A few days after having had arrived at Eriadu and beginning to patrol down the Eastern Lipsec Run, the three Capital Ships of Taskforce Sol found themselves in a backwater stellar system, which hadn't had another designation other than it's grids and classification number yet, Leth Grek Seven. Nonetheless the main planet in the system Leth Grek Seven Prime had been settled. Just like on Usk Peth 1138 there only were some simple settlements on the planet, although the technology on the planet was on the standard level of the Outer Rim.
A small enemy cruiser, accompanied by a dungeon ship, had been chased off by two cruisers of the Ninth but there had been reports on enemy forces on the planet.
Task Force Sol had been dispatched to investigate the situation, and if needed, engage any enemy troops on the planet.
On the way towards the planet, Sol already had established communications with Leth Grek Seven Prime, while the two allied Cruisers had immediately left the system to control the neighboring systems and persuade the fled enemies.
The tiny planet only had a few thousand Inhabitants, colonialists looking for a better life, most of them either living in the two major cities of the planet or as remote farmers. The planet had a temperate climate on his three continents and the whole planet was just a few thousand kilometers in diameter, it was smaller than South America.
The leadership of the Planet reported that attacks on the two major cities could have been repelled but one of the major cities was still under siege from a ragtag group of mercenaries.
Immediately the starfighters of the Taskforce were dispatched along with Team 1 and 4. While AICA, the Voyager and Triton Squadron began to attack the mercenaries' amassed troops near the largest city on the planet, located on the southern most continent, Team 4 had headed directly to the besieged city as well.
The U-Wing which had carried them, the one dubbed Deimos, flow to a multi-story-building with flat roof where it began to hover above. The doors to it's troop compartment opened and two ropes were let down on the roof of the building. Within a few moments the Commandos had rappelled down on and had taken overwatch positions. Just in time as the first E-Web began to shoot green light after the now embarking U-Wing.
Team 1 was flown to the headquarters of the local security force in the capital, a city at the ocean, together with Captain Kino. As soon as it was clear that landing there was without risks, the first troops from First Battalion disembarked from the Eternal in their dropships with Terra flying escort for them.
In the south the commando team reported heavy fighting between allied infantry and hostile motorized infantry.
To secure a landing zone and scout the area a platoon of foot mobile scouts and a squad of scouts with repulsor bikes had been ordered to the planet.
Space traffic around the Eternal was heavy while the fighter squadrons flew patrol in space, but the choreography of embarking ships was care- and skillfully orchestrated by the flight controls of the capital ships, from individuals like Stinger Jordan, Calpawn Riak and Taego, the former pilot from Terra Squadron.
The K-Wings could score a few good hits on various vehicles of the mercenaries and also managed to completely obliterate a supply point but then the mercenaries began to change their tactics and either concentrated anti-aircraft weapons at their positions or camouflaged themselves.
Nonetheless SunTzu and AICA were flying low and fast over the suburbs of the city, drawing sporadic anti-aircraft fire onto them so the transports with the scouts could fly in in relative safety.
Not much later, a safe landing zone in an uncontested part of the city had been established and the first transports with troops of the Combined Arms Regiment and Third Battalion were on their way.
In the capital, Sol's forces had drawn a perimeter around the governmental area of the city and more troops were heading to the outskirts.
Phobos, the second U-Wing, landed at the security forces headquarters, carrying Major Urawa and an adjutant along with Sol's Galactic Senator and the her accompanying Grand Knight of Crystal Tokyo, as well as four Royal Guardists as security detachment.
Rei and Ami immediately began to assess the situation, even before a second flight with a staff for the both of them had arrived.
Five hours after having arrived in the system, a briefing had been scheduled in the Mission Control Center of the Eternal for the leadership of Taskforce Sol, a high-ranking local security forces officer was attending as liaison officer as well.
Makoto and Ami were attending via holo-projectors while the rest of the Senshi was inside the control room.
SunTzu was sitting in the last row, next to his wingmen, the other Senshi were sitting in front of them.
From the Eternal, flight after flight was going out to reinforce the already landed ground forces, while a RSD and it's fighter complement from a Reserve Fleet had joined several of the Taskforce's squadrons in patrolling the system.
