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"Dude, I saw the holo, the Dominion basically Tokyo-drifted over the Chaos’s Will and hailed the bridge structure. It’s a fucking miracle, that the Diver and Dominion didn’t hit each other when they blew through the Will.” Using grand hand gestures SunTzu explained what he had watched on holo screen to Haruka.

The later, together with Michiru and Hotaru, just had come back from the battle. The enemy fleet, apart from half a dozen capital ships, the biggest ones two VSD-Variants, posted around the Fondor Shipyards hanging over the northwestern hemisphere of the planet, had now completely been bested. Except for a handful of corvettes and frigates, mostly manned by mercenaries, the enemy had fought to his end, as the GA’s Gravity Well Reactors had prevented them from fleeing.

The GA’s two Armadas together had, apart from the rather severe damage on the Dominion, Grand Admiral Pellaeon’s flagship, lost almost 50% of their capital ships and even more than half of their fighters and bombers. Right now, rescue and salvage operations were the main effort of the Armada while the offensive capital ships moved out to reform their formation. The intact and less damaged ships of the Pellaeon’s First Armada, made up of Imperial Remnant-, Empire of the Hand-, Chiss- and ships from the New Frontier, all in all still eleven cruisers and star destroyers, as well as some more smaller craft, maneuvered around the slightly damaged Blue Diver and the remaining thirteen capital ships around her.

As dozens of ships had been destroyed, and hundreds of starfighters, the rescue efforts were large and various. Corvettes and frigates directly docked to the wrecks of larger capital ships while transports and gunships also moved up onto the smaller destroyed ships.

Apart from that, teams of Intelligence Personnel and Units, Special Units and Boarding-Parties stepped onto destroyed enemy ships to detain survivors and retrieve intelligence.

The Far side herself was right next to the wreck of a destroyed Carrier, with the ship’s crew trying to rescue survivors, just as the Starstruck was with a destroyed Star Destroyer of the Empire of the Hand, as were several other Corvettes alongside her.

One of the Larties of the Taskforce was retrieving starfighter pilots who had ejected their ships, not all of them still alive, as Chaos’s Forces usually did, they took out pilots and survivors when they had the chance.

In the medbay the air was warm and extremely humid. Survivors of the Mon Calamarian Transport Ship Mester Reef had partly been brought to the Eternal, the med bay now cram-full with wounded, not only Mon Calamari but also from a plethora of other species from other destroyed ships.

Minako was wearing scrubs, being in one of the operation rooms of the med bay, right now trying to save the life of a young crewman of one of the destroyed ships, a gaping stomach wound bringing him to the brink of death. She knew that right next to her operation room, Cilghal was busy doing the same with crewman and soldiers from that MonCal Transporter which had been destroyed by the enemy suicide attack. At least no organs had been harmed.

“Suction.” Minako ordered in a plain, neutral voice, and the nurse next to her began to get to work, giving Minako a second to breathe. She knew that from the medbay to the seemingly never ceasing shuttles coming in with new wounded, there was still enough work to be done in the next few hours and days.

Firm and focused at the beginning of the stream of wounded heading for the medbay stood Setsuna, overseeing and taking over the triage of the incoming wounded, or in almost half of the cases now, the dying and already dead. 

The Rescue Teams and Commandos did their best to help and stabilize the wounded survivors of the destroyed ships of the GA but time was running out. In several cases the ships sustained such big damage and destruction that there were no survivors at all. Transport ships and corvettes now were moving in to save the non-wounded survivors while the fleet moved out into a defensive position, still quite a distance away from the planet and its spaceborn shipyards.

Tens of Thousands had died so far, and the Galactic Alliance had lost one of its precious and powerful Mediator-Class Cruisers, the Krinemonen as well as several other important Cruisers and Star Destroyers. A lot of these ships also had ground troops and their equipment for the invasion onboard, assets that were missing now.

Which meant, that the commanders, especially the ones leading ground troops had to reevaluate their plans. 

The troops these officers commanded were, if they weren’t used for Rescue or Security Missions, getting prepared to land and fight on the planet of Fondor immediately by the time the space battle had ended.

And so, as most of the remaining starfighters and bombers we’re getting rearmed and serviced, with others patrolling, and the capital ships formed up and assessed their remaining ammo and their damage, other parts of the now combined inter-galactic fleet were more than busy. 

Lieutant General Seidil Nahtuk, a Corellian, was the leading officer of the ground troops tasked with freeing Fondor, and its shipyards and docks, from the grasp of the Forces of Chaos.

The majority of the ground troops would deploy close to the metropolitan areas with specialized fast assault regiments and units deploying near the industrial centers, being tasked with securing them as fast as possible. Fondor was not only a planet specialized in shipbuilding, mostly KDY-Designs, but also in ground vehicles, also mostly KDY-Designs.

Taskforce Sol, and the accompanying US-Troops as well as a handful of international observers, mostly from the European Union and Japan, did have a special task as well, being tasked by the Neo Queen herself and backed and requested from the US-Government. 

There still was or, if things had gone a dire way, had been a contingent of United States Marines on Fondor. The Marines had decided to stay back on the planet and continue the fight when Fondor fell earlier this year. Since then nobody ever had heard of them, or anyone on Fondor again.

And now the two Space Galleons of Taskforce Sol were filled with Marines eager to either rescue or revenge their brothers-in-arms.

On top of that, the Neo Queen, as well as the Chief of State herself, had made clear that apart from the economical and strategical importance of having Fondor back under the control of the Alliance liberating the population of the planet was also from highest importance. The planet housed five billion inhabitants and everyone inside Taskforce Sol, and everybody in the GA who knew what the enemy was capable of, hoped that Chaos hadn’t turned too many of them into mindless slaves by this time already.

SunTzu watched the space battle end along Alask at the MCC, next to the leadership of the Taskforce.

The rest of the battle still costed a number of capital ships and several starfighters, even though the enemy had already lost his flagship, a huge Star Dreadnought and dozens of other capital ships.

Meanwhile the flagship of Grand Admiral Pellaeon, the Super Star Destroyer Dominion, along with several other, also damaged, ships had already maneuvered out of the actual combat zone, starting preparations for their return to Bilbringi, to assess the damage taken and take the ships in for repairs.

The holo-map also showed the ships running rescue operations around the wrecks of the destroyed GA ships.

When the last enemy ship, a heavily-armored Tector-II Star Destroyer exploded and broke into parts, SunTzu turned around and then looked to Alask.

“Guess we have a bit of time until we’ll be out again. You should get some sleep.”

“I’d rather wait for the return of Lieutenant Meiou, Major. But I promise to battle-meditate as soon as I know she is back.”

“Alright.” And then he began to walk away with a smile and shook his head. “Junge Liebe.”

Five minutes later the Bavarian pilot arrived at the hangar which handled the arrival of the incoming CSAR-Teams and medevacs.

From a few meters he observed the grim spectacle in front of him. He had seen enough triage points in this war, even tried to help at some but here on the Eternal, a home abroad, with Setsuna in the middle, more or less playing grim reaper and having to decide who might get a chance and who was done, this was different.

“Come here.” A single look at him hit him, between her checking on two heavily wounded crewmen.

Slowly SunTzu, still dressed in his black and grey flight suit, crossed over.

When he arrived she already was moving over to the next wounded and just gave a nod to her five.

“Grant her some company.”

For a moment SunTzu furrowed his brows as he looked over and then he saw what his lover and lifesaver meant, a few meters away lay a starfigher pilot, obviously a female and badly wounded, writhing in agony. He immediately understood what Setsuna had ordered him to do. He swallowed hard before he began to walk and although he would rather just stay frozen where he had been he arrived just a few blinks of an eye later at the pilots side, kneeling down.

SunTzu recognized the female pilot as a young yellow-skin-colored Mirialan, just a few years old enough to be in service, probably a rookie starfighter pilot. SunTzu looked in her glassy orange eyes, looking at the roof of the hangar, as she was searching for something. Her orange-colored flight suit almost had the same color as her hair, but the left side of both were blackened from fire or an explosion, as were parts of her face, neck and head. Although SunTzu was sure that she was pumped full with everything from Opioids to Bota she still seemed to be in pain, as she rapidly whispered something in her native tongue. And then it hit him, like he had been there, the Force showed him a vision. She had been a young X-Wing-Pilot, Fondor had been her first combat assignment and she had survived almost until the end until an enemy Skipray-Blastboat had hit her X-Wing with an Ion-cannon-shot, disabling it and then a missile. She had managed to eject in the last second but the explosion still had burned her. SunTzu had to take a deep breather and shut down all of his emotions for a minute, fighting against the urge to vomit as it felt like he had been on her place instead. 

He leaned over her and took her right hand, prompting her briefly glance over to him, while still whispering. Also SunTzu could tell that she tightened her grip on his hand although there wasn’t much strength left in her. For the tiniest of moments SunTzu weighed in on the thought of ending her suffering but his Force-Sensitivity let him know that she was already at the brink. 

“Mama”. 

SunTzu didn’t know if she used the word in basic or if the Force had translated it but her last word was louder than her others, although still quiet in the loud hangar, with crying of wounded, orders and the transports coming in and going out.

SunTzu clenched his hand around hers as he could feel her soul leaving her body and closed his eyes, saying a little prayer.

After that he took a look at the woman‘s, or rather, girl‘s face and then gently closed her eyes. Still kneeling beside her he looked at Setsuna and for a moment their gazes met, as she was moving between two wounded.

Her eyes and face gave away a small thank you to her lover and he pressed his lips together and nodded slightly. And again it hit SunTzu how easy it was for him to take life and how hard it must have been for her to save life. And by that he knew he should take a break as well, trying to get his emotions in check before getting back into the fight.

