Immediately after the space battle over Saleucami was over and some vectors had been declared clear for using to approach the arid planet the first assault transport and transport gunships with Recon, Intelligence and Special Forces were on their way. All these ships were escorted by starfighters.
Among those snubs giving escort were also the Voyager and AICA, and their pilots. Right now they were escorting a flight of two troop transports, carrying Spec Forces from the Anakin Solo, on their way to one of the velds of the planet.
They hadn't time to take a break after the battle and one of the two Outers in the Voyager wasn't exactly having it.
"I wouldn't have mind a little break. A diva like me needs her beauty sleep."
"Michiru is right."
"As always, Haruka."
"Yes, Love. As always. They shouldn't waste us for such missions. They could have at least given us a recon run."
"I guess they want to be safe that the transports will not be hindered by the remaining land-based droid fighters."
"Hm." Haruka wheezed before Michiru chimed in.
"Talking about that. You two got these three Vultures on screen? One-fifty clicks."
"Copy." SunTzu said and then AICA chimed in.
"The Kataians Just came in, they're already on it. Looks like they still don't have enough from blowing snubs out of the sky."
"Works for me. Hey AICA, what's on the radio?"
"Oh, I bet you gon' like that, boss."
One of the comms channels was still playing music and it still was from the 90s on Earth.
"Awesome… Girls in one… two… three…"
"BACKSTREET'S BACK, alright!" The three sang together as one.
While the various elite units contacted resistance cells, scouted for landing zones and reconnoitered enemy positions, the fleet above Saleucami took on defensive positions while its regular ground troops readied themselves for their deployment.
Thousands of soldiers boarded drop ships, crews ran the last checks of their vehicles and throughout the larger ships of the allied fleet, war machines up to AT-ATs boarded landing ships.
The first air strikes on enemy positions were conducted while all around the planet starfighers from Jacen Solo's Fleet Group engaged the remaining droid starfighters. Recon missions were flown and smaller anti-air-sites were attacked as well, all this was meant to clear the way for landing as many units as possible for a large first land attack.
The Taskforce was once more at the tip of the spear, AICA, Styx Squadron and SunTzu patrolled the skies, the Voyager and, after a small discussion in which Haruka completely gave in because, just like SunTzu, she just couldn't say no to Hotaru, Hotaru's Y-Wing flew recon missions, Umbriel Squadron engaged anti-air- and -spacecraft-emplacements on a wide corridor to create a safe flying space for the transports and Dionne Squadron bombarded the first enemy camps with target data supplied by the Wolves.
Three hours after the end of the space battle the first landing zones were cleared and alone the Black Annie let go off a small flotilla of landing craft.
The combined forces of two armored divisions were shuttled to a landing zone in a desert, a few hundred kilometers away from the capital of the planet, called Taleucema. The ground troops were heavily guarded from the air and space and with companies of Spec Forces also securing the perimeter. Repulsor tanks, long range artillery, mobile anti-air units, infantry fighting vehicles, mobile shield generators, armored personal carriers and other vehicles, their crews and armored infantrymen arrived and swarmed out to make room for more transports coming in.
It didn't took long until the first recon units and tank spearheads engaged against the first droid troops on the ground.
At this point, on another part of the planet thousands of kilometers away, secondary mountains describing the area pretty well, although it was also rather dry and arid, SunTzu was leaning against AICA, his slick plate carrier over his flight suit, the antennae of his radios extended, a cigarette in the corner of his mouth.
He had landed AICA in a small valley and few dozen meters behind him was a rocky and dusty hill. SunTzu also knew that somewhere, probably hidden in a piece of dry shrubbery, Kiwi and Aussie kept an eye out for any enemies. The rest of Team 1 as well as Team 2 were scattered over the hills around the valley and kept overwatch as well.
Unseen from the ground the concentrated air power of the Taskforce was ready to pounce onto any enemy advancing towards the hills and the valley.
SunTzu took a draw from his cigarette and then pushed a button on his PTT.
