Tens of Thousands had died on Isde Naha and the factories, one of the main manufacturers of ammunition for the Galactic Alliance in the South of the Galaxy had irrevocably been destroyed.
Fires were still blazing inside the ruins of the manufacturing sites.
Although everybody knew it was pointless now as it just thinned out the reserves and the damage had been done already, war ships were redirected into the Ninth Fleet's area of operations.
Again, all the Galactic Alliance was able to do was going into the defensive, just as they had done so in the New Frontier and otherwhere, even the Empire of the Hand and the Chiss were busy keeping their lines intact against the multiple dangerous foes the Unknown Regions faced, which, given their level of cooperation now were at least Allies of Chaos if not part of it's own troops at all.
On advice from the Intelligence Service, Sol was back home.
The days following the attack on Ishde Naha had been hard for SunTzu, the feeling to not only have been too late but also to have been deceived weighted heavily on him. Would the crushing feeling of not been able to save people ever end at all?
He filled his day with training, flogging himself for once more not being good enough. Master Cilghal was keeping a close eye on him after SunTzu's failed attempt to help Ishde Naha, remarked that his sword fighting was getting better, even Endymion experienced this on the two day trip home, and even the Outers, sans their oldest member, as she was always too busy now it seemed, had a harder time in defeating him by now but SunTzu still felt too weak. Even training with the Outers couldn't make his mind take off from the feeling that he never would be good enough to really make a difference in this goddamn war.
It was at the end of their journey, the Taskforce just had jumped further on from the Coruscant Trade Exchange towards Earth, and SunTzu was still in his usual training area onboard, unleashing his anger on a punching bag, sweating profoundly after already having tortured himself through a lengthy jump rope session. He was alone, as everybody else was either occupied with bringing the ship home or getting ready to leave, so knowing that he wouldn't bother anyone, his upper body was naked, and he was just wearing training shorts, sweat dripping over his toned upper body and having drenched his hear.
He was driving hard onto the bag, completely occupied by releasing his anger. Fast and powerful combinations of punches rained onto the bay
"O Isis, what did that bag do to you?"
SunTzu stopped, putting his arms around the bag to stop it from shaking.
"Setsuna."
"Hotaru told me, you told her to take care of AICA. She seemed a bit… worried."
SunTzu began to take off the bandages on his hands.
"I am…" Telling her that he was okay, would have been a lie she wouldn't have believed anyways, so he stopped. "It's frustrating. I couldn't help. Once more."
"You can't be everywhere. And you cannot save everyone. It's a war."
"But I could be better. Even you said that I'm not at my full potential. Maybe if I would have been…"
"Would. It would have been the various Intelligence Agencies' job to figure out where the enemy would strike. Remember about the Fog of War? Your self-aggression now is of no avail. Especially when the enemy deceives us with ruses we have to keep a clear, sober mind or they have won this battle even more."
SunTzu dropped the loosened bandages to his feet and then looked at the floor for a moment where they landed, his facial muscles working.
"Guess you're right." He knew she was, she always was. He called himself SunTzu but had once more acted out of impulse rather than prudent strategical thinking.
"We're landing soon, you might want to get ready to leave the ship as well."
She told him, and SunTzu after letting a hand glide through his sweaty hair nodded.
"Don't forget your rapport with Master Cilghal before you leave." She said and turned around.
SunTzu watched her leave. Goddamit, why she had this power onto him, with just one sentence of her made everything seem to be so clear then for him? He gave the boxing bag a last hard right.
Setsuna closed the door behind her, when the three women waiting there, a tall short-haired blonde, leaning at the wall cross-armed, and a teal-haired and a young black-haired, both standing in the corridor, all turned to her.
"So, what do you say? How is he?" Michiru asked as they fell in step with Setsuna. The emerald-haired gave herself a moment before she answered.
"It's his old impetuosity and the disposedness to agression. But I think I could reach him. At least he will leave the ship." She stopped for a moment, at a crossing in the corridor. "Which brings me to my next stop. I'll have to make sure the med bay is in order, so you'll excuse me."
"Of course."
Michiru answered and Setsuna looked at Hotaru.
"Hotaru, I'll see you later at the base."
"Sure thing, mom."
Setsuna nodded at Michiru a last time and then walked away.
"You think she meant what she said? She seemed a bit off."Haruka asked as the three of them watched her disappear.