So far, Third Battalion was already engaged in heavy urban combat while the Combined Arms Regiment was getting ready to roll out and flank the enemy outside of the city with their heavy weapons. If everything would be going according to plan, they would also cut off the enemies already in the city.
First Batallion only reported light skirmishes with what seemed to be the dispersed remnants from the attack on the capital. But there were very disturbing and unfortunate reports coming in from the smallest continent of Leth Grek Seven Prime.
Apparently settlements and farmsteads were under attack from grotesque black, ocher or reddish colored figures. Apparently these creatures were kidnapping individuals straight out of their houses.
When Artemis told about that, Rei, sitting at the left side two rows in front of her former lover, and SunTzu looked at each other.
Artemis had decided that Team One would go investigate, along with a troop of scouts and Makoto. Immediately Rei's arm shot up.
"Im volunteering as well to check that out."
"Me too" Minako chimed in a moment later and before Artemis, now looking at the two Senshi, could say anything, SunTzu took the word.
"I'm going too. Team One needs a JTAC." He glanced over to Hotaru in front of him.
"Second Lieutenant Meiou will take over AICA from me." The teenager turned around and both nodded at each other.
"Approved, Captain. Get ready to step off within the hour." Artemis replied and SunTzu's gaze turned to his Admiral again, so he didn't see the glance Setsuna, sitting in between Minako and Hotaru, exchanged with Michiru.
"I'll go too. Me and Cadet Aino can take over TCCC and if the need should arise, triage."
"Excellent idea." Artemis praised Setsuna's idea.
Team 1 had been relieved by Team 3 and was now already on it's way to the smallest continent, while Team 2 was on standby for any unforeseen circumstances, as was Fourth Battalion as Quick Reaction Force. On the southern continent the counter offensive just had begun with artillery fire beginning to pound confirmed enemy positions outside the city, far away from any possible collateral targets.
Along with Yuichiro and some other officers, SunTzu was standing in front of a smaller table with a holo projector on it inside the control center. Both Knights of Crystal Tokyo we're having a look at the map of the area where they would head out to. The continent was tiny, nothing more than a smaller island in the middle between the two other continents, and these two weren't exactly large also.
On a screen above them the aerial views of the area were broadcasted from AICA and the Voyager. The designated landing zone showed a forest clearing next to a hill towering over the area of forest with some open landscape between the forests.
Throughout the area some smaller farms were scattered. There was a lake and a small river running from the coast to the lake, all in all the continent maybe had a square footage of maybe 120 square kilometers. SunTzu mentally marked that the hill was a good place to take position to have an overview over the whole battlefield.
Lieutant Trembley appeared at the table, the young, over-dutiful Lieutenant SunTzu had run in at a few occasions already, a headset around the young man's neck.
"Team 1 turns on their cameras."
The Voyager's camera swiveled around, the ship was moving away from its circling and soon the transmission from the TIE ended.
"Team One is coming in, Haruka and Michiru are escorting them." SunTzu told Yuichiro, while AICA's camera now broadcasted how one of the U-Wings had entered the area she was filming, the U-Wing was flying in low, with the door gunner visible.
One of the other officers took a remote and changed the broadcast of the screen, apart from the overwatch feed from AICA now also the transmission of the helmet cameras of Team One was visible, showing the team disembarking the U-Wing and covering the landing zone.
After everybody was on the ground and the U-Wing had left off again, the Team moved up in formation, ready to engage any enemies.
It didn't took long and a black-colored odd-shaped creature with spider legs and the torso of a human broke through the brushwood of a nearby patch of forest. It was immediately gunned down by two members of the team, the bullets making the creature's body of baked clay shatter where it was hit.
"Any suggestions about dealing with these things?" Yuichiro asked SunTzu while they watched how the Team approached the broken vessel.
"Might want to consider to bring a gun as well. And some hand grenades, they like to show up en mass."
"Guess I have to visit Bob before we leave then."
To everyone's surprise it stayed with just one creature showing up. Nonetheless the Team took positions to secure the area.