"SunTzu to Castellan. LZ Odaiba is open. How copy?"
"Copy, SunTzu. Dropships on the way, ETA four minutes."
SunTzu took another drag and then pushed a button on the PTT on the other side of his plate carrier.
"Listen up Gals'n'guys, the main force will be here in four minutes." He let the Commandos know and right after he had finished the radio message he looked up into the sky as he had heard a familiar sound.
It was partly cloudy at this part of Saleucami but a few seconds later a Y-Wing broke through the clouds and headed to right where he stood.
Thirty seconds later the canopy of the now landed Longprobe opened and Hotaru pulled her pilot helmet down and shook her hair out. She had landed right next to AICA and SunTzu extinguished his cigarette under his boots before he looked up to her.
"Mind if I watch how you manage this circus here? I could learn something." The teenager asked.
SunTzu shrugged. "Sure thing, but it's by far not as exciting as calling in CAS."
"Still have to learn it if I want to follow in your footsteps."
With that said Hotaru jumped out of the cockpit and agile and light-footed like a cat she landed on her feet.
"Follow in my footsteps? In decades maybe, I'm in my absolute prime."
"Sure thing, Mr. 90s Nostalgia Soundtrack."
"Darn kids these days."
Both smiled at each other before SunTzu pulled out his phone to verify his and the incoming transport's position, Hotaru looking over his shoulder, listening to his advice on what to look out for.
First Battalion was the first major unit of Taskforce Sol to set foot on Saleucami and soon Third Battalion followed and while the First Battalion was already engaging droid forces in the area, supported by Sol's starfighter squadrons and Commandos, the Third hurried to fall into the enemy's flank.
SunTzu saluted Major Andersen as she and her staff followed her soldiers into battle, leading from the front.
The droids still had their programming from the Clone Wars and the Earthlings had no real problems to take on larger formations as their tactics were outdated. And the Earthlings very well knew about the weaknesses of the former CIS-Droid-Army.
And not only did Taskforce Sol knew this, the forces of the Fleet Group, lead by the Fifth and Fifty Second Armored Divisions, their combined personnel strength almost 25.000 individuals, were outnumbered almost four to one but were still successfully engaging the robotic invaders of Saleucami on a frontline that was fifty kilometers wide.
Thirty kilometers away from the second biggest city of the planet a large tank battle between several brigades took place and marked the momentary main flashpoint of the Battle of Saleucami and also one of the largest and most heavy land battles of the whole Shadow War so far.
But heavy fighting was reported from all over the planet, from large vehicle battles to small engagements where the GA's elite forces and the planetary resistance attacked the droid's forces.
The next day and after some rest, SunTzu and Hotaru flew back from the Eternal to Saleucami.
The First and Third Battalion were advancing slowly over their area of operations, with smaller-sized skirmishes against droids flaring up on the way.
Second Battalion, or rather the whole Sol Brigade, and Fourth Battalion were deployed a few hundred kilometers away, in another region of the planet, their main goal a few cities and the local enemy Headquarters.
The landing zone lay on a plateau and while the mechanized and armored units were staging and waiting for their command to attack a few dozen kilometers out, the fire support units, mainly the heavy mobile artillery of the Taskforce, relentlessly raked the hastily set up enemy defensive lines. The battery of hover artillery and the battery of HIMARS-Launchers were also a few kilometers away from the landing zone, and from each other, and after each salvo their crews changed their positions to not be a victim of the also very active droid artillery in the area.
This was called shoot-and-scoot and after a few salvos against the defensive positions of the droid army the Taskforce's artillery, now having triangulated the enemy's artillery positions began to systematically destroy the droid's big guns, mostly HAG repulsor artillery.
In the sky the starfighters of the Taskforce, mainly the K-, EE-Wings and Tie Scimitars, guarded by Terra- and Ganymed-Squadrons, made sure that tactical air support was there when and where needed.
On top of that, not even the best tactical droids in the ranks of the former CIS-Forces knew, was that the first Commandos of Serenity's Wolves already had their sights, optics and laser designators trained on high valuable targets behind the enemy's main defensive lines.