“The loss of the Krinemonen is a disaster. And a severely damaged Dominion is a very, very serious matter for the Empire.”

“You have my firm support for Bilbringi rejoining the Remnant. As I’m willing to opt for more resources for the Chiss and the Empire of the Hand. And that is not only as thank you for saving our ships.”

“Which wasn’t a political matter but one between friends. You saved my family, I saved yours, Rei. And this was not a matter of getting even.”

“I know Natasi but still…”

“I’m not that irredeemable evil, red-haired Imperial Witch that most of the former, failed New Republic makes me up to be. I’m an officer, honor is part of my integrity.”

“Thank you.” Rei replied after a short delay, honest words of appreciation.

“Will you join the ground forces?”

“That… thing is probably down there. And if that’s the case I’ll turn it to ash.”

“A Force Deity… as if the Jedi and their unholy powers weren’t enough. Anyways, the Senate will come together soon.”

“That’s faster than expected.”

“The Bothans urged for an emergency meeting.”

“They had horrible losses out there.”

“Which of course they’ll want to get reparations for. I’ll be honest with you, I’ll push the Imperial Agenda immediately as well. And additional Ammunition for Sol. Forward an enumeration of your spent ammunition to my office as soon as you can.”

“Will do, my assistant will participate as listener in the meeting.”

“My ships will stay protecting the landing fleet. Furthermore good luck in the liberation of Fondor. And Rei… don’t take unnecessary risks, you cannot imagine the amount of turpitude Force-Users are capable of.”

“I’ll take care. And we’ll take care of each other.”

Senator Dalaa of the Imperial Remnant ended the connection. For a moment Rei stood quietly, phone in her hand in her tiny office onboard the Eternal. Her next call would be with the Chief of State, and although having powerful allies, friends, in this political climate after the call with Leia it was back to navigating the snake pit.

Sometimes I understand why my father is such a jaded asshole.

Two hours later, after a Force Meditation to regain some energy and some food, SunTzu and Alask met their other three wingmen in the hangar which housed their starfighters. By now the hangar was completely full with starfighters from squadrons not belonging to the Taskforce.

“Snubs from an Endurance-Class Carrier which had been blown to stardust by the enemy.” Karleena had told them. Outside the hangar the remaining Armada under Aftab Ackbar, Pellaeon on the Dominion and the other severely damaged ships had just left the system for either Bilbringi or Corellia, had formed in a smaller offensive formation with the strongest and least damaged ships and another formation, forming a defensive perimeter around the landing fleet.

SunTzu expected to be called onto a mission briefing for escorting the first gunships and assault transports onto the planet and therefore had checked on AICA. As regularly lately, specified ammunition like Multiple Warhead Missiles and Pulse Warheads had been rationalized, and now even the proton torpedoes had been limited. The war made Sol spent too much ammo.

As he checked in with Karleena and several other crewmen as well as the three flying Senshi, Alask and AICA, the intercom of the Eternal called the five pilots to immediately report to the bridge. With cursing from Haruka, on why they had to go up there just to back to the hangar, the group left.

Meanwhile the Neo Queen of Crystal Tokyo and Lieutenant Trambley, closely followed by two armed guardists were on their way to the ward.

On their way streams of wounded on litters, both traditional and repulsor ones, were moving out from the medbay.

“Where are these wounded going to Lieutenant?”

“The fleet sent two additional medical ships, we are relocating some of the wounded to get treated on those, as of now our medbay is totally overflowing with wounded and we don’t have the capacities to treat them all.”

“The Galactic Alliance suffered horrible losses in this battle.”

“Indeed, we did, your Majesty.”

“At least another battle where we didn’t loose a member of the Taskforce, as for now. But I fear the moonlight won’t keep us lucky forever anymore.”

Before the lieutant could answer they passed Jedi Master Cilghal, accompanying the train of wounded.

She and the Queen greeted each other with a respectful bow.

“Are you overseeing the transport, Master?”

“Only partly, your Majesty. I have to meet with some of our pilots for a special briefing.”

“Problems?”

“Hopefully not. But you know who might be on this planet. The Jedi came prepared.”

“I see. Please see that our pilots still get as much information as they can, for their safety.”

Cilghal replied with another respectful bow before she continued her way.

“Your Majesty?” Lieutenant Tremblay asked the Neo Queen respectfully as she had seemed to fall in deep thinking a moment later.

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant. Please, let us carry on.” She smiled a warm smile at the man, hoping that he hadn’t seen the emotions on her face as she had thought about the danger it meant when the enemy’s worst weapon would have been on that planet.

A few minutes later they arrived at the medbay. 

“It’s like a greenhouse in here.” The Queen let out a heavy sigh, as the dampness and the tropical heat inside the infirmary hit her.

“Most of the wounded onboard are MonCalamari, so we decided to make the surrounding a bit more to their liking.” Minako approached her ruler from near the entrance gate to the medbay.

By now, Dr. Aino had the oversight over the relocation of the wounded as the more experienced doctors, among them Doctor Meiou, were still busy trying to save the lives of Galactic Alliance warriors of different species in the operation rooms.

By now, Dr. Aino had the oversight over the relocation of the wounded as the more experienced doctors, among them Doctor Meiou, were still busy trying to save the lives of Galactic Alliance warriors of different species in the operation rooms.

The corridors still were overflowing with wounded, some standing, some sitting on chairs, some sitting on the floor, with the middle of the corridors vacant for medical personnel and stretchers, Royal Guards and Military Policemen, making sure it stayed that way. A few nurses and medics were also checking on the wounded, most of them either human or MonCalamari. 

Usagi had to swallow hard first, the mixture of aggressive odors, among them blood, anesthetic alcohol, chemicals, sweat, sea water from the MonCalamari, was nauseating.

Minako stopped in front of the Neo Queen and as soon as she did so, Usagi pulled her in for a tight hug.

“I am so sorry, you have to endure this.”

Minako, still embraced, began tapping her friend’s shoulder. “There, there. We’re still fighting the good fight. And we saved a lot of lives already.”

“Mina-P…”

Minako gently caressed her best friend’s cheek before she quietly began to consort the young ruler. “Everyone serving is doing this out of his own free will. It’s not your fault, Usagi. If someone is to blame then it’s Chaos.”

“So many dead…”

“And so many we can save now on this planet. Including people from our system.”

For a moment Usagi looked down. 

“Guess you’re right.” She looked back at Minako. “Can we help those Mon Calamari?”

“The ones that made it here, have quite a good chance. But it’s been twenty minutes since the last MEDEVAC came in. I don’t know how many individuals were on that ship, but from a few thousand it seems only a few dozen have made it.”

For a moment there was silence before Minako continued with a rather positive sentence.

“We also have two of our starfighter pilots who were shot down and retrieved in here, fortunately they are not seriously wounded. It pays to have the gunships and escorts on standby to bring our pilots home.”

Usagi nodded. “You’re busy, I’ll let you continue your work. Give me regards, to Setsuna, Doctor Schneider and the rest of the staff here.”

“Will do.” Minako pressed her lips together, nodded and went back to her work.

Usagi watched her friend tend to the lines of wounded in the medbay as she recognized one of the Wolves sitting in a corner on the ground, face stoic, it was one of the Commandos from Team 5. Wondering why the man was here she walked over to him.

“Corporal Haruss, what happened, are you wounded?”

The young man immediately stood up and to attention but when he was in the movement to do a salute he stopped and instead bowed down before he excused himself.

“I’m deeply sorry, your Majesty but I am not able to salute properly.”

“Corporal?” Usagi asked with worry in her voice and it made the man’s face twitch for a moment. 

“Lost my prosthetic arm while helping to free some of the survivors on board one of destroyed ships.” He presented the last bit of metal coming out of his arm which ended just below the elbow. “Ripped away, why I tried to keep a piece of durasteel from crashing down. At least we could get two crewman out of the debris before it came down and took my prosthetic with it.”

Like naturally Usagi laid her hand on the rests of the destroyed prosthetic, making Corporal Jaa “Stick” Haruss twitch again.

“Does it hurt bad?” Usagi asked softly, her hand gently moving over rest of the damaged false limb.

“The nerve impulses stop when the prosthetic gets damaged, so not anymore. But the moment I lost it, I definitely felt that.”

“You set a shining example, Corporal, helping our comrades so selflessly.”

“Thank you, your Majesty.”

Stick was really nervous by now, even as elite soldier of the Galactic Alliance it was rare to even get recognized from a single politician, and here the ruler of his new home and force praised him openly for something all of them would have done.

“Your Highness, the Admiral has new information about the insertion. I suppose we head back to the Mission Control Center.” Lieutenant Trambley had appeared next to Serenity.

“Ah yes, I’m coming, Lieutenant.”

The Neo-Queen began to fall in step with Artemis’s adjutant but then stopped and turned around again.

“Thank you for sacrifice.” She tried to smile at the Commando and he replied with another bow.

As soon as she was out of the ward she turned to Tremblay. “Lieutenant, make arrangements that Corporal Haruss will receive the Star Heart and a promotion, as well as a medal for valor.”

“Affirmative, your Highness. I will seek to prompt everything as fast as I can.”

“And if you catch word of any heroic deeds of our soldiers like this, give them the same recognition.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

“Our supplies of warheads are running dry, especially the MWMs.”

Artemis was talking to Commander Jordan and Captain Santos in a remote corner of the MCC.

“Not much longer. I arranged that for us.” Three pairs of eyes jumped onto the Senator of Sol who had approached the trio, her boyfriend and bodyguard a step behind.

“Then let’s hope there won’t be any counter-attacks on the system.”