"I think that was not because SunTzu's mood." Came Michiru's answer, enigmatic for her lover, but sparking a wide grin from her foster daughter.
With fast steps Setsuna made her way to the med bay. Of course the med bay was all but ready for disembarking but she needed a moment alone. And to get away from SunTzu, or more precise the picture he had just had given her.
His naked upper body, muscles still tense from exercising, pearls of sweat gliding down over the marvelous bulges of his abs and further down to the V of his hips.
The thought to let her tongue follow the trails they left while her hands felt on his hard pectorals had crept into her mind, while his ductile fingers had opened the bandages on his hands, making her think about things he could do with them.
Thirty seconds later and she probably would have lost herself.
He was struggling once again and needed someone to built him up, and it seemed her words got through to him but by the gods, this troublemaker sure wasn't making it any easy for her, she really had to keep up that distance in between them or she would fall soon.
It was after dark until SunTzu finally arrived at the place that was his home.
Cilghal had of course probed his mind and then had a long, although interesting, talk with SunTzu about how she managed dealing with anger. As healer and one of the first Jedi of the New Order she sure had seen her share of gruesome and enraging events.
To their surprise both had received a text message while still talking. A meeting for the Inner Circle had been scheduled the next afternoon, it was already labeled as top secret.
SunTzu and the Jedi Master had said their goodbyes afterwards and on the way home, he had taken public transportation this time, he had received a message from Haruka, asking if he was up for a drinks. The meeting would just be in the afternoon she told. SunTzu had declined politely, he wanted to be alone, trying to sort his mind a bit, there was a lot of stuff going on inside him though. Nonetheless it meant much to him that Haruka had asked him.
SunTzu had slept bad that night, the nightmares had been stronger that night again. They had become worse after Isde Naha again and so he wasn't exactly well rested or in the best mood, as his phone woke him up two hours before he wanted to actually get up.
It was Ami.
"Ohayo SunTzu."
"Ohayo Ami. What's up, did something happen?"
"I just called to let you know, that we need to talk before the briefing. If it's okay I'd pick you up before."
"Yeah, sure."
"Good, I'll be there one hour before the briefing. Have a good time until then."
That said she hang up again and SunTzu looked at his phone for a moment longer. Usually Ami wanting to talk before a meeting wasn't the best omen.
Four days earlier:
Captain Droba Mij, the liaison-officer from Leth Grek Seven Prime had just took a seat in the mess hall near the bridge of the Eternal. He had heard a lot of good things about food from that planet called Earth and before he would take a shuttle back to his home planet he had decided to take the chance to try it. Leth Grek Seven Prime was saved, those Daimons all neutralized and the attacking bands of ruthless mercenaries all had been either obliterated or had given up and where now brought to a makeshift POW-Camp near the second biggest city of the small planet, firmly guarded by GA and local forces.
Mij, an inconspicuous looking human, had earned his rank through constant work, he wasn't a career officer. The grey streaks in his dark hair and in his goatee were proof that he only had made it to the rank of captain older than most others. The officer, his area of expertise radio communication, looked at the meal on the tray on the small table in the corner of the dinning hall. The dish in front of him, a slice consisting of baked crust, a red sauce, made from a fruit from earth and something called cheese as well, was definitely looking tasty and the smell was mouthwatering. On Earth this was called Pizza and he couldn't wait to try it.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Mij's tore his gaze away from his Italian dish and looked up to the voice.
It was that blue haired woman he had seen earlier in the TOC, standing behind the second chair of the table, a tray with a meal in her hands. He remembered that she was with Intelligence of this force or something, he had met her just late into the mission as she had been on Leth Grek Seven most of the time, she hadn't seemed to be important for him, so he hadn't bothered to keep her name in mind.
Mij gave her a closer look, although her big glasses covered it partly, she sure was an attractive woman. So, as long as she wouldn't annoy him while eating he would be alright with her presence.
"Please, help yourself." He motioned to the chair and Ami thanked him with a smile before she settled down.
"You are Major Mij, the liaison officer to the planet. We were introduced earlier in the TOC, but unfortunately I couldn't talk to you more." A hand ran slowly through her blue hair.
"Captain. I'm just a Captain." Mij said, his gaze piercing her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Ami and I'm with Combat Support, so I'm not that good with ranks. But you must be exceptionally competent if you are the liaison officer then." She marveled at him and Mij's disgruntled look turned into one of surprise. He cleared his throat before he began to speak.