SunTzu landed AICA at the landing zone named Yuigahama, located on a plateau, guarded by infantry, machine guns, anti-air platforms and a mobile shield generator. It also housed the brigade's headquarters and supply point nearby.
He and Hotaru had been ordered to help coordinate the incoming transports and a special visitor.
Both pretty much knew who would visit the command post to get a firsthand impression. Artemis and Colonel Bernard where in the TCC of the Eternal and King Endymion, along with Master Cilghal, we're in a meeting with the Solo-Twins and their staff on the Anakin Solo, so that left only the Neo Queen and the Princess as visitors.
Both Guardians weren't exactly thrilled to think about both of them being within an area of brigade-sized combined arms warfare but the mobile shield generator and the very well-trained and disciplined platoon of Royal Guards as well as the AT-MPs further securing the landing zone made at least for some sense of protection.
Thousands of kilometers away from the surface of the planet the Royal Shuttle of the Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo departed the flagship of Taskforce Sol and headed to the LZ Yuigahama.
Inside one of the rows of seats was taken by the four Inner Senshi and their Neo Queen, opposite of them sat the Princess with Sailor Pluto on her right and Luna next to Pluto.
The mood of the five Sailor Senshi sitting on one side was great.
Still there was playing 90s Music over the radio and of course the Neo Queen had requested to play it in the back of the shuttle. And of course the five young women were singing along.
"I wanna, I wanna, I wanna"
"I really, really, really wanna zigazig, ah!"
"Damn Minako, I thought I'd be Mel B. You always were Ginger Spice!"
"I thought I'd try something new."
"You can't just change a decade old layout, Minako!"
"Yeah, Rei is right. Ami was Baby Spice, I was Sporty Spice, Rei was Posh Spice, Usagi was Scary Spice and you always were Ginger Spice."
"Fine, if y'all want to live in the past. New try when the chorus kicks in?"
Four heads nodded.
On the opposite side of the shuttles passenger compartment, Luna leaned in to Sailor Pluto.
"This is the reason I can totally understand wine moms and their drinking habits. It's been like that for fifteen years now." The black-haired Head of Court whispered to the Senshi of Time.
The shuttle landed and flanked by her Inner Guardians and with her daughter a step behind, a platoon of Royal Guards around them and Sailor Pluto, Sailor Saturn and Luna following behind them, Serenity II. was lead by the commander of Fourth Battalion into the command post, which was housed in a large tent. A military photographer was part of the entourage as well, snapping pics of the Queen and her Senshi.
SunTzu stayed back at AICA, keeping an eye on the air traffic with the help of the AI, while above the Voyager circled, the Senshi of Flight and the Senshi of the Deep Sea had escorted the Royal Shuttle to the planet's surface.
SunTzu and Sailor Pluto had both seen each other just for the blink of an eye, as their professionalism made sure that their main focus was on protecting the Neo Queen and the Princess but both shared a tiny smile, not visible for onlookers. That was except for Sailor Saturn, Princess Serenity III. and the Inners. Saturn and the Princess exchanged glances after observing it, both smug grins on their faces.
Usagi got a quick, made-easy-to-understand rundown of the strategical and tactical situation on Saleucami and the Taskforce's areas of operation and also met with some of the soldiers on the spot for some promotional pictures of the Neo Queen at the front, not that the real front was dozens of kilometers away.
What wasn't PR though was the genuine interest and care Neo Queen Serenity once again showed for her soldiers and officers.
For many it was just a show off but the troops knew that the Queen genuinely cared and worried for them, the higher echelons even knew that the Queen rather would have fought alongside her men than to be in the back but as Ruler of Crystal Tokyo, and the GFFA's designated Ruler of Earth, she just was too important for this.
A few hours later the offensive of the Sol Brigade had drastically reduced it's speed of advancement as the droid army now had dug themselves in, hindering any break-throughs.