Kiwi and Aussie had taken position up the hill and were overlooking the area. Although there was some fog waving through the woods this morning they had a good sight over the whole area, the promise of a beautiful sunny day lay in the air. The two of them were lying on a flat spot on top of hill and SunTzu had an idea after he heard where they were positioned.
"I'll be at the mess for a moment, I'll catch up with you in the hangar." SunTzu excused himself to Yuichiro and suddenly left in a hurry.
"Captain, with all due respect, why the fuck are you carrying a folding chair on your back and a cooler bag with you?" The gunner of the U-Wing asked as SunTzu showed up, ready to board the transport. As crew chief he was also responsible for the load of the assault craft.
SunTzu, having a small assault pack on his back along with the chair and a large rifle slung under as well, sat the cooler bag down and opened it.
The soldier looked even more dumbfounded when SunTzu handed him an ice-cold can of soda.
"Take one Corporal, I'm having the best job inside this Taskforce today so my mood is so good I'm actually willing to share my soda even if you cannot comprehend my genius."
"TopGun, why's there a chair on your back?"
"Ah, the Senator." SunTzu rummaged shortly in his cooler bag. "Here we go. Melon Soda." He handed the can to a frowning Rei. She took a look at the can and her frown vanished immediately and she nodded appreciatingly.
"Madame Senator, I don't know if I can allow the Captain to bring civilian goods onto the ship." The Crew Chief said, the can he just had gotten from SunTzu still in his hands.
"That's okay." Rei said and opened her can and presented it to the crew chief. "I guess I'm the highest authority here and if this madman keeps me supplying with this stuff I'll allow it."
Shaking his head the Corporal vanished into the troop compartment of the U-Wing.
"Any chance you got a cold beer in there?" Yuichiro, who had come with Rei, this time sporting a compact chest rig with magazines, a radio, hydration and a compact pistol stored in it and carrying a compact assault rifle, together with his swords in their sheaths on his hip, asked.
"C'mon Man, we're on a mission. Ain't no way they let us drink beer. But i got some Doc Pepper."
The U-Wing dropped them at the same place Team 1 had been dropped before and Makoto, Boots, the team's medic, and Dish, the team's communication specialist, were already waiting for them.
Along with Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto, Master Cilghal had come along as well. She wanted to study the vessels that used individuals' souls and turned them into monsters fighting for the enemy.
The fighting on the other continents was turning out well, the tanks and repulsor-based infantry of Sol Brigade had pushed right through the enemies outside of the town on the southern continent and cut off the enemy in the city.
Fighting in the city was fierce but the enemy was both inferior in tactics and firepower, so that the Taskforce had next to no casualties, which meant that at least for now the medbay could do without the three medical professionals.
The enemy in the North had already begun to surrender in sizes up to squads and apparently more and more of the enemies gave up.
The flight from the Eternal had been quiet, except for Rei, voicing her doubts about her two Coronian protectors being pinups on the U-Wings, and Minako, who in turn had defended the art. She for example was very flattered that a pinup version of her was decorating one of the Larties.
SunTzu had sat in a corner and had used the time to triple check his gear, while casually glancing over to Setsuna who had been going through their medical gear and supplies with Cilghal again.
Although joking around at the Eternal while boarding, down on the ground, SunTzu was a professional again.
While Boots organized himself with Venus, Pluto and Cilghal, SunTzu immediately reconciled with Dish about the radio channels, before he checked in as Forward Air Controller for this part of the mission on Leth Grek Seven Prime.
Dish then, after SunTzu had asked for it, lead him up to the hill where Kiwi and Aussie, the sniper-spotter duo of the commando team had taken post.
"How's it going boys?"
"G'day Mate. We were just about to head out to get some scouting done."
"Mind if I take your place then?" SunTzu asked, put the cooler bag down, placed the rifle he brought along on it's bipod to the ground and pulled the chair and backpack from his back.
"Help ya self."
SunTzu put up the chair and the put both bags next to it.
"You know you're in a war zone and not at the beach?" Dish asked with a side glance, while he checked something on the tablet mounted on the chest of his plate carrier.
SunTzu pulled a pair of mirrored pilot glasses from a pouch and put them on.
"I'm aware of that. Just making the best out of it."
Kiwi and Aussie looked at each other.