"You know, not everyone could do such an important duty. But my diligence and expertise distinguish myself for such a task."
Ami had her head resting on her hand, her head turned to him, a smile lingering on her face.
"Oh I can imagine that. I was observing you in the control center." A coy smile accompanied her soft spoken words as she glanced at him.
"Oh you did?" Mij's heartbeat began to accelerate, although more of a wallflower type with her glasses and her short hair, he sure wouldn't mind spending some one-on-one time with this woman called Ami.
Pearly white teeth were visible in her smile as she blushed slightly and glanced to the side, stroking sheepishly through her hair again.
"I did. Too bad you have to leave us so soon again. I wouldn't mind getting to know you better." Her smile now would have melted an iceberg. Mij thought about something for a moment before he slid his chair closer to the table and leaned in, while Ami blushed more and coyly turned her face.
"I soon will have some free time and enough money for a nice holiday far away. Maybe we can meet up somewhere. Or I can even visit you on Earth." He was smiling at her, fingers tapping on the table, he wanted an answer fast.
And then she turned to him again, her face loosing all its soft- and friendliness and forming into a cold, calculating glare.
"Oh, I honestly don't think you will have a lot of free time soon. But I'm absolutely sure you will not stay on Leth Grek Seven Prime."
Mij froze, loosing all the color in his face, what was that woman implying and why made her ice-cold stare make him feel him so afraid, there was no way she could know.
"I was not the only one observing you. We had our eyes on you since ever you arrived on the ship, Captain. And we saw that you sent a message on your private communicator. Along with your mentioning of having enough money for a intergalactical holiday it's enough to detain you."
Ami lifted her arm and snapped her finger while Mij's face showed pure shock.
On the neighboring table two man in the working clothes of the crew immediately shot up from their table draw blasters, pointing them at Mij.
"Captain Droba Mij, you are under arrest under the charge of treason against the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances."
Within seconds some armed Royal Guards in Armor were in the mess hall as well and helped to secure the foreign officer, while one of the agents in working clothes put shackles around Mij's hands who unresistingly let himself get detained.
"Take him away, boys." Ami, who had kept sitting, said.
Two seconds long Ami's gaze followed the Guardists and her agents who lead Captain Mij away. And then she leaned forward and pulled the plate with the slice of Pizza over to her. It would be a shame if nobody would eat that.
As always Ami was there over-punctual but SunTzu knew her well enough by now so that he was already waiting outside.
They wished themselves a good morning and then Ami drove off.
They just had made the first turn when SunTzu looked at Ami.
"So, Ames. You wanted to talk with me?"
"Just wait until we stop at that red light ahead."
Ami stopped the car at the red light and activated a small electronic device she had stored in storage compartment in the middle of the front seats.
"Now we can talk." She side with a side glance before she turned back to the street and the traffic light, which was changing to yellow in that moment.
"It's about the last mission. Leth Grek Seven Prime was a diversionary tactic."
"Exactly. We and the rest of the GA had been distracted and the enemy hit."
"Hard, the ammo supply situation in the whole south will be drastically complicated."
"It's even more than that. They distracted more units than just us and thinned out the defenses of such an important planet like Isde Naha. It's the message they deliver, not even the regional important powers are safe."
"And this sows even more disunity and fear."
"Exactly." She shot him a glance again, before she looked back to the road, they almost were at the bridge now. "Remember that liaison from Leth Grek Seven Prime?"
"I think I saw him before I left for the planet."
"We arrested him before he could leave the Eternal. He was the one transferring the message that we were bound. Unfortunately the relay that received the message was already gone when we could finally pinpoint where the message was sent to."
"So, we cannot even trust the people we help anymore?"
"Afraid so."
"Scheiße." It escaped SunTzu in german.
"Ja, Scheiße. As you guys say, das kannst du laut sagen."
The two of them arrived at the Palace, after Ami filled in SunTzu with more details about the detaining of Captain Mij. It had actually been Kenji who had been able to pinpoint the location to where the mole had sent his message to. SunTzu didn't know about that but the work that Kenji and Ryo did on their small work shop, dubbed the Nerd Shop by Makoto, was priceless for the Intelligence Service as well as all parts of the Taskforce's staff who had to do the slightest with battlefield analysis.