The armored vehicles of the Task Force had taken defensive positions as well as their Commander-in-Chief had personally ordered them to do.
Nonetheless the artillery and starfighters of the Taskforce still were busy with raining ordnance on the enemy positions.
The Royals had promised their soldiers reinforcements and soon after they had entered the system the two Star Galleons of the Taskforce begun to descend on Landing Zone Yuigahama.
These reinforcements weren't from Crystal Tokyo though, they were from an allied nation on Earth.
It had been kept Top Secret from the point when the units of the French Army had been loaded into the Star Galleons near Marseille over to the small stop on Crystal Tokyo to load supplies for the Task Force and to the entry into real space in the Saleucami System that the 1er REC, the First Foreign Cavalry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion, as well as a company of the 13ème DBLE, the 13th Demi Brigade of Foreign Legion, would support the Galactic Alliance's campaign on the arid planet.
The Voyager had landed next to AICA as the first of the large ships landed on the LZ.
Haruka was standing next to SunTzu and Hotaru, her arms were crossed and she wasn't exactly looking too happy as Hotaru, now back in her pilot suit, instructed the Moon's Bounty for it's landing.
The Neo Queen, the Princess, the Inners and Sailor Neptune were awaiting the arrival of the allied troops, Sailor Venus and Sailor Neptune would be the translators for the Queen as she didn't speak French.
The French troops were veterans of several campaigns against irregular forces and it was shown by the quiet but efficient professionalism as they left the armed cargo freighter and stepped into the warzone.
They also showed the bond to their traditions as the troops who weren't taking care of the vehicles marched out in formation, their Kepi Blancs on, the traditional white head cover of the French Foreign Legion, greeting the sovereign of the Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo with salutes. Serenity and her Inner Circle took off their disembarking with the grace expected by the ruler of the Planet Earth and her court.
As soon as they passed the women, the soldiers from all over the world, united under the French flag, met with their commanders and prepared themselves for immediate combat.
The Neo Queen and the other Senshi spoke with the commander of the Cavalry Regiment, a Colonel and his staff to welcome them to Saleucami, thanking them for their service and contribution.
Obviously Haruka wasn't having it, that the French made her girlfriend, her Neo Queen and her cousin laugh.
SunTzu, between helping Hotaru with the air traffic, noticed her angry stare and her huffing.
"Yo, what's the matter? You mad about something?"
"Look at these guys. I know how the Frenchies are, they are probably flirting by hook or by crook with the girls."
Now SunTzu crossed his arms as well and took a double look at Sailor Pluto.
Good thing she was in the back of the group and apparently absorbed in keeping an eye on the perimeter.
Soon after the second Star Galleon followed and also landed at the landing zone.
The Neo Queen and the Princess, along Luna, the French Commander and the Inners, stood nearby and watched its descend and then greeted the rest of their French Troops with their presence.
Suddenly Chibiusa recognized a single person strolling out of the starship, a man dressed in civilian clothes.
"What the fuck?! Mom, that's grandpa!"
"Chibiusa, it doesn't suit a princess to talk like… Holy fuck! You're right!"
A completely dumbfounded Neo-Princess walked over to her father, who was wearing a camera around his neck and had a sea sack with him.
Chibiusa and the Inners were close behind.
"Papa?" Usagi was disgruntled. A battlefield wasn't exactly the place you wanted to see your parents in.
"Hello my dear Usagi! Hello Chibiusa-Chan!" Kenji smiled as he saw his daughter and his grandchild.
"Why are you here? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is here?"
The smile on the man's face vanished. "I… I thought, that if my daughter, Ruler of the Earth and the legendary Sailor Moon is fighting all over the Galaxy I should do my part as well. I'm not much of a fighter but I still can operate camera. And let the world know what you guys are doing out here. We both know that I used to work in hazardous areas." Kenji held up the camera and nodded to the group of women.
It began to dawn in Usagi, the last time she had talked to her mother, she had said that her dad was in some kind of middle life crisis and felt like his life wasn't thrilling enough and that his work of chief-editor felt plain and boring.