“As you probably saw, as long as we are here, we are specifically protected by the Imperial Remnant.”

Artemis looked a moment in Rei’s blue eyes. “How much will that cost us?”

“We already paid in advance on Coruscant, that one day.”

“Gentleman, would you give me a second with the Senator?” With a respectful nod both officers moved a few steps away, Yuichiro as well took a few steps back.

“Daala so. You know I trust you Rei, but don’t make obligations we cannot return.”

“Don’t worry, that wasn’t political. It’s personal.”

“Then let’s hope we stay in a place where people are trying to help us.” Artemis looked to the side to make sure anybody else than Rei was out of earshot, before he continued with a lowered voice. “We both know, if we cannot succeed in taking Fondor back, that’s it.”

Rei nodded. “At least the Jedi and most of the military support us.” 

“Actually, we’re waiting for a team of Jedi to join us in the first assault.”

“Heureka! I got a signal!”

“You did… woah, we really have one!”

“Quick, put in all regular US-Military-Frequencies. As well as the International Emergencies ones!”

Since arriving in the system, Ryo and Kenji had been trying to get a signal through the system-wide jamming of the enemy, affecting all communication on the planet. Finally Ryo had the idea to step away from trying to get through on the more advanced Galactic Alliance Channels and devices and concentrated on the technology of Earth.

Neo Queen Serenity stepped into the MCC and found her husband, Artemis and Rei, along with a few officers and Yuichiro standing around the map table. This time they weren’t looking at a holo projection but rather watching one of the junior officers, who was bend over the map, which was lying on the table.

Apparently the Junior Officer was busy listening to his headphone and drawing things onto the map.

“Sir, the Head of Intelligence gave her go.”

One of the Intelligence Officers inside the MCC, also a headset on, let Admiral Artemis know. The later directly adressed the young officer on the table. “Lieutenant, you may begin.”

Usagi stepped towards the map, recognizing that everybody’s gaze was glued to the young officer who communicated with someone on his headset.

“Mamo-Chan, what’s the matter?” The Ruler of Crystal Tokio asked her husband as she stepped beside him.

“Kenji and Ryo somehow managed to bypass the jamming, the suppression of radio traffic, with the planet. At least when it comes to Earth’s technology. If there are any Marines alive down there, with a working radio, we might have a chance to locate them.”

“Can we also talk to them.”

“I don’t know as I’ve to ask one of the communication specialists, but I guess so.”

Usagi nodded and then took a step back and began to round the people, heading for Rei.

Just as she arrived, the young lieutant shouted out. “I’ve triangulated them. And… I think… yes, Mister Kino affirms we have a line!”

“Just a moment, Lieutenant. Trambley, inform General Shofield that we apparently have contact with the Space Expeditionary Force.” With a “Yes, Sir.” Trambley swung around and moved to one of the communication officers.

“Your Majesties, I suppose it would be good if you are the first to contact our allies on Fondor.”

Usagi looked at Artemis after the later had told that, then at her husband who nodded friendly at her and then at Rei.

“I think it would be even better if Rei would be the first one to make contact.”

“Usagi?” Rei was dumbfounded.

“While I am the ruler of it, you are the voice of our system.”

Rei still stared at Usagi who then continued. “I mean that with my full heart. You were always better than me in English anyways.” The young regent smiled at her best friend.

“Fine.” Rei rolled her eyes but then smiled. “Let’s hope there’s still someone alive down there.

The five starfighter pilots were standing in a corner of the bridge, Artemis was nowhere in sight.

“Okay, for fooking real now. Why they call us up here and then let us wait?”

“Haruka-Papa?” Haruka side-glanced at Hotaru, standing next to her. “Language.”

Both Michiru and SunTzu began to giggle and had problems containing themselves, while Haruka muttered something.

“Sorry guys, Admiral’s busy.” Stinger Jordan arrived at the bridge. “But he told me to let you know, that you’ll get a special task. You’re not only guarding our reconnaissance forces to the ground you’re going to join a special Jedi squadron descending on the planet in advance of the first wave. Admiral Ackbar wants you onboard the Blue Diver asap.”

A salute later, the five pilots were back on the way to the hangar.

“They could have told us that via a foo…”, Haruka looked at Hotaru. “via radio. No need to let us run through the whole ship.”

“I remember running used to be one of your favorite sports.” Michiru replied with a disarming smile, which didn’t help to boost Haruka’s mood.

“SIR! You’re not gonna believe that!”

“What’s the matter, Staff Sergeant? More bad news?”

“No, it seems that our Allies are still up there in space. Taskforce Sol is making contact with us.”

After months of a cruel and enduring battle, Major Eising, the highest-ranking surviving member of the USMC Space Expeditionary Force which had stayed back on Fondor after the system had been lost, along with the legendary Garm Bel Iblis and his flagship the Harbinger, wasn’t buying this change of luck so easy.

“Any confirmation, that it’s definitely allied troops?”

The Staff Sergeant looked at his commander, he had no way to confirm if this really were troops from the same side. Suddenly the field radio bursted to life.

“All Earth Personnel on the planet of Fondor, this the Senator of Sol speaking. If you can hear me and have a chance to, answer my call.”

The Officer and the NCO exchanged another look, before Eising grabbed the microphone.

“This is Major Eising, United States Marine Corps, speaking. I need confirmation that I’m talking to someone from Earth.” Of course the two men knew the voice of Rei but it still wasn’t enough to identify her.”

It took a moment but then Rei came back.

“Major, I have a Marine Corps General on the other line that says, he’s getting your ass NJP’d if you don’t unfuck yourself and talk to me.”

The smallest hint of a smile appeared on Eising’s lips while next to him the Staff Sergeant began to beam, they hadn’t been forgotten, Sol was back to get them from this planet.

“Aye Aye, Madam Senator. I’m more than willing to talk to you.”

“Listen Major, is there a way to talk to Colonel Grill? We want to share mission details with the leadership of your contingent.”

“Colonel Grill is dead Ma’am. I’m the highest ranking Marine Corps Officer on the planet.”

It took a moment before Rei answered to that.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Major. You guys must been through hell. But we’re getting you out there. A thousand Marines and a few thousand warriors from all over the world are getting ready to land on the planet as we speak.” Another break before she continued. “Listen, Admiral Artemis told me to tell you to get together whatever you staff you have left in the next ten minutes and he and General Shofield will clear the details.”

“Affirmative. Thank you Senator. Glad you guys came back.”

“Holding up down there for so long speaks for your resilience as warriors of Earth. Don’t worry we’re coming. Outstanding job, Major.”

“Thank you Ma’am. Semper Fi.”

As Rei ended to call, the Major looked at the Staff Sergeant but he already was on its way to leave the room and spread the news. Eising couldn’t help but smile, they had almost made it.

Michiru and the other pilots landed in a hangar on board the huge battle carrier Blue Diver and to their surprise were greeted by Master Cilghal, waiting for them in front of their landing spots.

“If you would be so kind and follow me, I’ll introduce you to the other members of this mission.”

She told the three Senshi, the Padawan and SunTzu as they had all made their way out of their cockpit, which made Haruka and Michiru glance at each other, why couldn’t they meet that Jedi Squadron here?

Without a word, arms folded inside her Jedi-Robe, Cilghal lead them to a briefing room close by the hangar.

As they entered, SunTzu in front of the women, they saw a dozen individuals from several species sitting inside on the pilot‘s briefing chairs and a very famous Jedi Master in front of a table with a large holo map projector.

“Master Sebatyne, our allies have arrived.” Cilghal informed the Barab Jedi Master, another one of the members of the Council, standing in front of the other pilots.

“Ah, this one is pleased, that they came so fast. So you are the pilots of the Sailing Warriors?”

It was Michiru who took the word, she smiled after the comment from the Jedi-Master.

“Indeed, three of us are Sailor Senshi. And I suppose you know Major SunTzu and Padawan Lonarrch.” Both greeted with a respectful bow as did Hotaru, when Michiru used an arc of her hand to show them. Only Haruka was more reserved, looking unimpressed, chewing on a bubble gum.

“I didn’t expect to fly alongside the Wild Knights, it’s an honor for us.” Michiru went on, which was accompanied by nods from SunTzu and Alask.

The Wild Knights were a legendary squadron, completely made up of Jedi in various starfighters. 

“And this and her squadron are honored to fly alongside zzzomeone so powerful and skilled. Now, if you want to sit down, I would start the briefing.”

In the next five minutes Saba Sebatyne introduced her squadron to the pilots of Taskforce Sol as they then introduced themselves to the Wild Knights and then they went straight to business. There was only one reason the Wild Knights were over Fondor and why they had not participated in anything else but defensive actions so far. The dozen Jedi were sent by Luke Skywalker and the Jedi Council to hunt for Abeloth as there was a possibility that she still was on the planet. 

Nobody could say for sure, as the Beloved Queen of the Stars as she was called by supporters of Chaos was possible to hide her impression in the Force, as well as probably other things that nobody knew for sure of yet. Therefore the Wild Knights along with the flying Senshi, SunTzu and Alask would be the first ships to reach the atmosphere of the planet, followed right behind several assault transports and gunships filled with SpecForces, Serenity’s Wolves and Storm Commandos. Cilghal would also be onboard of one of Sol’s gunships.

Fifteen minutes later the pilots left for their ships again and while all the other Senshi and Alask were talking with the Knights on their way, Haruka was the last one to get out of her seat. SunTzu had walked a few steps behind the group before he turned around and looked at the Blonde, still chewing on her bubble gum. “C’mon Iceman, let’s bring some

Marines home.”

Haruka just followed him without a word, but SunTzu knew his best friend enough to know, that she was tense and just tried to hide it.