"You know," Kiwi said while SunTzu sat down on his chair, pulled out a laser designation device from his backpack and then a can of soda from the cooler bag, "That actually is pretty fucking genius."
Before Aussie could answer a strange high-pitched scream was heard and both soldiers immediately began to scan the area where the scream had come from through the scopes of their weapons.
"Looks like we finally got their attention. I'm gonna get back to the team." Dish announced and began to jog down the hill, while SunTzu extended the foldable antennae on his two personal radios before he pushed a button on the push-to-talk-device he had fixed on his plate carrier.
"SunTzu to all stations, FAC Observation Post is up. Possible contact from the Northeast, all available aircraft check in for CAS."
Two hours later SunTzu was comfortably sitting in his chair, observing the valley to the feet of the hill with his sight device. The fog was gone and had given way for a beautiful day, just as expected. After a wave of Daimons had attacked and had been completely obliterated by an airstrike carried out by AICA, Hotaru and the Tie-Scimitars of Dione-Squadron, Team 1 and Makoto had moved on to the various farmsteads on the small continent. Two Ground Mobility Vehicles, Humvees modified especially for special forces, had been brought in and the commandos used them to move from farm to farm, checking for both enemies and survivors.
Although it seemed that most of the Daimons had been obliterated in the firestorm released from the sky, there still were pockets and single individuals of them left.
"Pluto to all stations, I found another pack."
"Cilghal here, I found some as well."
A few hundred meters from his position near a patch of dense forest SunTzu could spot Sailor Pluto. A group of reddish colored Daimons, some more human looking, others with twisted limbs, had encircled her and just as SunTzu wanted to call in Hotaru and AICA for a strafing run and was grabbing his rifle to give her cover he saw that the Demigoddess didn't need any help at all. Making it look like an elegant but deadly dance again, she used her Garnet Rod to destroy the vessels. SunTzu marveled once more about her fluent style of fighting with her weapon when she let loose a Dead Scream to destroy the last three Daimons.
"Pluto here. Enemy neutralized." She was patting but sounded okay. SunTzu let out a big breather, he was reliefed she was alright, and then looked for Cilghal, who was close to Setsuna's position.
The Force-Sensitive observed how the Jedi-Master struck down two spider-human-mix Daimons with her yellow-colored blade, made out of an Ultima-Pearl the Mon Cal had retrieved from the depths of her home planet's sea.
"Master Cilghal here, my enemies are neutralized as well. Lieutenant Colonel if you could join me in examining the enemy's remains I would be grateful."
"Copy, I'm on my way."
Just as Pluto had said that a cold shower ran down his back, like a icey wind breeze had hit his neck, stiffened SunTzu.
In the blink of an eye his hand reached down to the holster on his belt, draw his pistol and his arm with the gun reached to the back.
"Nice try." He stated dryly before he pulled the trigger and made the head of the brownish Spider-Daimon, which had sneaked up onto him, explode into a thousand pieces.
The daimon's headless body crashed to the ground, parts of it shattering.
SunTzu got up and grabbed his main weapon, a powerful Designated Marksman Rifle. Before he began to patrol around his position to look for more enemies and report his encounter he crossed himself. Another poor soul used as weapon by the enemy.
A few minutes later, after making sure no other enemy had sneaked upon his position, SunTzu was sitting again. A report had come in, a company each of First and Fourth Battalion would be flown in to take over from the Commandos. A lot of the inhabitants of this island that was called a continent, could have been rescued as they had flocked together to protect themselves better, and the regular troops would be numerous enough to do a real sweep of the area as well as provide aid to the civilians not that a few times already while on his post SunTzu had called in medevac for injured and wounded civilians, who had been getting first aid from Venus, Pluto, Cilghal and Boots.
SunTzu just had checked the status of the available craft when another time someone closed in on him from behind.
"Rei Hino, former fire of my loins, back for more melon soda?" He stated softly.
"You do know that you look more glorious in a cockpit than on that chair, TopGun? And yes, if you still got one, I'd take a melon soda."
SunTzu opened the bag and fished a can of melon soda out, both former lovers smiled at each other when he turned around and handed it to Rei.