They were early, so Ami and SunTzu briefed themselves on the latest developments together with Agent Smith.
All involved Intelligence Agencies were out for revenge after having been presented in such a bad limelight and even Ada shortly joined the briefing via holo-projection. Counterintelligence Operations were now on the way and Ada made sure that Director Kalenda made it her top priority to make sure that a failure like this wouldn't happen again.
After their briefing the trio headed over to the meeting room the briefing of the leadership would held in.
Surprisingly Rei and Yuichiro were not attending. The Chief of State had requested her to Coruscant shortly after they had landed back on Earth and the Senator had left immediately. Some high ranking members of the Diplomatic Service attended the briefing instead. To SunTzu's discontent Setsuna was missing as well, too much work in the hospital wing someone told him.
Artemis opened the briefing and the first points on the agenda were the usual status updates from the various services and branches.
Ami was the last to give her update on the current situation, telling the rest of the leadership about the counter-offensive of the Intelligence Service and that apart from the outer-planetary efforts, Royal Intelligence would also strengthen it's counter-intelligence efforts on Earth, the Royals just had signed a decree that gave Intelligence more authority to do so.
After Ami it was the Neo Queen who took over, to most of the attendants surprise.
Rei just had sent a message to her, in two days she would bring in a very important bill, a bill which could change the course of the Shadow War. A bill which would change parts of the galactical economy to wartime economy. After the loss of the manufacturing sites on Isde Naha it immediately became clear that the loss needed to be made up for. The initial plan to get back to the front was postponed so and the Royal Court would leave for Coruscant tomorrow to show it's support to the cause and their Senator.
The meeting ended and SunTzu wouldn't have minded to do something to get his mind off of things. He was still overtired but knew he wouldn't sleep well tonight as well. Those nights where the faces of the fallen, Marvin, Gistess, sometimes even Anniten, visited him in his sleep, were wearing him down so some quality time with someone he was close wouldn't feel too bad to get some bad images out and some good emotions in.
Unfortunately Haruka and Hotaru both had their Daddy-Daughter-Day today and were already on their way for more shenanigans together. At least both had a good time together and SunTzu joked with both that this could also double as bring-your-child-to-work-day. The other Senshi were busy as well and the trip to Coruscant had to be prepared as well.
SunTzu was sitting at his old place to rest, the bench under the cherry tree near the Crystal Tower and had a cigarette, thinking about what to do. He could have used a drink but was reluctant to go alone, he was afraid to overdo it again and loose himself.
And then he saw Ami coming from the Crystal Tower, she smiled as she walked over.
"Why the brooding face?"
"Ah… I'm just a bit tired. Slept bad."
From the look in the blunette's face SunTzu knew that she understood what has been plaguing him.
"You didn't seem too well earlier on already. Want to talk?"
"There's not much to talk about. Just the nightmares that naturally haunt you with the kind of things we do. Or when you kill your girlfriend and blow up her solar system."
A small gust of wind swirled some of the last cherry blossoms around as they sat there in silence for a moment, SunTzu taking another drag on his cigarette.
Ami studied his face with the dark shadows under his eyes.
"I'm not someone for an after-work-party but if you want we could get a bite somewhere and a beer. Don't worry, I'm not gonna annoy you with any phrases that you have to stay positive or so." She added the second sentence hastily after he had gazed at her.
"Don't worry, Ryo is working on the cold-fusion-propulsion over at the university. I doubt he will be home before late." Ami told SunTzu further.
"Sounds good. I wouldn't mind a beer with a friend." He hit her with an awry grin.
The two friends took the subway to a station nearby the university and one street further was a small nightclub district, filled with young people, as night had already fallen on the city.
"That's the place where the students of the Royal University go out. One of Ryo's students showed us this small izakaya in an side alley. I think you will like it."
Four minutes later they were sitting at the bar and had ordered beer and some food.
To SunTzu's surprise Ami didn't talk about work any minute, but rather a plethora of other things. She might not have been the best when it came to interpersonal interaction but she sure knew how to be a friend, a good one at that.
At SunTzu's second beer she looked at him and then asked him if she had ever told him that she almost studied in Germany. To his surprise she was speaking german, and even in her clearly alcohol-affected state after almost three quarters of her glass it was completely fluent.