The Wild Knights flew different types of starships, among them XJ- and StealthX-Wings, I-7s and A-9s as well as two Y-Wings, even two GAT-12 Skipray Blastboats were part of the squadron, making it a very formidable force capable of heavy strikes and fast assaults.

Along with the Y-Wings of the Senshi the two combined forces were able to deal with most threats that could come up on the descent towards the planet, be it fast Interceptors or land based anti-air fire.

Another fifteen minutes later the Earthlings and Alask were back on the Eternal and had a quick meeting with Artemis in their hangar.

Artemis briefed them on which teams and units would go first and in which dropships. He also urged the five pilots to be on the lookout for the dangers that Abeloth meant. Unfortunately some of the attendants seemed to not be in awe.

“Admiral, does that mean if I shoot at Major Tenoh’s ship on the way down to the surface, I could get away with it, saying it was Abeloth controlling me?”

“Wha… you bloody Basterd!”

“Majors, please this is serious.” Artemis sighed. “I’ll need you to take off in T-3 minutes, this is arranged to be on time with the Wild Knights. Take care out there, and may the moonlight light your path.” That said he straightened up and the pilots saluted him before he went away.

“You’re lucky we don’t have time that I fuck you up, Fritz.” Haruka turned at SunTzu but in the same moment, Michiru’s hand landed on her shoulder and the teal-haired violinist broke into laughter. “SunTzu that was amazing. I don’t know how you could stay so calm. That one is yours.”

That said she slightly squeezed Haruka’s shoulder and then began to walk towards their starfighter.

“They have a bet who is better at throwing you off your balance.” Hotaru stopped next to her mother and neutrally explained to her. Haruka’s face turned to blank stare as she watched SunTzu appear next to Michiru, offering her an arm which she took with a brilliant smile.

SunTzu took a quick glance into his rearview mirror, behind him he could spot the combined starfighters of the Senshi and the Jedi as well as eight dropships, two of them Larties from Taskforce Sol, three IDTs with Imperial Stormcommandos and three U-Wings loaded with SpecForces.

He knew that that was just the first wave of reconnaissance units moving towards planet, the tip of the tip of the spear of the gigantic army waiting to retake Fondor. 

One of the Skipray Blastboats from the Wild Knights would also take over the electronic warfare component of the mission, trying to jam the enemy transmissions and sensors.

Next to SunTzu was one of the fast A-9 Interceptors of the Wild Knights but it felt weird to the German, since Abeloth could have been on the planet, the Force-Sensitives were adviced to cloak their Force Powers as best as they could and although SunTzu had been knighted as a Jedi he was sure he was probably one of the most untrained Jedi in the squadron. And it wouldn’t be exactly easy to concentrate on not being sensed and fight their way down, the enemy was knowing they would come.

A few minutes later they passed the outer lying ships of the Armada, a Lancer-Class Frigate and a VSD, having their weapons at the ready in case any enemy came up from the planet’s surface, squadrons of fighters were patrolling the area. Suddenly SunTzu’s radio came on.

“Make sure we reach the surface in one piece, will you, TopGun?”

“Rei?!”

“It’s Senator for you, Pilot. We’re on an official military mission.” There was no question she was mocking him and SunTzu knew that Haruka was cackling loudly in her cockpit right now.

“What are you doing, Rei?”

“I’m in one of the gunships, joining Teams 2 and 5. I heard there might be a little blond something with tentacles down there and i felt like having octopus for dinner.”

SunTzu shook his head, this wasn’t exactly the mission Rei should have been on.

“Don’t worry I got Yuichiro with me helping to slice that bitch up, should she be more than ash after I’m done with her. Oh and your girlfriend’s here too.”

“Guys, Radio Silence.” That was Ami’s voice, and regarding the channel that came in, she was on the transports as well.

Great, my most precious people are on this mission. Better not fuck this up…

“She’ssss right. Radio silence, these all are going in.” Saba gave the signal and the squadron began their descent onto the planet.

They hadn’t reached the stratosphere when the first squadron of enemy fighters, a squadron of Preybirds tried to assault them, immediately SunTzu and the other interceptors of the mixed squadron moved to engage them. The regular starfighters like Alask’s XJ-Wing would act as second wave while the larger and slower craft were just meant to cover the dropships.

The Preybirds were formidable spacecraft but AICA had a lock-on on them long before they themselves could get a lock, using AICA’s sensors, the larger craft in the back used long range warheads to engage along with SunTzu using concussion missiles.

The remaining four Preybirds were no match for the four interceptors manned with Jedi, although those flew without using the Force, but their long experience made up more than that.

Soon after two more enemy squadrons were sent to engage the force and a few minutes later the Jedi found themselves deep in dogfights against TIEs and X-Wings. After a few kills, Saba ordered the Starfighters to clear the path, and stay in formation as much as possible.

The planetary shield was mostly down, as was the land based defensive weapons, which was lucky for the attackers, and when the surface came into sights, the small flotilla split up, as some starfighters were still engaged. The GA’s forces were escorted towards Oridin City, one of Fondor’s major cities and the last known location of a defending army corps made up of local and GA units.

The ships of Taskforce Sol, with SunTzu and Alask rushing in after shooting down another flight of enemy fighters to take point.

A few moments later the four starfighters and two gunships were rushing through the street canyons of this part of the planet. The houses here weren’t as high and large as in the major cities and seemed mostly undamaged, at least for a few kilometers, then the scenery changed into one of a war zone.

Houses were destroyed and various stages of being damaged, streets littered with rubble, destroyed vehicles visible.

A few meter behind AICA flew the Y-Wing manned by Haruka and Michiru, the Gunships  were in between the Starfighters.

AICA projected the path to their landing zone on the HUD of SunTzu’s helmet and the ships raced towards it.

SunTzu wouldn’t mind to have known where they were going and what was waiting for them, but in between flying through the streets, concealing himself in the Force and keeping an eye out for any danger he was too busy to ask AICA for any more informations.

“1 Klick.” AICA’s voice came in and SunTzu decelerated even more while also reducing his height. And then a moment later a plaza came in view. 

Green smoke from two smoke grenades was visible around the middle of the plaza, which itself made for a great landing zone.

Around it soldiers and two Humvees were visible, one of them armed.

“Rah.” SunTzu commented as he brought AICA into a hovering position in the upper left corner of the plaza.

Within a few seconds the two LAAT/is landed, along with Alask’s XJ-Wing.

Former MARSOC and Force Reconnaissance Marines, now part of Serenity’s Wolves, from Team 2 and the former SpecForces from Team 5 quickly disembarked from the gunships. SunTzu watched it over a small monitor in his cockpit, one of AICA’s target cameras broadcasting it. The Commandos were quickly followed by an Intelligence Operative in full gear and a smaller Intelligence Officer from whom SunTzu was sure it was Ami. Deadpanned he watched how a medic in combat gear, taller than Ami, Yuichiro in his traditional robes and Rei in business clothes were the last to leave the ships and as soon as they were away the gunships flew away again.

“Care to join us to escort the gunships out?” Michiru’s voice came in, but SunTzu had other plans. “That’s a negative. Hotaru will join you.” That said he maneuvered AICA with a sighed “Ach ja.” back to the plaza and landed as well.

AICA touched down right next to Alask‘s X-Wing and when SunTzu opened the canopy and pulled his helmet down, he ordered AICA to hover over the area, weapons ready and sensors on, before he grabbed his SBR out of the compartment next to him and moved towards the various leaders of the elements.

Both Wolf Teams had spread out in a defensive 360 degrees formation and the two team leaders, Team 2s assistant team leader and the others were exchanging words with a group of US Marines, while other Marines also secured the perimeter.

As SunTzu closed the distance to the group, he could see that Setsuna and the medic of Team 2 were talking to a Navy Corpsman of the Expeditionary Force a few meters apart of the others. SunTzu arrived just at the main group to hear Major Eising say to continue the conversation inside.

Before he followed the rest SunTzu turned to Castle, the JTAC and motioned to him, that AICA was in the air and he was available via radio.

As SunTzu followed the group inside a multistory building, probably an old city hall or something he could spot weary US-Marines standing guard. Most of them had changed their rifles for blasters, probably because ammunition had become more than sparse. They all looked tired, some of the men were wounded, but still they did their job and even saluted the Senator and officers.

Major Eising lead them to his makeshift command post inside a meeting room. In stark contrast to the MCCs of the warships in space, everything was analogue and maps and paper notes were on the tables.

On the right was a radio station with a few Marines working on it.

SunTzu stood close to the door and watched how Ami immediately went over the situation with Major Eising and his small staff, with Rei next to them.

SunTzu waged to go over to the officers as well but then decided against it, Ami was better suited for what was important now. But he could get a quick rundown very fast.

“Fucking miracle you still got these things working.” He had walked over to the three Marines, two males and a woman, working on the radio station, a mixture of several radios among handheld ones and heavy PRC-117g with a satcom-antenna.

“Sir?” One of the Marines, sitting on a chair, calibrating the radio turned to him.

“You guys must have been through hell and back.” SunTzu fished out his cigarettes from a pocket on his flight suit and offered it to the man on the chair. For a moment he looked at it and then he looked at SunTzu.

“I don’t know, Sir.” He said uncertain, but just took a look around, the building definitely had seen better days, and then back at the young Marine, a man of color, which then nodded.

“Thank you, Sir.” The radioman took a cigarette and pulled out an old zippo. “It’s been a while since I had one.” 

SunTzu smiled and then offered the cigarettes to the other two Marines, a Latinamerican woman who nodded and took one and a white man with glasses who declined. Finally SunTzu lit one cigarette himself.