Rei nodded politely as she took it. After opening the can and taking a sip she took a glance at the destroyed daimon.
"Yuichiro told me you had a visitor."
"Tried to sneak up on me but I sensed him."
The Senshi was silent for a moment staring at the daimon again.
"At least this soul is free now."
Her gaze wandered over to SunTzu.
"That's the only thing we can still do for those unlucky enough to be turned into these things."
She fell silent again.
"Me and Yuichiro took a moment to pray for all these souls."
SunTzu got up and walked over to Rei, who was looking at the daimon's shell.
"I sent a small prayer for this one to heaven too. But it must have been a few hundred we destroyed today." He glanced over to Rei. "Hey Rei, as priestess, would you mind…"
"No." She made a gesture with her hand for him to join hers.
When he did so, both closed their eyes and Rei began her prayer, asking the Kami to bring peace to all the fallen souls today.
When she was done she pressed SunTzu's hand and then both clapped into their hands before they folded them for a moment of devotion.
"Thank you, Rei."
She answered with a soft smile.
"Where's Yuichiro?" SunTzu continued.
"He stayed down in the valley, Master Cilghal and Sets are still taking samples of the Daimons. Giving as much of these souls as possible their freedom is very important for him. For him as priest it's hard to accept that a soul can't go after the human it belonged to was killed. It's an affront of the gods for him. Not that I don't fell the same, but it really hurts him that these souls get tormented."
"He has a good heart."
"He has. My big goof."
The two smiled softly at each other again.
And then SunTzu's radio awoke to life and far the sound of incoming transport ships was audible and both turned around to the incoming sound.
"There's the relief."
It was early evening and SunTzu was the last member of the initial force still on the scene. At least he thought so.
He was sitting in his chair and enjoying a last Dr. Pepper in the afterglow. In ten minutes the transport that would take him back to the Eternal would arrive. It had been a successful, a good day. All civilians on this part of the planet had been safed and the battles had been won.
"Have something left for me?" Setsuna asked as she walked up to him and in surprise he jumped out of his chair.
She made herself undetectable in the Force again…
"S-s-sorry, last one I got." He shook the half full can. "Gave all the rest to the Team before they left."
"Too bad." Setsuna announced and then took the can straight out of his hands with a sly grin, making SunTzu freeze in surprise.
She took a large sip and then let out a sigh of pleasure.
"Ah, Good."
Maybe it was the absolutely stunning image of her drinking from a can in the sunrise, a drop of water from the can spilling down her neck and than traveling further, being the sting of beauty to do so but somehow SunTzu's brain had kickstarted again.
"Didn't know you actually liked soda. You know…"
"It's unhealthy. At least they don't put Cocaine into it anymore. And I really needed that."
SunTzu nodded, a little bit of life's pleasures was even allowed for a doctor.
"You're taking the last transport as well?" He then asked her.
"Affirmative. All the wounded that need help are on board of the ships. The medics of the regular troops here should be sufficient."
She took another sip.
"Listen, there is something I want you to ask, SunTzu."
His face showed surprise as he replied.
"Sure, what's up?"
"Hotaru. You immediately stated that she should take AICA. Am I right in my assumption that you wanted to spare her to be deployed here?"
It took a moment as SunTzu looked into the sunset before he replied.
"Wanted to safe her from the moral dilemma that fighting these... things brings with it." He motioned to the destroyed daimon and Sailor Pluto looked at him for a moment, face unreadable.
"Thank you." She finally said and SunTzu nodded wordlessly. Setsuna took another sip and then handed him the can, there was still a little bit of the beverage inside.
"I'll see you at the Landing Zone when you have disassembled your post." She smiled as she handed him the can back and then walked away, with light steps, her image against the sunset.
SunTzu looked at her for a moment and then at the can again. Her lips had made a cherry-colored-mark on the can.
When she was gone he brought the can to his lips, trying to get a taste of the lipstick.
A few minutes later, SunTzu, now packed with his backpack, rifle, the cooler bag and the chair again, appeared on the landing zone, next to Setsuna and the rest of the waiting soldiers. The dropship was already audible in the distance, when his radio sprung to life again and Artemis let all units know that the planet of Isde Naha, the proposed end of their patrol was under attack.
