minutes left before the Vong would destroy it. And anyone other than AICA and Hotaru who could respond would take longer than that.
"Fine, go. But promise me you guys will get back unharmed."
"Promise." Hotaru replied, her voice giving away her content that she was allowed to help the evacuees.
And then the raven-haired teenager's voice came in over the comms channel the Captain of the Bria Tharen was still pleading for help, but the joy had gave way for a serious tone.
"Bria Tharen, this is Mistress Nine, responding to your distress call. ETA sixty seconds."
SunTzu's face gave away his exertion as he looked at his watch, watching the seconds pass. A hand suddenly was laid around his shoulder.
"If anyone got it, it's her. I've seen this kid fly." Makoto said to ease SunTzu up.
"Yeah, I know. If someone kicks those Vong's asses it's Hotaru." And then SunTzu shot her a wry grin. "But if her mother finds out that I allowed her that mission I'm toast."
AICA feel out of hyperspace exactly where she had calculated she would and wanted to.
The first Coralskipper burst apart within seconds as stutter fire from AICA's cannons overwhelmed it's dovin basal.
The purple-colored organic ship hadn't even lost it's speed while Hotaru targeted the next of the Bria Tharen's pursuers.
With cold precision the Senshi of Death and Rebirth took out more than half of the Coralskippers chasing the middle-sized transport ship before the enemy could even react.
And when the first Yuuzhan Vong Pilot swung his ship around to maneuver behind the black A-Wing a grin formed on the teenager's mouth.
Not even ten minutes later it was over. Hotaru had first shot down all enemy starfighters and then used AICA's extensive assortment of missiles to blow the scout ship apart.
AICA's sensors told them that there weren't anymore nearby threats and the A-Wing and the ship full of refugees of war punched it and jumped into hyperspace.
Somehow having known, that Hotaru would have no problem saving the ship, after all she very probably would become such a great pilot that whe would surpass him and Haruka one day, still a lot of tenseness fell off from SunTzu after the evacuee ship and his starfighter appeared in the system with various ships, including the hospital ship they had escorted to Stinton, immediately taking course towards the Bria Tharen.
"Good work Firefly." SunTzu welcomed his protégé back but before Hotaru could answer another radio call come in over the tactical channel.
"Thanks… uhm, Mom's on the other channel, talk to you later."
Two minutes later a very sheepish sounding Hotaru had told SunTzu that she would head back to the Eternal asap, order from a higher-ranking officer. Of course SunTzu knew who that officer was. Matter fact, he was pretty sure that this certain officer, a Lieutenant Colonel, would give him a more than proper rundown for allowing Hotaru the risky rescue mission as well.
So much for making things better with Setsuna.
A few minutes later Haruka and Michiru appeared in the military command center and asked what had happened and how Hotaru had fared.
SunTzu told them what he knew and while Haruka was beaming with fatherly pride, Michiru shot SunTzu an sympathetic glance.
"You know Setsuna will kill you for allowing this mission, right?"
SunTzu answered with a slow nod of his head.
At noon ship time the next day, the delegations sent to Stinton were back onboard the Eternal.
Except for physical combat training, Hotaru had been grounded. SunTzu saw the scene for his inner eye, how Setsuna had told Artemis that Hotaru was out of flying duty, relegating on the age of her daughter with an icecold voice.
For a small moment, after Haruka had reminded him again that he was in so much trouble if Setsuna got his hands on him, SunTzu was weighing up just to flee into Hyperspace and hide at a remote place somewhere in the Galaxy but then discarded the idea. That woman could teleport to whichever place she wanted to be, there was no place safe from her and so, while Haruka's amused laughter was still coming in over their radio channel, SunTzu innerly began to prepare for the inevitable rundown.
He knew that it was coming but he wasn't expecting it to be that fast.
SunTzu hadn't even touched the hangar floor when an announcement was played over the ship's intercom, ordering Captain SunTzu to meet Lieutenant Colonel Meiou in her office.
SunTzu swallowed hard while Haruka fell into another fit of laughter.
"You're sooo fucked, Mate." She pressed out between laughing.
At least Michiru tried her best to cheer him up with another sympathetic smile, although her gaze gave away that she thought the same as her partner.
SunTzu knocked gently on the door of the office room, stating it was the office of Doctor Meiou, inside the med bay of the Eternal.
No answer although SunTzu knew she was there. Taking a deep breather he pressed down the handle of the door and opened the door.