SunTzu hadn't even known what he had missed, but talking with Ami about Germany in german had an effect on him. He never had felt home-sickness or missed something from his birthplace, how could he, the only confirmation he had that he was German was from his instructors back on Kamino, but it felt good to to feel that spot of nostalgia being stimulated in a positive way. After SunTzu's third glass of beer, and Ami's one and a halfth one, they left. SunTzu was a bit worried about Ami getting too drunk.
Ryo had come over from the university when Ami had told them were they were and also shared a drink and some dinner with SunTzu. When Ami had excused herself to go to the bathroom before leaving he had thanked SunTzu, Ryo had immediately noticed that Ami needed that bar visit. She had taken the successful enemy ruse bad, and personally, so he was glad that she had gotten to blow off some steam today.
They took the subway home together, Ami falling asleep, head slumping on her husband as soon as they had a place to sit and slept until their station. She was a bit embarrassed when she and Ryo said their goodbye to SunTzu who had to go one station further but SunTzu told her it was all good and thanked her for being a good friend.
This night SunTzu got some rest in, he almost had no interruptions in his sleep at all. And dreamt of a certain someone he had missed seeing all day.
On Coruscant the Senator of the Sol System had been busy.
Leia Organa-Solo had requested her to help her and their fellow supporters with bringing Senators on their side for the introduction of a bill which would put the Galaxy's arms producers into war economy. Rei was the Chief-of-State's new favorite pupil and so she trusted Rei with getting in contact with some system senators who feared that this economic boost would only benefit the huge mega corps like KDY and CEC but fact was alone for the sake to be able to still have the possibility to build ships, weapons and armor, every plant which could support the war effort would benefit.
For two days Rei had met with dozens of senators, businesses men and officers, letting them know how badly a change in the economy was needed to keep up with the losses, of course from first hand.
And Rei didn't shy away to be honest and personal about it, telling people that the Taskforce the Fighting Senator was part of, was devastated by the fact that they lost the plants on Isde Naha because they got played.
It was evening on Coruscant and tomorrow the Senshi of Fire and Passion would hold an introducing speech for the cause to get the Galactic Senate prepared for the words of the Chief of State, right after the rest of the Inner Court would arrive to show their support for the cause. Rei, thankful for the opportunities and her friend's support, was exhausted nonetheless and almost on the way out of the office when she received a holo mail.
Rei opened the message and was fully revitalized after seeing it. None other than Senator Daala had invited her for a glass of wine in the Imperial Embassy, to talk in private.
Within minutes Rei had left her office and was on the way to one of the repulsors of the senatorial motor pool.
In the car she called Yuichiro, who had left earlier to cater for when Rei would arrived at home, and let him know, that she would take more time as she just got an important appointment in.
Gods, how much she loved that man she thought, as he immediately told her no problem and just to let him know when she would be on her way home as he would order the most greasy comfort food available on the planet before giving her a massage.
Rei arrived at the Embassy of the Imperial Remnant, the building being a mixture of a luxurious palace and an impregnable fortress.
After a thorough scan at the main gate, Novatroopers in black and gold armor were silently standing guard all over the complex, the repulsor-limousine was driven directly to the entrance of the embassy building.
A quartet of four Novatroopers were standing as espalier as a Major welcomed Rei formally and polite and then lead her inside. The inside was similar to the outside, a mixture of lavish riches and military pragmatism.
Rei was lead into a small but luxurious decorated room, where dark wood mixed with bordeaux filled the walls and made the colors of the furniture.
It wasn't exactly to Rei's surprise that her receiver told him that Madame Admiral would see her soon. Apparently in the Remnant a Admiral was still higher-ranking than a Senator.
Rei sat down but a picture in one of the corners of the room caught her attention and she got up to have a closer look.
In vibrant colors it depicted the sunset over a steppe, conveying the spectator of the beauty of the rather harsh place.
"This canvas is from Carida." The voice of Senator Daala made Rei jerk, she hadn't heard the older woman entry.
"You see, Alderaan was not the only planet destroyed in the Galactic Civil War." Rei turned around to Daala. "Nor was it the last planet destroyed." Their gazes met but Rei couldn't see any challenge or accusation in Daala's eyes.
"Hello Rei."
"Senator Daala." Rei bowed down politely. "Thank you for inviting me."
A faint smile appeared on the Remnant's Senator's lips.