SunTzu immediately turned to his chrono.
"AICA, where are you?"
"I'm already on my way to pick you up."
The familiar sound of the advanced A-Wing came closer fast.
"What are you doing?" Setsuna asked, although she knew what he was about to do.
"My job. The Starstruck and the Voyager have joined the Ninth in searching for the ships that attacked this system. The Eternal and the Far Side are needed here, so this leaves me as the only one that can make it in time."
He expected a backlash but she didn't say anything at all.
A moment later AICA touched down and SunTzu immediately threw his kit in the storage compartment and grabbed a pilot suit, throwing it on.
All the while Sailor Pluto silently observed him.
SunTzu swung himself up into the cockpit and looked into her still unreadable face. Was she angry? Concerned? Hopeful, that he might could save some people? He couldn't tell, and he rather had her RBF stinging into him than not knowing if her blood was boiling or she was at least understanding what he was doing. But he hadn't had the time to think about it anymore.
"I'll be back." He said and put on his helmet and closed the canopy. The only reaction it draw was a small nod from her.
Inside the cockpit, AICA had already calculated a course.
"Why were you carrying a chair and a cooler bag with you?" The AI of the snub asked her pilot as he lifted her off.
Roughly eight hours later AICA landed back on board of the Eternal.
It was the late night cycle onboard and the hangar SunTzu had landed AICA in was almost empty.
The canopy opened and revealed SunTzu, sitting straight and unmoving in his seat. For a moment he didn't move at all.
And then he slowly pulled off his pilot helmet, revealing sweaty hair and tired eyes.
He already had made his report on the way back.
The enemy had attacked Ishde Naha in force, quickly overwhelming the planet's defenses. SunTzu, and others who had arrived to help, had tried their best but it had already been too late.
Tie-Bombs, official designation TIE Experimental M4, automated drones, packed with a suicide explosive payloads, had been released by the dozens from carrier craft and had hurled themselves onto key parts of the planet's vast industrial plants. The main targets where two huge military-industrial complexes and SunTzu arrived to watch in shock and disgust how these plants were completely destroyed. Not all drones hit industrial targets, some struck civilian targets, mostly the working class district nearby, and the casualties caused must have gone into the thousands.
SunTzu had raced AICA towards the enemy, bent on making them pay but just as he got the first lock the whole enemy fleet vanished into hyperspace.
SunTzu had stopped AICA then and just had hung in space for a moment. From his cockpit he could take a look at the nearby planet, the firestorm on the planet even visible from space.
And then it all had began to make sense. They had been divided by making them either search for the enemy or kept busy on the planet. It had all been a feint to keep the Galactic Alliance away from the enemy's main target. SunTzu was furious at himself, how could he not have seen that coming?
Closing his eyes he streaked a hand through his wet hair, trying to calm himself down and forget about the anger he was feeling.
He had ordered AICA to do a post flight check and already said her thanks for her quick response to get him. He needed a moment for himself.
There were no good days when fighting a war.
Unbeknownst to him, someone was observing SunTzu from the shadows of another part of the hangar.
His tired face gave her enough conclusion that he was quarreling with himself again for coming too late to make a difference. But this time at least there hadn't been any reports of uncontrolled outbursts of his powers.
A part of her wished to just go over and tell him that it wasn't his fault, bed his head on her chest and sooth him. But she just couldn't bring herself to do it, he was still not at that point where she was sure he wouldn't fall for the other side. Too bad as lately it was hard enough to withdraw from his presence, especially those nights, when she had accidentally stumbled onto him. And when he had left earlier, answering the call of duty, knowing he was the only one fast enough to maybe make a difference, or at least try, just after telling her that he had kept Hotaru away from fighting the Daimons for her own good, gods, she almost had thrown herself onto him.
Setsuna shot him a last glance, glad that he hadn't noticed her, as she wouldn't had any excuse why she had come here after hearing he was coming back. She really needed to enlarge the distance between the two of them, without retreating to the Time-and-Space-Door to sit things out, as she was needed here. But she also couldn't fall for him, as hard as it was sometimes. Not yet, not now.