“How hard was it?” He asked after the first drag, looking at the young Marines.

“We lost around sixty percent of our guys. Fortunately we could keep the enemy at bay here and away from the civilian shelters. With the help of local forces and the civil population we held up, although ammo, even for the blasters, is pretty sparse.”

“The enemy here is mostly creatures made out of some kind of ceramic.” The female Marine added. “With the additional squad or platoon of regular troops.”

“Our bullets are pretty effective against those creatures. We call them Creepers, because…”

“Because, that’s what they do…” SunTzu nodded and took another drag from his cigarette.

“But we’re pretty much out of bullets and explosives so the blasters have to do.” The non-smoking Marine explained. “But allied Forces are spread thin and if we leave this post, thousands of civilians down the district will be defenseless.”

“Sir, please tell us you’re not all we get as reinforcements.” The Female Marine looked at SunTzu, her voice sounded like pleading and SunTzu was honestly surprised and awed. Even after months in battle, on a foreign planet, thousands of lightyears from home, having lost two third of their manpower, these brave women and men never thought about leaving their post.

“We’re just the first wave of reconnaissance. There’s at least two Field Armies made up of units from all over the Galaxy, including a reinforced Battalion of US-Marines, ready to retake the planet.”

The Marines exchanged glances and for what probably was the first time in months, they also exchanged honest smiles.

Suddenly someone stopped next to SunTzu and grabbed into his pocket where he had his cigarettes stored in.

“I appreciate your efforts to strengthen our bonds with our allies, Major, but don’t be a bad example for young soldiers.” Setsuna said as she fished out the box of cigarettes.

“Hey…”

“I’m having to check upon a few dozen wounded Marines and they all need a smoke more than you do, SunTzu.”

Their gazes met and SunTzu’s heart skipped a beat, how could be one woman be so perfect, so sensual, so stoic yet so passionate. He nodded at her, she was right and she answered with the hint of a smile before she continued her way, SunTzu looking at her leaving for a moment, before he dropped his cigarette and extinguished it with his boot.

“Fuck me… you’re SunTzu?”

“That SunTzu?”

The young Marines made SunTzu turn around again but before he could answer one of the handheld radios roared to life.

“Bastion, this is Dagger Two?”

The smoking male Marine grabbed the radio.

“Dagger Two, this is Bastion, sent it.”

“Bastion, we got another wave of Creeps coming in. At least thirty tangos, we’re falling back to our lines.”

“Copy that, Dagger Two.” The Marine turned immediately to Major Eising. “Sir, we got incoming.”

The Major looked up from his map, along with the others.

“All hands, stand to!” Immediately the whole building came alive, Marines ran to their positions, the radioman flipped away his cigarette as he grabbed one of the radios, the non-smoker did the same. SunTzu got up, his first gaze was at Ami, who nodded at him, and then he looked at Yuichiro.

“You stay here with Rei.” His gaze wandered over to Alask. “You too, protect the Senator and Major Urawa.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Major, not Master.” Shortly followed by muttering “God, I’m spending too much time around Jedi again.” to himself. SunTzu fell in line behind the female Marine, she had swung her rifle over her shoulder, there was no magazine in it and checked her handgun while rushing out the room. 

“Fuck.” She muttered after taking a glance at her almost empty magazine.

“Lance Corporal?” The woman stopped and turned after SunTzu spoke to her. He had pulled out his magazine from his trusted HK416C and offered it to her. “Make the best out of it.”

“Oorah, Sir!” She took the magazine and loaded her weapon before she sprinted on.

“Move it People, we got allied troops in contact!” Major Andersen urged troops of Third Battalion to man the assault transport onboard of the Eternal.

On the other side of the Far Side the first dropships loaded with the troops of First Battalion were already leaving the Far Side. After receiving the word that the Marines and the advance party were under attack, Artemis had decided to sent down everything on the planet he could at once. Along with that the first larger transports all through the fleet were on the way to the planet, several hundred soldiers, mostly scouts and special units, heading to different landing zones over the planet, some of them probably in enemy controlled territory.

“Ma’am, Terra Squadron is escorting the transports but our bombers are still being rearmed.” Andersen’s battalion topkick moved up to her.

“Planetbased fire?” 

“No reports on our vector but so far we had only one flight going down.”

“There’s a Bantha-Class full with SpecForces from the Blue Diver requesting escort, they’re  dropping twenty clicks east of our guy’s position.” Michiru reported just as they had reached the outlying line of Galactic Alliance ships in space. “Looks like our guys stepped up the pace.”

“We got it from here.” Captain Tanaka in the first Larty came in.

“You heard the man, Hotaru.”

Both Y-Wings made an Immelmann and headed towards the large troop transport, a few kilometers away.

“Good luck, General Verm. May the Force the be with you.”

“Thank you, Admiral. You’ll hear from me as soon as we neutralized the enemy’s jammers.” Brigadier General Verm, Commanding Officer of the 68th Imperial Legion, one of the most elite Stormtrooper Legions of the Imperial Remnant, watched as the holographic picture of Admiral Ackbar vanished. He was already inside his Sentinel-Class Shuttle, which just had left the hangar of the Imperial Star Destroyer Agonizer.

Verm’s Legion of 9.700 Stormtroopers was tasked with taking out the communication center which jammed most of the communication on the northern hemisphere. The first platoons, in heavy Gamma-Class ATR-6 Assault transports were already on their way to the planet, escorted by squadrons of TIEs. The Remnant wouldn’t fiddle with this invasion, as soon as a landing zone and perimeter were established a whole corps of the Imperial Army with combat walkers was to follow, escorted by a third of the remaining Imperial starfighers and bombers.

“Alright Kataians, we’ll keep the airways open and fly ahead of our dropships. I want all of you to watch out for planetary defenses and snubs hidden.”

“Copy that, Onyx Leader.”

The twelve TIE-Avengers of the Onyx-Kataians raced towards Fondor.

“You have to give the Neo-Queen that. The last time I saw so many different beings under one command was in the Soviet Union.” Balalaika spoke to her XO, while she put a slim cigar in her mouth and watched on as her Desantniks, Nautolean Gressharks and Ragonians from Fourth Battalion getting combat ready inside the main hangar of the Far Side.

“And here I thought I’d feel uncomfortable in the back of an Osprey.”

“Dude, just look out the window. We’re in space, it’s fucking amazing.” Two Reconnaissance Marines which just had boarded the Taskforce’s U-Wing Phobos along with their team onboard the Moon’s Bounty and now had left the Star Galleon on it, were bickering. The second one, who was marveling at the sight of space, turned to the crew chief of the ship. “”Hey Chief, do ever get used to that?”

“Negative, Son. But it’s not always that calm.”

“Quit the chatter and let the Chief do his job, Marines. Double check your equipment and weapons, we’re dropping right into the action. Those Devil Dogs down there are counting on us.” The Platoon Sergeant of the Recon Team shut the Marines up. The U-Wing was not only stuffed with six Recon Marines but also with Ammo and weapons, things that were desperately needed on Fondor.

“AICA, keep that LZ open, no matter what happens.”

“Copy.”

SunTzu had followed the Lance Corporal, her name was Ramirez, through the building and the other entrance out. They had run further down a street and passed a block to a makeshift barricade of vehicles, debris and other things. A platoon of Marines was already engaging the enemy, from the sounds it were Daimons, and lots of them.

As he got closer to the barricade, with the Marines lying on top of it, shooting with everything they had at the incoming enemy, he also noticed that tools like sledgehammers and plasma- and vibrocutters as well as makeshift close quarter weapons were lying next to the combat positions of the Earth’s troops and from the look of things these had been used as weapons before. SunTzu’s face twitched while sprinting, these Marines really had endured something.

He wished he had brought his pilot helmet as the blaster and occasional gunfire was loud, and the clicks of the movement of the Daimons, was also visible, a noise piercing through one’s veins.

At least for someone who wasn’t used to it, and just as SunTzu the Marines were just seasoned to hear it than SunTzu was.

SunTzu stopped behind the defensive line at the barricades, next to Ramirez.

The Marines shot coordinated and aimed well, trying to conserve ammo while the Daimons flooded the street, coming in from side streets and through buildings. Dozens of broken shells already laid on the ground and SunTzu suggested not all of them were from now.

Lance Corporal Ramirez nodded one time at SunTzu after taking a glance where she would be most useful and then joined the ranks of her brothers and sisters in arms. A few seconds later she was already taking well-aimed shots from her M27 IAR at the enemy.

SunTzu spotted a Captain overlooking the situation, probably the highest-ranking officer at this position.

 SunTzu walked over to him, SBR slung on his back, but pistol drawn.

“Captain, what’s the situation?”

“No offense, Sir, but please don’t tell me a single pilot is our only reinforcement.”

“Don’t worry, TopGun here is not the only one that’s here.” 

Both men looked at the women that just had spoken and SunTzu’s expression darkened as he saw Cosmic Sailor Mars coming towards them, with Yuichiro and Alask behind her.

Rei stopped and took a look at the Daimons coming closer before she and Yuichiro nodded at each other. And then they both began to run and jumped over the barricade, Yuichiro drawing his sword.

The Marine Officer was taken aback as Rei landed from a high jump and immediately began to attack the Daimons with a Burning Mandala taking several enemies out at once.

“What the… cease fire!” He ordered his troops as he watched Sailor Mars unleash an inferno on the monsters.

“Alask, I told you to protect them, inside the command post.”

“I’m sorry, Master. Senator insisted on attacking the enemy. She just ran off.”

SunTzu sighed, of course, Rei Hino never ran from a fight.

“We should help them.” He replied after a moment to the Padawan.

