Chapter 364

The ship approached the Earth slowly and hovered in orbit.

"We have arrived," An officer named Trision said.

"So we have," Commander Sero said staring at the various readouts all over the ship's command area.

"As expected no form of space defenses."

"I believe that will all change once we descend," Sero said.

"Of course, but their conventional weapons will do little do us."

"And what of their unconventional ones?" Sero asked.

"I'm sure we can handle it," Trision said.

"Confidence is a good thing to have, however, do not let it blind you," Sero said. "This Earth has held off attacks from forces before, it literally ended the reign of Galaxia over this part of the universe, and we, one destroyer class ship are expected to just invade."

"We are superior."

"We will only know that after the battle," Sero said.

"All we have to do is defeat the defenders of Earth, those Scouts, or whatever they call them."

"Once that is done we may celebrate, until then, this is not a time to be overzealous."

"We'll see," Trision said.

"So we will," Sero said. "Begin descent."

In the SDF's command bunker in the hills outside of Tokyo, the large blip that was the ship appeared on the radar screen. The various officers all swung into action gathering data.

"Sir, there it is," an officer said.

"Indeed," General Nagumo said staring at the projection. "When will it arrive in our airspace?"

"Based on course and speed, two hours, twenty one minutes."

"Then order all of our units to full alert," Nagumo said. "Let's give them a welcome."

"Sir," Patterson said. "We've just received confirmation, other forces are moving to engage."

"From who?"

"Everyone you can imagine," Patterson said.

"Hmm..we may just take them out yet."

"Keep in mind sir, that if that ship gets low enough, and we hit it hard, it might just fall onto Tokyo," Patterson said.

"I know that," Nagumo said. "We just need to make sure our allies don't persist that long."

"That'll be hard," Patterson said.

"Well if we don't stop them before then, there probably won't be anything more they can do."

The ship slowly descended into the atmosphere.

"We are reading a large amount of earth aircraft approaching," an officer said.

"Fools," Trision said. "Their weapons are no match for ours."

"I would do the same," Sero said solemnly. "Prepare all of our ships for launch, and full defense alert."

"Yes sir."

"Why even bother," Trision muttered. "They can't touch us."

"I would not be so sure, so many thousand aircraft attacking might lead to the unexpected," Sero said.

"Yes, well even the unexpected is unlikely to stop this mission," Trision said.

"I am going to make sure even the unlikely does not occur," Sero said. "They will try and attack us before we reach this point."

"What?"

"After that, if they were to damage our ship it would crash into their city, they will want to prevent that."

"They're just wishful thinkers," Trision said.

"They should just have surrendered then, is that what you're saying?" Sero asked.

"Would have made things easier for everyone," Trision said.

"We must have patience, at least for now," Sero said.

"I am a soldier like all the rest, and I know what is a waste of lives. This is it."

"They don't believe so," Sero said.

"Targets approaching attack zone," the officer said.

"Launch all of our fighters and prepare for attack!" Nagumo said.

And on SDF bases across Japan airplanes were streaking upward. Ground based missiles were targeting the ship as well.

"All fighters away," an officer said.

"Tell them to take up attack positions and prepare to strike," Air Force General Misuki said.

"Yes sir."

In the skies above the Pacific Ocean.

The ship came into view as the fighters readied themselves.

"All right people, let's see what we can do to this joker," one of the pilots said. He glanced at his tactical screen.

"Target in range. Firing!"

A barrage of missiles flew out from the fighters and smashed into the ship. Energy flew out from the ship at the fighters, who did their best to dodge and kept attacking. Small craft shot out of the ship and moved to engage the fighters quickly.

"Sir, we're taking heavy losses," an officer reported.

"Any reported damage to the enemy ship?" Nagumo asked.

"None that we can tell sir."

"Just as we thought," General Patterson said. "They've got some sort of force field up there."

"More forces are engaging!" the officer reported.