"Good that you could arrange it, I am aware the invitation was rather short-dated." She motioned to a small table which had to elbow chairs around it.
"Can I offer you something? Maybe a tea? Or some brandy?" Daala asked as they sat down.
"Tea sounds fine." Rei answered with a smile and Daala nodded.
She pressed a button on her chrono and immediately a steward appeared in the room.
As tea had been served the steward had left the two of them alone again.
"You probably want to know why I invited you."
"I suppose it's about the introduction of the bill tomorrow."
"Exactly. We both know that the Imperial Remnant cohesively and openly supports the bill."
Rei nodded, the Remnant, although unofficially already in war economy, would benefit not only economically but also in defensive nature from the bill, as it for example included funding for recruiting, and the frontlines weren't that far away from the Remnant so a larger fleet was very much in it's content.
"As it does Sol. But it isn't for our two factions' benefit I assembled you. I heard you, as per of the delegation of the defence board meeting with the financial board, had a rather heated discussion with the Senator of Taris."
Rei froze for a second as her cheeks heated up. Had that made the round? She and the Senator of the pacifist system had quarreled loudly after she vehemently refused the bill, and not only because the financial aspect and the change of the Galactic Status Quo.
Daala smiled, warmly, something Rei wouldn't have expected from the Admiral turned Senator.
"Don't worry, it won't get into public. I just wanted to let you know that maybe you should sometimes keep a cooler head. Personally I am a fan of your passion but with some of our fellow senators you can only communicate while being objective. I'm sure the Chief of State has told you this already as well."
Rei's cheeks took on a crimson tone again, the feeling of getting caught catching up.
"She has." The Senator from Earth replied with a low-kept voice and to her friend surprise was answered with a smile.
"Just an advise from someone who used to be very much like you."
Rei nodded again, thankfully.
"There's also something else about the bill I wanted to talk with you."
Rei looked at Daala, not knowing what she meant.
"I heard you were one of the driving forces to increase the governmental spending on matters of refugees coming along with the bill. Believe it or not, the Remnant, with it's Imperial citizens from all over the galaxy, a lot of them former refugees from worlds like Corulag and Belsavis, very much welcomes this proposal. I wanted to personally thank you for this."
Rei opened her mouth but closed it again, she needed a moment before she spoke.
"After seeing first hand people loosing everything It was only naturally."
This time it was Daala nodded in agreement. "You see, Rei. We're not that heartless, atrocity-inducing dictatorship we used to be. The Remnant under Pellaeon learned his lesson."
The rest of the talk was mostly about details from the bill, while the two senators enjoyed their tea. Daala also let Rei know, that should the bill pass, she would soon join an expedition to the Sernpidal system to see if it was fitting for mining operations. Because the system was so remote and nobody exactly knew what was really going on in this part of the Galaxy, parts of Death Squadron as well as Jedi Master Jade-Skywalker would accompany the mission. Rei filed the information, not really sure why Daala had told her that so explicitly, but maybe the former fleet officer was just happy to get back onboard a starship again.
The next day the Royal Shuttle landed on a platform of the Senate, escorted by AICA and the Voyager.
The pilots noticed that room to land was quite sparse as most of the Senate seemed to be attending today's meeting.
Welcomed by their Senator, in a bordeaux colored two piece pant suit with a slim waist, and a pair of even colored Jimmy Choos, Yuichiro next to her, dressed in the uniform of the Taskforce, one sword dangling from his hip, and the diplomatic staff, the King, dressed in a white uniform, just as his admiral to his right, and the Queen, donning a Victorian-era inspired dress, left the shuttle. Except the princess and the Head of Court, who was wearing Victorian-inspired clothes just like her queen, every accompanying member of the Court wore the uniform of the Taskforce.
SunTzu never had seen the Senate this full. Apart from what seemed to be every Senator and their entourages, the visitor gallery's were stuffed with onlookers, from what seemed to be company executives to officers. Outside media and peace protesters, as well as opposing protesters, besieged the Senate while CSF had a small army placed in the senatorial district. It wasn't a secret which bill would be brought in today.
Still SunTzu noticed the whole show only half-heartedly as he was more occupied to recognize how much Lieutenant Colonel Meiou tried to keep distance between them, just after genuinely showing concern for him just the other day. Again. He was pretty sure if he wouldn't have greeted her with a salute earlier at the landing platform she wouldn't have greeted him at all. Why was it so hard to have any idea what he was on with her at all?