“But, we are not allowed to use the Force.”

Alask was right, but SunTzu still had his pistol.

“Go back to the command post, if we fail here, you need to use the Force and defend it. And Sailor Mercury and Pluto, come hell or high water.”

Alask nodded, turned around and ran back. For a second SunTzu watched him, he was, right about not using the Force, they couldn’t lure Abeloth to this place.

“Captain, try take out the enemy in the distance, I’ll help these two.” After telling this to the officer SunTzu moved up to and over the barricade, realizing jumping over a barricade was way more enduring without the Force, not to mention the sharp sensation in his spine when landing hard from 1,5 meters up on the concrete and all that while concentrating to cloak himself from the Force.

Immediately he began to run and a few seconds later he arrived next to Rei who was shooting fireball after fireball at the attacking Daimons, while Yuichiro used his skills and sharp blade to engage those that came to close.

SunTzu took the middle, taking single shots at the incoming Daimons with his pistol, trying to buy Yuichiro time, while Rei now began to attack the groups of incoming enemies. Behind them the Marines began to shoot again, covering the trio.

Daimon after Daimon fell or broke apart but they just kept coming, matter of fact, it seemed that the attack was becoming more intense, Daimons flooded in from what seemed everywhere and within not a minute SunTzu had to move to dodge attacks as well while he switched to his last magazine.

Another few seconds he found himself back to back with Yuichiro. 

“Time to draw your sword.” The later said before both had to move away from each other again to dodge the attack of one of the sharp legs from a spider like Daimon with two heads.

“Can’t, might attract the even bigger evil.”

“Too bad.” Yuichiro replied after shattering the head of a fourlegged Daimon with his sword.

“It gets even worse, I only got seven…” SunTzu had to shoot a Daimon in his humanoid face as it launched itself at him, “… six bullets left.”

“We should move back then, I’ll protect Rei, while she burns the lot.”

SunTzu took a quick glance at Sailor Mars, she was also already showing signs of exhaustion, having burned what seemed like hundreds of Daimons by now. But the enemy kept coming and now Rei was asking herself if the whole planet had been turned.

As quick as they could, using SunTzu’s last bullets and Yuichiro’s agility they moved back to form a line with Rei.

“You shouldn’t have come.” SunTzu said as he holstered his pistol and assessed the situation.

“Rei Hino doesn’t run from a fight.” She replied through gritted teeth as she watched Yuichiro take out two enemies in quick succession.

The urge to draw his lightsaber was overwhelming but SunTzu knew that it was too dangerous. Instead he ran back to the barricade, the Marines, still shooting at the Daimons in the back, although the fire had significantly became less as they seriously were running out of ammunition at the barricade, knew instantly what he wanted and a huge Leatherneck handed him a heavy Sledgehammer before SunTzu sprinted back to Sailor Mars and Yuichiro.

Mars had bought them a few precious seconds with unleashing a huge wall of fire on the ever closer coming Daimons, which had costed her a lot of energy.

“Take a breather.” Yuichiro told her, when SunTzu arrived next to them and the two men took a step forward. Almost in an instant they were back in battle as the Daimons charged.

A few moments and ten destroyed Daimons later, both were panting heavy and although Cosmic Sailor Mars was back hurling fire at the incoming avalanche of black-clad monstrosities and the Marines supported them with shooting, they just kept coming.

“Guess we should come up with a plan how to get behind the barricade again.”

“Oh Senator, don’t tell me, you’ve been reckless again and charged headfirst into battle without an escape route.”

“Really bad timing for this, TopGun.” Rei spat out as reply to SunTzu’s remark before she burned down to more Daimons attacking here.

“Guys, can we adjourn that until we’re safe?”

“Alright, shiny white knight, make sure Mars is over the barricade and then follow her. I’ll buy you some time.”

“SunTzu…”

“I’m doing my job, do yours, Grand Knight.”

AICA was doing as she was told, holding the landing zone, although something in her system gave her an error message, she should not be here, she should be with SunTzu and the rest. While hovering, scanning the area, projecting the data of the landing zone to the allied command in space and keeping an electric ear on the incoming radio traffic, her supercomputer ran a check, but there was no logical reason for that error.

And then she picked up some outgoing radio traffic.

One of the Marines from the barricade had arrived at the command post.

“Major, they just keep coming, we’re running out of ammunition!”

While Eising sent more Marines out and gave the order to issue the last of their ammunition reserves, Ami moved to the radio station and took the speaker from the Marine on the station.

“Sol, this is Mercury. We are Dull Sabre, I repeat we are Dull Sabre.”

“Copy Mercury. Reinforcements are on the way.”

“Sol, I need an ETA. We need backup, urgent.”

AICA’s main engines roared to live although she hadn’t even processed an order to do so. Immediately she shut them down again, this wasn’t her programming, this wasn’t her computer, but something in her system told her to move immediately to SunTzu’s position, and Ami giving out such an status didn’t help much to withstand that urge. Her circuits heated up as she withstand the unknown impulse to fly over, her programming and her mission made sure she was needed here. She stored the question to thoroughly check her system for later, but there was something she could do in the meantime. She activated one of her radios, with a frequency she had picked up before.

“Sol, this is AICA, forward this to the following units. The Onyx Kataians need to spread out and move to the north, twenty clicks from my position, I had possible contact there. Beware of single enemy starfighters. For Umbriel, Hotaru, Haruka, there might be an AA-Site 75 degrees bearing my position, eleven clicks, my systems read an active sensor array.”

“From that position we’re coming in high and fast, that would make us easy prey.”

“Better put your seatbelts on then.” The pilot of the U-Wing said to his co-pilot and then he turned around. “Buckle up everybody, we’re coming in hot and fast!”

“You heard the Commander, thrusters to max.”

“I heard Stinger, but what about the Bantha-Class?”

Before Haruka could reply to Michiru’s objection, they had an order to escort the transport after all, Xenia came in.

“Rikkert and me will take over. We’re down to two torpedoes each anyways. And someone needs to take out the ground defense anyways.”

“I owe you one, Xenia.”

“You know I like my Vodka cold.”

“Umbriel Three coming in, I’m 7,5 clicks behind you, going in, systems on.”

While the EE-Wing actively got on the hunt for anti-air and space defenses Haruka and Hotaru’s Y-Wings left their flanking positions next to the troop transport as the two Headhunters of Rikker and Xenia came in behind them.

“Director, shall we assist at the barricade?”

“I wish we could but we cannot loose this building and the landing zone.” Ami explained to Alask. “Padawan Lonarcch, I know you’re not allowed to use the Force, but I want you to guard the other entrance of this building. If the enemy breaks through, Abeloth would know anyway that we are here.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Alask immediately left the room and Ami checked her chrono again, just a minute had passed and that meant the ETA of their own troops was still six minutes. She contemplated to transform already but the officer accompanying her wasn’t ready with acquiring all the data from Eising’s staff which they had gathered in the last few months. And this data could save the whole landing force, not to mention, give hints to where Abeloth was. Not that she didn’t want to be outside with the others and defend this place, but this mission was simply more important, tens of thousands of lives could have depended on it. She put her communicator up, from this distance it should work even through the jamming.

“AICA, no matter what happens, I need you on your position, I’ll need a relais for some highly important data and you’re probably the only way to get them through.”

Even with Ami’s order, there was this error message and AICA just couldn’t calculate why. While hovering low over the plaza in front of the Marine’s base she put more RAM into calculating the exact ETA of the incoming reinforcements.

He was fit, even without the Force, but right now SunTzu’s muscles burned and he was seriously contemplating to stop smoking.

Swinging the hammer around and defending himself from the attacking Daimons while drawing the attention onto him.

“If I survive this, Setsuna will kill me.” He let out after dodging a sharp leg and shattering the body it belonged to.

And then suddenly something, a white-brown silhouette with a yellow light on its side, flew right over him and landed in the middle of the Daimons.

Was that…?!

“SunTzu, the Wild Knights furnished information, Abeloth is not on the planet anymore!” And then Cilghal began to attack the enemy with a ferocity nobody had ever seen from her before.

This was all SunTzu needed to hear, he immediately tapped into the Force, broke the head of a Daimon trying to bite him with it’s claws, and then tossed the large sledgehammer away into the face of the next creature, shattering it. And then he straightened up and took a breather, he felt rejuvenated, energetic. And more than willing to finally stop the enemy avalanche. As soon as he stood straight, his lightsaber flew into his hand the purple blade extended. SunTzu stretched his neck and threw himself into the enemy.

“What the hell is happening now?” Ramirez, having run out of ammo for her rifle long ago asked the Marine next to her. Jedi Master Cilghal had more or less flown over the barricade like a lighting.

And although she was a Master on the Council, the first and most skilled healer in the Order, she still was more than a capable warrior.

“Excuse me!” Ramirez looked back in the moment, Alask jumped over her and the barricade and landed in front of it, also igniting his lightsaber. 

“Padawan, I see you’re following my orders again.” SunTzu said as he cut apart a Daimon in the middle.

“Major Urawa sent me to guard the entrance. It’s pretty much what I’m doing right now, Mas… Major.”

With a grin SunTzu shook his head while engaging the closest enemy, at least Alask finally began to warm up.

Ten meters in front of them, Cilghal was slicing her way through a myriad of enemies, soon the shards were up to her ankles, but so far the enemy kept coming.

“Let’s form a line with Master Cilghal!” SunTzu ordered Alask and swinging their swords both began to fight their way up to the MonCalamari.

Within a heartbeat the two men had taking flanking positions on the Jedi-Master and after took a quick glance at both they began to face the enemy horde as union.

“SunTzu?” AICA came in over SunTzu’s watch, but the Pilot was too busy fighting off the myriads of enemies.