Another wave of fighters from other countries unleashed their attacks. The missiles streaked in and exploded harmlessly against the energy field, waves of energy and more and more fighters streaked out of the enemy ship blasting at the human fighters.

"Still no damage sir."

"We've lost forty percent of our forces already," the air force general said.

"All right, all forces withdraw!" Nagumo said.

"Most of the other national forces are withdrawing too sir."

"Sir Chinese forces are not breaking off," the officer said.

"They're going to get annihilated," Patterson said.

"How can they do it? There's no point," Nagumo said.

Wave after wave of fighters were cut down trying to attack the enemy. The enemy ship remained undamaged and continued to descend. Several fighter streaked in under the defense line and smashed through the shields slamming into the ship proper.

"What was that?" Trision snapped.

"Very minor damage to outer hull!"

"And if they had all chosen to that what do you think would have happened to this ship?" Sero asked.

"But they didn't! Intensify all firing!" Trision shouted.

"It's over anyway," Sero said. The two looked at the display screens. The human forces had either been destroyed or had run.

"A valiant effort," Sero said.

"A worthless effort," Trision said.

"I guess it's up to the scouts now," General Nagumo said.

"The enemy has passed the safe region and is now on full descent towards the city."

"I hope they don't plan on destroying it," General Patterson said.

"I hope they don't plan on destroying everything," Nagumo replied.

"Visual contact."

The ship appeared on their view screens captured from various cameras all over the city.

"It's bigger than I imagined," Patterson said.

"What a warship," Nagumo said. "It's just as large as that asteroid."

"Just as dangerous too," Patterson said.

"Take up standard position here," Sero said.

"Yes sir."

"Why even leave this city intact?" Trision asked. "There are plenty of others."

"To waste the energy to destroy it all would be pointless," Sero said. "You know that. Besides, unlike our preceding forces, carrying on this battle with some degree of honor will have higher dividends. At least that is my belief at this time."

"Oh is that so?" Trision said. "We are superior, we should not give up any advantage we might have."

"If we destroy this city, they will have nothing left to defend, and mind you, nothing left to hold them back from using their more powerful weapons! Now we have a chance."

"Is that so?" Trision asked. "They'll just use those weapons the minute the war turns sour."

"Not if we keep this city intact. And the countryside, they will be afraid to sacrifice their world merely to destroy us."

"I don't think so," Trision said. "They'll get desperate."

"That is why we will not allow them to feel so oppressed."

"We're an invasion force!"

"And I am its commander. Until that changes you will follow my orders."

"Very well," Trision said. "Whatever you say," he said and returned to his post.

He will be trouble. Sero thought.

"So there it is," Sailor Moon said staring up at the massive warship. The scouts were all standing on a hillside overlooking the city.

"So now what exactly do we do about this?" Guardian Mars asked.

"We wait for their first move I guess," Guardian Jupiter said.

"Right now they're just hovering there," Sailor Mercury said studying her computer. "There doesn't seem to be anything happening."

"They're probably wondering where we are," Guardian Moon said.

"I'm in no hurry to let them know," Sailor Moon said.

"You know we could try teleporting into the ship," Guardian Earth said. "And just take it over."

"We have no idea of what they've got in there," Guardian Jupiter said."Let them come to us first."

"I don't know, they wouldn't be expecting a preemptive strike would they?" Sailor Uranus asked.

"They might be," Maverick said. "Maybe that's what they're waiting for, I mean if they kept in contact with their other soldiers, they'd know we can strike quickly and unexpectedly.

"If we went in we would be tired," Sailor Mars said. "Do we really want to appear in some unknown situation without the strength to deal with it."

"I don't get it though," Guardian Uranus said. "You five teleported into Queen Beryl's area and didn't get winded right?"

"Yes, but that was a different set of circumstances," Sailor Mercury said.

"That's right," Luna said. "I can explain it to you some other time, but the truth is you can't do that here."

"Let's wait and see what they're intentions are."