But this was just stupid, traveling through half the Galaxy and into one of the most heavily contested planets in a Galaxy-wide war wasn't exactly like taking pictures of accidents and the occasional robbery.
"How did you even come here?"
"Oh, I thought I had to do this, so I packed my back and went m to the Palace to ask you to take me along but was told you even weren't on the planet from Furuhata-kun. Then I saw these ships landing nearby and thought they would go where you would be. Nobody stopped me after I told them who I am and so I boarded this thing. I made friends with the crew and some of the French on the journey."
Usagi didn't even answer, all she did was beginning to massage her temple.
The first French AMX-10 RCRs, wheeled recon tanks, were ready to roll out into combat when it became evident that there was a major thing missing for the French forces when it came to keeping in touch with the command of the Taskforce and the Fleet.
The regiment had no communication devices to keep up communication with the ships in orbit and the forces which had landed with the Fifth Fleet, something which would hinder fire and recon support massively.
As fast breakthrough element the unit needed to establish communication somehow and as SunTzu heard it, he immediately volunteered to JTAC for the unit and to keep up the communication, but there was just one problem.
SunTzu didn't speak French, and the Foreign Legion wasn't exactly the most bilingual unit in the World.
They needed a translator if they wanted to not waste life-saving, precious time on the front.
SunTzu tried to approach Sailor Venus who he had seen earlier with the the Neo Queen but Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury did let him know, that both Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto had moved closer to the frontline to help with the tending to the wounded.
Before he could think about a Plan B, the most obvious choice for the role walked up to him, her girlfriend, not looking too fond, in tow.
"You need a translator for fire support. And you probably won't find anyone better suited."
Haruka was worried, what had befallen her beloved Michi to volunteer for such a risky mission? Senshi or not, trying to flank an armored CIS-Unit with some wheeled tanks that wouldn't withstand the shot of an AAT.
Michiru didn't even react to Haruka's worries, she knew that she was the most logical choice, not only could she be the translator, she also was a pilot and knew about the difference from attacking from the air.
SunTzu was on her side, of course he told her about the risks but at least he understood that she was the right for the job.
Michiru on the other hand, actually had way too much fun with the whole thing.
She adored how Haruka was worried about her, while she also had the satisfaction to have her way. Knowing that Haruka at no chance in the Galaxy could say no to it, she had used her most seductive voice and look to sent her to fetch combat gear and clothes for her, while she and SunTzu held a small briefing about the mission along with a French officer.
For a second she looked at SunTzu and had another idea.
For added entertainment, this dusty sand bowl of planet was unappealing and boring after all and just patrolling in space wasn't exactly thrilling as well, she could put in one last full round of teasing before she'd stop it for Setsuna's and SunTzu's sake. She would miss it, it always made Haruka so mad and it was so funny when she rattled up SunTzu. Too bad, but seeing her two best friends together sure made up for it, well at least if Setsuna finally would make up her mind again.
Setsuna had that sparkle in the eye when she spoke about that night, that sparkle she used to have in her eyes back when she had fallen in love with Hotaru's father and when she talked about him back then and yet, she still fled from her own feelings. But Michiru also couldn't blame her, Setsuna had been devastated by Soichi's death and she could only imagine how bad it had been with that other man.
A few minutes later Haruka came back, carrying combat pants, shirts and the personal protection equipment for a soldier. And she also had a carbine slung over her shoulder.
Michiru was way too sweet with Haruka when she received her stuff and disappeared in the Voyager to change her clothes.
Shortly after she was back outside and checked her plate carrier, weapons, radio and helmet.
And apparently Haruka and SunTzu had talked with each other again, as when she did so both now tried to persuade her to not come along.
Michiru was not having it but she knew how to easily shut up SunTzu. Especially now that Hotaru was not here but guarding the Princess.
The Senshi of Deep Sea slipped into the plate carrier which of course needed to be adjusted to sit right for optimal protection.