Another internal alarm began to go off inside AICA’s system. She didn’t know if SunTzu was in trouble or just fighting. She did the most logical thing and put more performance in other tasks, activating her visual sensors.

“Deimos, this is AICA. I got a visual on you. Keep your speed as long as possible, have loaded troops ready to embark asap.”

“Copy that AICA,ETA fourty-five seconds.”

“Sol to Mercury, reinforcements inbound immediately.”

“Copy, Sol.” And then Ami turned to the Team

Leader of Team 2, who along with one of his team members stood guard in the room. “O’Connell, where are your other men?”

“I got Castle and Bridge at the LZ. Mitchell went with Lieutenant Colonel Meiou to take care of the wounded. Rest is guarding the building.”

“Tell them to immediately guide our incoming troops immediately to the battle positions.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” The Gunnery Sergeant immediately grabbed for his PTT to inform his team.

“I didn’t know you could be that fierce, Master.”

“Can’t stay behind my cousin, SunTzu.”

“That’s the kind of interfamiliary challenge we need.”

For a second Cilghal’s lips showed a smile after SunTzu’s remark and then she pounced  into the next three Daimons.

“Alask, how you’re holding up?”

“I got this.”

For a moment SunTzu observed the young man’s attacks.

Those moves, he definitely had been sparing with Hotaru… why does this bother me that much?

SunTzu used a Force Push to shatter the head and long neck of a Daimon.

“There’s more than I thought.” Cilghal commented stoically as she slashed through more enemies. At least they hade made some room in front of the barricade.

“Move, move, move, move!” The teamleader of the Force Recon Team urged his men while the first U-Wing sat down, door to the passenger department opening two meters above the ground.

AICA was hanging over the landing zone and scanned for threats. As soon as the Marines were out the ship lifted up again and the next U-Wing came in and unloaded its troops in quick succession.

Next in line were the Larties and as those came in most of the Recon Marines were already on the way to the barricade, some of them carrying extra ammunition to hand out to the defenders.

SunTzu had forgotten the time while fighting the Daimons along the two other Jedi when suddenly the Marines started firing again, and not only a few of them, rather it seemed that all of them had opened up again.

Alask and SunTzu’s gaze met and the later shrugged. 

“Guess they found some ammo somewhere.”

“Gives us some time to consolidate this position.”

And then the sound of an incoming aircraft was coming in and the U-Wing with the picture of Deimos on it soared in, side door open and the gunner began blasting onto the incoming enemies with his repeating blaster.

“Fuck, that’s what I’m talking about.” SunTzu cheered a moment before he felt individuals coming in from the back, apparently the Marines had decided to take the fight to the enemy now.

A group of Daimons exploded after being hit with an electric attack, a second later Sailor Jupiter appeared next to the Jedi, Marines and Wolves following her, engaging the enemy.

“Are you guys okay?” The 

“It was getting a bit drab.”

“Glad to keep things interesting then.”

A few minutes later the flood of fictile enemies began to ebb down while the newly arrived troops began to move forward. More and more troops came in and soon the Wolves and the Marines were joined by regular troops of the Taskforce and other allied troops.

Cilghal had stopped fighting and had joined the medical teams in caring for the wounded while Alask had gone back to the command post and resumed his watch there.

SunTzu had scrounged a cigarette from one of the incoming troopers and now helped with guiding in the incoming transport. By now the sky was full with transports and attack craft of the Galactic Alliance.

By now the Alliance was in full combat at complete southern hemisphere of the planet with additional troops coming in for attacking the northern hemisphere after the 68th Legion had opened the door for them, although under quite heavy losses.

Just as he finished one of the JTACs came over to him.

“We got this now Major, thanks for your help.”

“Sure thing.” SunTzu was satisfied to hear that the soldiers at the LZ had everything under control, there was someone who he wanted to check upon, although he wasn’t too sure how her reaction would be.

Setsuna was giving a female Marine a fresh bandage on a wound on her leg, a large gash from the pointy leg of one of the Daimons.

Someone stopped a step behind her.

“How upset are you?”

“Upset? Upset with what?” She didn’t look up. 

“With me fighting alone in front of everyone else.”

“Ah, you mean, doing your duty and protecting the Senshi? I’ve been told about that. Good work.”

“So you’re not angry?” 

“No, I heard you did pretty well, although I heard it got pretty close.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?” She hadn’t looked up from her task once. But the Marine she was treating was following both with her eyes, an amused smile on her lips.

“Usually that’s where you scold me for being reckless.”

“You did what you had to do. Don’t worry, if it would have gotten too dangerous, I would have come to your rescue.” There was irony in her voice.

For a moment SunTzu was quiet, not knowing what to say. Setsuna and the Marine’s eyes crossed and both women smirked at each other, as Setsuna finished the treatment and then threw away her rubber gloves.

Before SunTzu finally could state a reply she got up and pressed her lips on his cheek. “Good job.” She whispered and then shot him a beaming glance full of love and admiration. 

“Listen, I got still plenty to do, but maybe you could get us some information how things are going.” She  quickly motioned through the room where Cilghal as well as some medics took care of the wounded.

“Yes Ma’am.” SunTzu replied with a smile and as he walked out, he still smiled, not even bothered by the whispering that had started after Setsuna had kissed SunTzu’s cheek.

“Lucky Motherfucker.” One of the Marines said to his comrade. 

On the way to the command post SunTzu had to cross a few corridors and apart from the occasional Marine standing guard they were empty. The battle sounds outside had become less frequent and also more far away.

Entering one long corridor after greeting the Marine standing guard in front of the door to the corridor. 

And then he saw her, detransformed, back in her tactical pants and a sport long sleeve, she was smoking a cigarette.

“Senator, I see you’re taking a smoke break.”

“Finally found the time.”

“Mine were used to uplift the moral of the wounded, got one for me?” SunTzu moved further towards Rei and she gave him a half nod and pulled out a cigarette case. By the time she handed him a cigarette he was next to her. SunTzu took the cigarette and a small flame appeared on Rei’s finger.

He leaned in and lighted the cigarette before Rei extinguished the flame. SunTzu’s gaze lingered a moment longer on the hand of his ex-girlfriend.

“I think I’m having a Deja-Vu.” His gaze wandered back to her blue eyes, there was still fire inside but back then they weren’t as exhausted as they were now. They hadn’t seen the things she had seen by now.

“You mean, you risking your life, saving me?” She let out a huff. “I bet these Daimons were all inhabitants of Fondor. What a fucked up day. Again.”

“Yeah, you tell me.” The meeting of their eyes was a moment longer than it would have been usual. “At least these guys here held the fort and protected this part of the planet. Giving the buildings down the street, there’s at least tens of thousands living here.”

“250k at least, after the Yuuzhan Vong they rebuilt this neighbor into the ground and not into the sky. I talked to the Major about that, plus did my homework. As soon as First Battalion is down here in full, I’m letting the dispersion of emergency goods begin.”

“The Angel of the Rim.”

“Fondor never should have been a planet that needs emergency relief. But at least it seems, we’ll capture the planet.” She took a pause and the next sentence came over her lips as they were vile. “With light-to-moderate losses.”

SunTzu wheezed and took a drag from his cigarette, they had brought a million ground troops, light-to-moderate still meant tens of thousands of death and wounded. On top of the losses of the space battle.

“And if we don’t manage to retake the shipyards intact our biggest offensive in this war was more or less for nothing.” Rei shook her head.

“We still saved millions. And for us soldiers that’s what it’s about.”

“We didn’t even get that bitch Abeloth.” Rei said sharp and then dropped her cigarette and wiped it out with her boot. “I sent Yuichiro, Alask and Team 5 out to link up with the Wild Knights. Radios are getting better but when it comes to Abeloth the details about what they learned are too sensitive right now.”

SunTzu nodded, sending Alask along was the right decision, especially since Cilghal was busy here. He finished his cigarette as well.

“I’ll be doing a round through the building and let these guys know that we’re thankful for what they did. Care to join?”

“A higher-ranking officer, slash, Guardian of Time sent me out to get some details on how we are doing on the planet.”

“I see. Good idea, I could start in the ward.”

Both nodded at each other and then began walking in different directions. Just as SunTzu had reached the next door, Rei adressed him again.

“Hey TopGun. Thanks again for saving me and the Doofus.”

SunTzu had a half grin on his lips and waived the praise away. “Just doing my job. As I told Yuichiro.” That said he left through the door, leaving Rei behind who watched the now again closed door for a moment.

“To think we were innocent back then.”

SunTzu hadn’t been at the command post for five minutes when Lance Corporal Ramirez and another Marine ran up to him.

“Sir…” Ramirez began but was cut short from the other Marine who apparently had been running to get to the CP.

“Major, Lieutenant Colonel Meiou and the Jedi Master sent me. They’ll need you in the ward asap!”

SunTzu and the Marine immediately began to make their way, with SunTzu trying hard to think about what could have been so important. There was no alarm and the Marines were armed and ready again so it couldn’t be a fight as they would hear the sounds.

A few minutes later he arrived back in the medical ward. He found Setsuna next to a Marine sitting against a wall, his head bandaged. Cilghal was standing next to her along with a Corpsman.

“Major, we need you over here.” The MonCal Jedi Master instructed him to get over there.

“What’s the matter?”

“You have to listen to this, amor meus.” Setsuna announced and SunTzu took a look at the young Marine, his name tag read Harris.

“Alright Private Harris, what’s the matter?”

“As I told the Lieutant Colonel and Jedi Master Cilghal, I had a strange encounter.”

That wasn’t per se something strange for a young man, giving his accent coming from the south of the US, being the first time in a Galaxy full with millions of different alien races.