Stonefaced he sat down in the first row of one of the visitor galleries, staff officers around him, while the Outers together with General Cracken and the leadership of the starfigher academy had taken their seats in the last rows. The other Inners, Luna and Artemis had followed the Royals and Rei onto Sol's designated platform within the convocation chamber.
The meeting was opened and almost immediately opposers of the bill began to voice their concern.
Head of Senate Marrithraar had to ask the Grand Chamber to order a few times before the bill was completely introduced.
What then followed was the most important part for SunTzu and the other Earthlings.
She didn't needed much, or grand words, but Senator Hino of Sol let the Galactic Senate know how important the bill was. She told first hand about the devastation caused because the military was not strong or numerous enough to protect it's civilians, about the radio messages, units in their last stand had sent, asking for reinforcements or evacuation when there simply was no one available to help them. The faces of people who had lost everything. And, and SunTzu briefly felt her an invisible touch from her, which he answered with a wave of warm supportive feelings, while she talked about how the War changed the peoples fighting in it, as whatever they did, the Alliance was always just reacting.
The applause following Rei's speech showed that the majority of the Senate was for the bill, although the opposing faction tried to make up their missing democratic numbers with volume.
When Leia followed Rei and told the Senate that she simply couldn't stand the fact that they were doing the same mistakes they had done before in the Yuuzhan Vong War and not take this war as serious as it should be taken it was completely silent in the Grand Convocation Chamber. But when Leia ended her pledge for the Galaxy to not produce a second Fall of Coruscant the Senate erupted into one of the loudest cheers ever heard inside it. At least three quarters of the Senate were giving standing ovations and from outside the applause from the ever growing numbers of supporters of the bill, demonstrating for it, could be heard even in the senate building.
In the end the bill was introduced with more than eighty percent of the Senate voting for it. It took some time but SunTzu could somehow find a way to her platform and congratulate Rei with a big, long embrace between the two bonded souls. At least he also could tell her how proud he was before she honestly apologized as she was expected at a meeting with the Chief of State. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as goodbye and two seconds later, Yuichiro did the same with a mischievous smile on his lips, making SunTzu rub his cheek and curse after the now laughing Japanese while he sprinted away, following his girlfriend. After rubbing his cheek, SunTzu couldn't help and laugh as well, crazy hippie.
SunTzu left the Chamber again to meet with the rest when he stumbled onto Hotaru in one of the corridors.
"Ah, i was looking for you. Guess what!" Something had made the often stoic seeming teenager very happy.
"I don't have any idea. What's up?" SunTzu asked, really not having any clue.
"I got invited to teach a few hours over at the Academy. Starting this week. Can I stay here?" Hotaru, standing on her tip toes, arms crossed behind her back and that puppy eyes on she knew SunTzu and Haruka-Papa both couldn't say no too, asked.
"That's…that's great. Yeah, of course. Let me know about any paper work i have to sign."
"Uhm, there is another thing. I'll be giving practical training as well. And this means I'll…"
"You'll need AICA, I get it."
"Exactly."
"Guess I'll take the shuttle home then. You keep me updated."
"Sure thing." She said and clapped happily in her hands. "Ah, Michiru-Mama and Haruka-Papa were also invited, I guess they'll escort the Royal Shuttle back to Earth and then fly back. But don't worry, Setsuna-Mama will travel back."
Not that she's much interested to even be on the same planet as me…
In the end SunTzu took a regular flight back to Earth, along with Luna, Setsuna and Chibiusa. The Royals had been invited to a meeting with the Jedi and the Chief of State, Ami to one with GAIS and what she had called other intel sources, Makoto would visit the Spec Forces Headquarters and Minako, apart from learning, would take over personal protection of the Royal Couple along the four guardists who had accompanied the shuttle. The flight had already been overbooked so SunTzu had the pleasure to travel on a jump seat at the back of the shuttle while the three women had places in the first class.
And of course Luna came to the back to check on him the same moment, one of the flight attendants was trying to flirt with the handsome man in uniform while offering him some refreshments. Not that he had participated in the flirt or even spoke much but he was pretty sure Luna would comment about the stewardess, busy with beaming at SunTzu, to the other two women.
No matter what he did, lately it all felt like he didn't had any chance with Setsuna at all anymore.