Lieutenant Colonel Meiou was sitting cross-legged behind her white colored desk, which matched the walls and most of the furniture of the room. Wearing her grey-colored Medical Corps Uniform, her olive skin in contrast to it, she had apparently taking sun on Hawaii, and with her long emerald hair in a long, tight, single braid she looked at him in a even more daunting version of her signature Ice Queen Stare. SunTzu was deep in trouble.
After a long moment just staring at him, or rather staring him down, she worldlessly motioned him to sit down on the seat in front of her desk, not a change in her cold glare.
SunTzu sat down slowly, his face firm. The pilot had made a decision, no matter how much trouble he got himself and Hotaru into with his decision, he'd defend it. Hotaru had saved a ship full of refugees and from what he got, she and AICA didn't had any problems at all doing so.
Of course he understood Setsuna, not that he hadn't been worried about Hotaru as well, but he had confidence in her abilities.
So while he sat down he kept a slight smile on his face and eye contact to her.
Her anger made her ruby-red eyes sparkle and SunTzu couldn't help himself but to think that although she was probably about to jump over the table and choke him to death, her angry demeanor somehow made her look even hotter.
"You wanted to see me?" He asked her with a joyful voice, still his smile on his lips and it was obvious that his smile made her even more furious. If she had been Rei, her surroundings would probably had caught fire by now.
She needed a moment to reply, probably fighting down the urge to punch his goofy smile out of his face.
"You wanted to see me, Ma'am." She hissed, straightening up her back and moving her chair closer to the white table.
"Excuse me?" SunTzu asked again, his voice still not giving away any hints of obedience.
"Captain, as lower in rank than me you will address me accordingly, you know the penalty for insubordination." Setsuna let out with an icecold voice and tried to stare him down again.
SunTzu looked in her eyes again for a second before he answered.
"Yes Ma'am, Lieutenant Colonel, Ma'am."
"You know why you are here, right?"
SunTzu grin vanished and his face turned into a serious mimic.
"Affirmative Ma'am. And before you…"
"DON'T even think about to explain yourself! I had enough of that from Hotaru already! You willingly put my daughter into danger with allowing that mission! Do you have any idea how risky that really was?!"
Her sudden outburst was the beginning of a long angry tirade how reckless SunTzu was.
SunTzu wasn't exactly close listening to what she was throwing in his face, but he sure was hanging at her lips. Her lipstick had the same color as her eyes and he just couldn't concentrate as all that he was thinking of that he wanted to kiss this voluptuous lips.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Yes, Ma'am. To every single word. Can I explain…"
"No! As I said before, I don't want to hear excuses anymore!"
With that she continued her tirade and SunTzu let his mind wander again, just like his eyes. She was wearing the uniform with a skirt on today again and SunTzu asked himself if she was wearing a pantyhose or rather stockings with it.
God, how much he wished she would just pounce onto him and punish him with a more physical approach, showing him the meaning of angry love.
SunTzu was taken out of his daydream when Setsuna let out a huge sigh, apparently she had finally vented out her anger. At least her voice had become more calm, when she continued after taking a breather.
"Gods, this was almost as dangerous for Hotaru as back then when she was a baby and Michiru had held unsecured in her arms while she was sleeping as they were driving in Haruka's convertible. Totally irresponsible."
SunTzu looked in Setsuna's eyes again, her glare had softened up a bit.
"I think you know that Hotaru's well-being is most important for me. I wouldn't have allowed her to go if I had not been completely sure she could handle it safely."
Setsuna looked in his eyes for a moment, looking for something to betray his words and when she couldn't find any traces, deep down she knew he was right, she nodded. Even so, her rundown of him had an effect on her. Not only did she had needed that, Chronos did she feel better now, but somehow she was beyond hot for him right now. That damn smug grin, looking in her eyes, while she yelled at him, just to make her loose it even more. Heat was emitting from her core and she had to fight the urge to throw herself onto him, violently kiss him and rip his clothes right off of him.
Keep your composure, Setsuna! You cannot fuck this stupid smug grin out of his face right here and now! Don't let him get to you like that!
Setsuna cleared her throat and sat up straight again.
"That is all so far. You're dismissed, Captain."
"Ma'am." SunTzu replied as he got up.
Her gaze followed him as he walked the three steps back to the door and opened it.
As soon as SunTzu was out of the door she dropped back into her chair and closed her eyes. This had been close.
Damn troublemaker.