"I'm betting on invasion," Guardian Mars said with no hint of humor in his voice.

Sailor Saturn and Sailor Earth stood behind the group both concentrating, trying to sense what their enemies were thinking.

"They will..attack...on the ground..they wish to secure the city.." Saturn said.

"They will want to fight us..head on," Earth said.

"War..has taken it's toll."

"Can't risk us losing our humanity."

"Are they thinking this?" Sailor Pluto asked.

"Yes," The two said in unison.

"To fight war any other way risks unexpected consequences," Saturn said.

She slipped out of her trance.

"What does all that mean though?" Sailor Venus said.

"I thin it means that they're afraid of what might happen if they were hit by a nuclear strike," Maverick said. "Right..if they meet us now, one on one, no tricks, them maybe we'll all settle this fairly."

"We've got movement," Sailor Mercury said. "Small ships emerging."

"Let's have a look," Guardian Moon said typing commands into his watch.

"Indeed," Gmerc said, and did the same.

Cameras from Gmerc's and Guardian Earth's cameras were soon watching and scanning the new arrivals.

"Aliens are emerging from the ships," Guardian Moon said.

"Are they the same sort of minions we've seen before?" Sailor Uranus asked.

"No," Sailor Mercury said analyzing the information. "These are more like the Coral creature was."

"Yeah," Guardian Moon said. "They seem stronger too."

"How many of them are there?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

"Hundreds spread throughout the city," Guardian Moon said. A cell phone chirped.

Guardian Mercury quickly pulled it out.

"Yes, General, right, let us check it out first, we don't know how strong they are yet, and no use endangering more troops. Right," he hung up the phone.

"The army wants a piece of those guys," Gmerc said.

"You're right, we should check it out though," Sailor Pluto said.

"How do we know this isn't some sort of trap though, to lure us out?" Guardian Jupiter said. "I mean we don't know what kind of weapons they have on that ship."

"He's right," Sailor Neptune said.

"Then we'll have to scout it out," Guardian Earth said. "You know some of us should go down there and fight them, feel them out, and then come back."

"And risk us getting separated?" Sailor Moon asked. "I don't think we should."

"Well we have to do something soon don't we?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

"It would be better to get them to come after us, instead of us going after them," Sailor Mercury said.

"I don't think they're going to go for that," Maverick said.

"But what if we drew them out?" Guardian Earth said. "Come on, they're just not going to come up here aren't they?"

"I think he's right," Sailor Uranus said. "What we need to do is sneak in undetected, ambush them and then draw them back here. Neptune and I can go."

"Not just the two of you," Sailor Moon said. "Guardian Moon, you and Earth go too..you can use that camera to keep track of things."

"Whatever," Guardian Earth said.

"If it will facilitate things," Guardian Moon said.

"We'll use the sewer system," Sailor Uranus said.

"The loveable sewers have come to our aid again," Guardian Neptune said.

"Let's go."

The four hurried off.

"Let's do some recon of our own," Gmerc said looking over the area.

"What do you have in mind?" Sailor Pluto said.

"I want to know just how close we have to get before they see us in that ship," Gmerc said. "I'll take the Guardians, we'll see if we can draw a response from them. If we go too far, we'll pull back."

"Do you really need all of us?" Guardian Mars asked.

"I have to make it look like we're making a move," Gmerc said.

"He's right," Guardian Jupiter said. "The group of us would at least look intimidating."

"Be careful guys," Sailor Moon said.

The guardians nodded and leapt off down the hill.

"We'll come at the city indirectly, try to keep them from tracking us back to where we would," Gmerc said.

"They could be watching us right now," Guardian Venus said.

"Not much we can do about that," Gmerc said.

"All right," Guardian Moon said. "If we go several blocks up this pipe, we'll emerge right behind one of their drop off areas."

"That should do the trick," Sailor Uranus said.

"Then we run for it?" Guardian Earth asked.

"No, we attack," Guardian Moon said. "We see what they're strength is."