“With a strange blonde woman.“ The statement of the young Marine raised SunTzu‘s hackles, he immediately knew who the Marine had come upon.

SunTzu kneeled next to the Marine.

“Private, tell me everything.”

“Me and my squad were on patrol, it was within the first three weeks on the planet, we still had ammo and stuff. We searched for enemies and civilians in a building a few blocks away from here in the north. All of a sudden it began to feel… weird. You know, like the place was haunted. I don’t believe in Ghosts and shit but there was something bad, something scary there.”

He looked up to SunTzu and continued as he saw in SunTzu’s face that the officer wasn’t judging him.

“Me and my fireteam were down in the basement, I was tasked to guard the stairs up. We had been there for a few minutes when I heard something close by. The guys had walked in a different position. Somehow it drew me closer, I was so curios I even forgot to call in the others.”

SunTzu exchanged another look with Cilghal as the Marine went on.

“I went down a corridor and some corners, there was small glow coming in from one of them. I went inside and there…” He looked back at SunTzu, checking again if the officer was judging him. “… there was this blonde chick. Light blonde, almost platin hair. And in a white dress.” Now the Marine looked at Cilghal and then Setsuna. “And even from behind I knew she was beautiful.” Both women raised an eyebrow.

“What happened then?” SunTzu asked, curious how the man got out alive.

The Private went quiet and looked at Cilghal again, he seemed to be getting nervous.

“I… Well…”

“What’s the matter, Private?”

“Sir, I… umm. Not in front of the Lieutenant Colonel and the Jedi Master maybe.”

SunTzu looked at Master Cilghal and she nodded quietly and walked a few meters away. Then he looked at Setsuna but she shook her head.

“Trust me, Private, there’s nothing you can come up that would shock me anymore.” The Demigoddess had seen and heard enougn from armed troops over the millennia.

Harris looked at Setsuna for a moment longer before he went on.

“Well, her dress was rather tight. And her body… you know her derrière. I got a boner. She turned around and looked at me as if she knew it, as if she could read my mind. You know, she had a scared mouth but still was hot, but she looked at me in total disgust. And then… poof… she was gone. In an instant.”

SunTzu began to smile while Setsuna shook her head.

“It’s always the same with these guys. They haven’t changed in the last 50 years.” She let out.

“I don’t know how she got away so fast and somehow I felt pure terror in sudden and ran back to my unit.” He motioned to the bandage on his head. “Hit my head in a broken down doorway. Shit won’t heal properly, third time I got an infection on it, it’s because we ran out of medics. And of course everybody thinks hitting my head made me hallucinate and nobody believed me.”

SunTzu looked at the young man.

“Son, you don’t have any idea how close to death you were. But your horniness probably saved the planet.” SunTzu tapped the man on the shoulder before he got up and when he thought about the whole thing again, he began to laugh loudly. Just another insane moment in this whole shitshow called the Shadow War, another anecdote nobody would believe if he hadn’t been involved into it.

Four days later, SunTzu again was back at the command post.

The Marines which held that position had been finally, after months, been fully relieved from post and were on their way back to Earth on the Moon’s Bounty. Their endurance and heroism would form another glorious tale in the history of the United States Marines Corps, with the sacrifice of a few hundred Marines being the cost of saving at least a few hundred thousands civilians from death, slavery or even something worse. Not to mention that a young private’s overflowing hormones apparently made Abeloth leave the planet. 

The building had rapidly been transferred to Taskforce Sol and the attached Marine units.

Until now there had been no counter-attack in space and the Galactic Alliance’s advance on the planet itself was going well. SunTzu had spent most of the time in AICA, flying air support, battlefield air interdiction and reconnaissance on the planet and some patrols in space. A few hours he had spent in ground combat, supporting Marines, Wolves and First Battalion, supported by units of the Sol Brigade, in clearing several blocks and streets held by enemy troops, Mercenaries and regular military units of Planets under the control of Chaos.

But apparently most of Sol’s time on the planet was over, units from both the Remnant as well as reserve units from the Fourth Fleet would take over, with the first few companies already having been flown in.

Apparently Coruscant had decided to attack the shipyards and Sol as light but special mission capable force was one of the units tasked with it, very much to SunTzu’s gusto, with that Renegade Unit In production it made more than sense to attack sooner than later. The attack itself would have to be swift, with units landing on the docks while the space battle still was fought, to big was the fear that the enemy would destroy the shipyards as last measure. And that was the more optimistic alternative, the whole thing could have been rigged and not only could the enemy left behind scorched earth but also a lot of dead Alliance soldiers. Intelligence and EOD were definitely working overtime along with the recon pilots and probe ships to gain as much information as possible. SunTzu knew that Owen along with the Urawas and Kenji had formed a team and they were relentlessly checking sensor data, videos, pictures, holos and more to find evidence about rigged structures. 

By now the first staff personnel of the 37th Division of the Third Army of the Galactic Alliance were already in the process of taking over the command post over from Colonel Bernard and his staff.

Sol Brigade would stay behind as last unit of the Taskforce and then stay on alert as a QRF onboard the Eternal, while the lighter units of the Taskforce would assault the shipyards along other elite units of the Galactic Alliance. The US-Troops would head back to Earth in a few days, arriving there a few days after their fellow Marines, the Heroes of Fondor.

SunTzu decided to leave the CP and let people do their work. He left the room and made his way outside, to the side where the landing zone was located at.

AICA was parked close by and an Omega-Class-Freighter, basically the space transport version of an AT-AT, was landed outside and troops carried equipment from it inside. A few soldiers secured the landing zone and guided the transport ships in.

SunTzu glanced at AICA, he and Sets had slept the last days in AICA. Since he didn’t had any task right now, taking a nap did sound great and was definitely the right thing to do. He looked around, the weather this morning was rather sunny and warm. With some headset and maybe some music a little outside sleep seemed like a great idea.

SunTzu woke up to the sound of the Omega-Class taking off.

He yawned, stretched and sat up. Having slept on a small wall just outside the building’s door, framing the way to the steps leading to the street.

Right now members of the Taskforce were distributing food and aid to civilians close to the landing zone.

Suddenly a footbag landed in his lap and he turned to the direction where it had come from. Yuichiro was half lying on the other side of the wall and grinning at him.

“What the fuck, get that out my face.” SunTzu complained and took the small ball in hands.

“Throw it back.” Yuichiro’s voice was playful.

“What are you?… some kind of Labrador… fine, eat it.” SunTzu threw the footbag back and Yuichiro catched it and immediately threw it back.

SunTzu catched it as well and his annoyed face had become more neutral.

“Rei’s helping with the distribution, the neighborhood here used to be mostly middle class apartments.”

SunTzu looked over to the dispensary and saw her in midst of the people, chatting with them, probably giving out words of hope and courage. And then he threw the ball back to Yuichiro.

“Is it true, that Abeloth left the planet because she was scared of an Earthling?” The ball flew back to SunTzu

“Scared isn’t the right word. I talked to the Private who had seen her.” He threw back the bag while ending the sentence.

“But why did she leave…” Before Yuichiro passed the ball back, he looked at SunTzu and saw the grin on the pilot’s face.

“Ohhh…”

“Yeah…” SunTzu replied as he catched the ball and immediately threw it back.

“Well… at least Earth is making some kind of reputation in the Galaxy.”

Yuichiro laughed and SunTzu couldn’t help himself and also began to laugh before they continued their little game.

When the dispersal at the landing zone had ended, Rei, Yuichiro and some soldiers and vehicles moved further down the houses, with the intent to establish a second dispensary. SunTzu had gotten up and decided to see what his girlfriend was doing. Also he had heard from Yuichiro that Hotaru had been on one of the transports as well. He entered back into the building and went for the infirmary, which was almost empty by now. Two lightly wounded, a few medics and corpsmen and Cilghal were there. No sign of Setsuna, so SunTzu continued his search.

A few corridors further he ran into Makoto. The Commanding Officer of Crystal Tokyo’s Commandos just had finished a call with her husband.

“Hey Makoto, have you seen Sets?”

“Last word I got, was that she and Hotaru were at the barricade.”

“Thanks. I’ll check there then, been wandering for quite a while now.”

“You’re welcome, vicinity should be safe but you’ll never know in urban setting. Stay frosty.”

“Aye aye,  Major Sporty Spice.” He shot her a wink.

Her tongue came out and she winked back.

It were those small warm moments, between all those times of witnessing madness. Those times. 

He began to whistle as he made his way out of the building.

Soon he left the building at the entrance which had brought him to the site of the battle four days ago. After a single step outside he closed the door quietly and stopped 

He looked on at the scene, it reminded him on the old times, in the beginning of the war, when Sailor Saturn stood quiet guard after Battles, as she would protect the fallen and the destruction. And now she was looking stoically at the barricade and the hundreds of broken shells of former Daimons in front of it. This time she was joined by Sailor Pluto, both of their weapons in their hands. But it wasn’t what it used to be, worrying about Saturn had turned to… to a mixture of pride, caution, wishing the best for her… was that? Fatherly love?

And Setsuna next to her just made the feeling more clear. He wasn’t allowed to, and he couldn’t stay, he knew. He was a monster, a man turned to the embodiment of war, unworthy of it, but the love he felt in that moment.

And in this very moment he knew, against all odds and knowing he wasn’t allowed to stay, but this was family, his family, his home, this was were he was supposed to be, his place at their side.

“SunTzu’s behind us.”

“I can sense him as well. We should head back to prepare for the next mission.”

“So, who’s telling him that we’re taking AICA back up to the Eternal?”

Both Senshi’s stoic faces turned into smiles.