"I don't know if this thing will fit right. Maybe you should consider again to stay here, if not even your protective gear fits." Of course SunTzu would come up with this.
"And you or someone else could die because of the language barrier and the precious time you'll loose with translating, even if AICA could help you. And now would you be so kind and help me fit my plate carrier."
Her voice made sure that she was right about that but when SunTzu, reluctantly came over and began to adjust the armored vest, Haruka next to him, about to say something about Michiru's safety, the teal-haired already had something on her mind that would shut them up.
"Make it fit right, SunTzu, so it can't move much. My nipples are very sensitive, not that they'll chafe under it. Haruka would hate to be able to not play with them and I swear to the Blue of Neptune that I'll make you personally rub lotion onto them when that will happen, every combat lull."
SunTzu immediately blushed and went stiff, exchanging a glance with the angry at him staring Haruka.
A few moments later SunTzu was done Michiru tested if the vest was sitting right.
"Merci. I guess we're good to go then."SunTzu nodded and held her helmet and rifle up for her to grab it. "But please, just one moment."
Michiru turned around and suddenly jumped onto Haruka, who catched her midair in her arms. SunTzu turned around and looked away as the two lovers shared a passionate kiss and told each other that they loved them.
Haruka let Michiru down and the later let her hand glide a last time over the face of her girlfriend.
"I'll promise I'll take care down here. Take care in the sky."
Haruka had to smile and Michiru walked over to SunTzu from whom she took her helmet and her rifle.
"Alright, let's liberate this planet."
Not even ten minutes later the convoy of French armored vehicles, MRAPs, wheeled APCs and Recon Tanks, left the landing zone and headed towards the front.
SunTzu was standing in the open hatch of a VAB, an armored personnel carrier with four wheels and space for ten passengers. Next to him, down in the vehicle sat Michiru and spoke in French with some of the legionnaires in the vehicle. It was the company's fire support specialists but SunTzu couldn't understand what they were talking about, it seemed pretty professional though.
Just as they left the landing zone, which also was used as supply point SunTzu noticed that there was a civilian taking pictures of the convoy with a camera, Sailor Saturn and the Princess close behind him. And when they came closer SunTzu recognized that it was the Queen's father, Mister Tsukino, who took the pictures. For a moment SunTzu asked himself why he hadn't seen the man before onboard the Eternal but then he saw that Chibiusa was waving and he waved back before he and Hotaru shared a nod.
A moment later they passed the defensive positions of the field base and the vehicles accelerated.
Kenji Tsukino finished making pictures of that convoy of grim but resolute looking French soldiers when the last vehicle rolled past him, the young soldier in the open hatch in the back shooting him a victory sign. His gaze followed them further and he thought to himself that these mostly young men he had gotten to know on the flight to this planet sure were brave. Would he willingly fly to a warzone on a planet he never had set foot on before?
"Alright, Grandpa. Ami told me a few other places which are okay for you to take pictures from." Chibiusa told him. "We'll take you there."
Usagi had asked Chibiusa and Hotaru to take care of her grandfather and let him take some pictures, of course after checking in with Ami about OPSEC, while she would call her grandmother.
Chibiusa actually was happy to have her grandfather around and even be able to spent some time with him. Quality family time, especially with the rest of the Tsukinos was often very limited as her parents and lately she as well, seemed to always be busy.
Both Usagis had asked Kenji if grandmother Ikuko knew about the trip and he had said confirmed it.
While her mother rolled her eyes, Chibiusa had to hide a smile.
Her grandmother probably didn't care much about Ojīsan's trip, between her daughter being a super hero and designated ruler of the world, several times of the Earth almost perishing and a granddaughter that had somehow had aged a few years in a few moments, Ikuko-sobo had developed something of a sheer endless tranquility and probably would enjoy the peace of her solitude.
It took one and a half hours for the convoy to reach the rear lines of the combat units of Taskforce Sol.
Back here vehicles and units were supplied and it also was the first stop for the treatment of light and moderately wounded.
The French convoy had stopped temporarily as the commander of the force was in a short briefing with the leadership on the spot, Michiru had accompanied him and SunTzu had been absorbed in double checking his communication equipment.
It didn't take long and the French vehicle started their motors again.
On the way back to the vehicles Michiru saw a collection point for wounded. Various medics swarmed a bunch of wounded. Most of them were only lightly wounded and either sitting or standing around, some of them had cigarettes in their mouths.
A few cases were wounded more seriously and lying on stretchers. A certain Sailor Senshi of Space and Time was triaging those before medical personnel, among them Sailor Venus began the treatment.
Before walking back to the vehicle SunTzu was standing in, Michiru made a small detour.
Just as she arrived, Sailor Pluto had finished the triage of the wounded soldiers on the stretchers and the other medics and Minako took over.
Setsuna noticed Michiru but she couldn't greet her best friend with a smile, not that she wasn't happy to see her but this was simply not the time nor place for it.
"Neptune? What are you doing here?" She asked curiously, not unfriendly at all.
Michiru motioned to the French troops. "I guess I'm with the Légion étrangère now."
Pluto looked over to the vehicles and spotted SunTzu in one of the vehicles, her gaze fixing on him.
"He needed a translator." Michiru stated, looking at SunTzu, who was still busy with his radios, as well.
"Being with the breakthrough force is pretty dangerous."
"Oh, both Haruka and SunTzu weren't exactly too thrilled I was onboard as well. But don't worry, I'll bring the both of us home sound and safe."
Now both women finally couldn't help but to share a smile.
For a quick moment Michiru grasped gently around Setsuna's arm and Setsuna answered with putting her other hand over her friends hand and squeezing it gently.
And then Michiru began to walk off but stopped after a few steps again, turning around.
"Anything you want to let him know?"
"I think even Rei failed in telling him to not do something stupid."
A half smile appeared on Michiru's face before she turned around and continued to walk back to the French troops again.
From the rear lines to the main defensive line it took another fifteen minutes.
SunTzu was already checked in with the air support as well as fire support of the artillery and the starships above.
Out where they were now the terraforming the Yuuzhan Vong was still visible and SunTzu thought how ironic it was that droids were fighting in an environment artificially created by the machine-hating Vong.
Near the front line the the sound of battle was now clearly audible, detonations of artillery and air strikes, occasional gun and blaster fire as well as the heavy guns of the armored vehicles.
The units here were stretched out around the FEBA, the Forward Edge of Battle Area, and staggered for a defense in depth, the enemy was numerically superior after all, but also they were ready to commence a counter attack as fast as possible, once the enemy lines had been broken or at least weakened enough.
The first line was composed of the heavy tracked T6-B tank platoon of the Taskforce, meant to draw fire with their superior armor. Right behind were the Taskforce's repulsor tanks, ready to immediately push forward in a counterattack.
The last line were the ITTs and the infantry, anti-tank-missiles ready to strike the enemy before he could. The Brigade had already warded off a few probing attacks and now it was time to try one as well.
But not through the front and the mass of the droid force on this front line, the French Forces would use velocity to hopefully flank the enemy and surprise them on a weaker spot. That was at least the plan, which was far away from being without risks, the French forces could easily get completely obliterated as well.
When the French vehicles had passed Sol Brigade, they accelerated again. Hatches were closed, gear checked a last time and weapons were made ready.
The vehicles changed their distance to each other to have more room in between and the tanks' cannons as well as the machine guns on the APCs and MRAPs swung into different positions to secure all directions.
Michiru was standing next to SunTzu in the second open hatch of the VAB, checking if her rifle was properly loaded and ready to shoot before she turned to SunTzu and activated her radio to him.
"Neptune, Radio Check."
SunTzu gave her a thumbs up and then turned to keep overwatch over the back of the vehicle.
A moment later a message came through both Michiru's and SunTzu's headset.
"Honneur et Fidélité!" The commander of the French Forces announcing the Foreign Legion's motto was the command to attack and the tanks began to swarm out.