"Don't your scans give us any indication?" Guardian Earth asked.

"That ship of theirs is emitting some sort of interference, it's preventing me from getting the complete idea, I'm not sure if what I'm seeing is actual or fake, and it keeps fluctuating," Guardian Moon said.

"Hmm..it's best not to rely on it," Sailor Uranus said. "Hopefully, if we get closer we can get a better sense of it."

"Hey everybody," came a voice. They all started.

"The sewer daimon is here to help you," he said.

"Oh, it's you," Sailor Uranus said.

"How are you doing?" Sailor Neptune asked.

"Fine, fine, so...what's up?" the daimon asked.

"We're just checking things out," Sailor Uranus said.

"Ah.." the daimon said. "No one's shown up down here yet, though I think they will eventually."

"Yes, well given that," Sailor Uranus said. "You should probably move out of the way, we're going to attack them and I wouldn't want you caught in it."

"Say so more," The sewer daimon said and headed off into the darkness.

"What a strange fellow," Guardian Moon said.

"I don't like this waiting," Sailor Moon said.

"I don't think anyone does," Sailor Pluto said.

"Yeah, but this is so spooky, this massive ship just hovering there, everyone gone, and we're just standing here," Sailor Moon said. "I want to do something."

"We have to be patient," Sailor Mars said. "If we jump into this and don't know what we're getting into, we could lose everything, and I do mean everything."

"Don't worry," Jupiter said. "We'll take care of them, but right now we need to keep from being surprised."

"Yeah I know," Sailor Moon said. "It's just hard that's all."

"So how's it coming guys?" Sailor Venus said into her communicator.

"Oh we're just climbing down a hill here, nothing big," Guardian Neptune replied.

"I can see no visible reaction to you yet," Sailor Mercury said.

"Gmerc says the same thing," Guardian Neptune said. "So far so good I guess."

"Still..if they have any sort of telescope they should be seeing you soon," Sailor Mercury said.

"That's what he's saying," Guardian Neptune said.

"Don't get yourself killed okay?" Sailor Venus asked.

"Hey, we're all about surviving here," Guardian Neptune said.

In the ship's large command center.

"Sir, movement discovered...sector 38-A."

"Who is it?" Sero asked.

"Energy signals match several Guardian Scouts. All are accounted for except Guardian Moon and Guardian Earth."

"Hmm.." Sero said. "Dispatch several divisions of our ground forces immediately."

"It could be a trap," Trision said.

"Possibly," Sero said. "But I doubt it. They're just feeling us out. Also send several of our fighters out for reconnaissance of the general area."

"Yes sir."

"GMERC! We've got major activity here," Sailor Mercury said into her communicator hurriedly.

"I see it," Gmerc said. "Several of their forces are moving towards us, plus ships are emerging, you girls should all hide for the moment, we'll see what we can do about this mess."

"Gmerc, be careful," Sailor Mercury said. "They're sending a lot after you."

"Understood, you just watch out for them," Gmerc said.

A manhole exploded upward and the four scouts leapt up out of the sewer landing on the street.

"Neptune Deep Submerge!"

"Uranus World Shaking!"

"Earth Overwhelming Essence!"

"Moon Silver Millennium Retaliation!"

The four attacks slammed into an alien force as they turned towards them. Most of them were blasted towards the ground. Many vanished.

"What is happening there?" Sailor Uranus wondered aloud. Other enemies spun to face them unleashing energy attacks as they did so. The four ducked them and fired back.

"All right, these guys are not very high on the energy totem pole, not as weak as the minions, but waves of energy do take em out." Guardian Moon said. He let loose an attack with his swords knocking several of them to the ground, but they hurriedly stood back up and kept fighting.

"That only weakens them," Guardian Earth said.

"Uranus Quaking Tremor!"

"Neptune Sparkling Reflection!"

The two attacks blew the street apart. Most of the enemy vanished. Others hurried off.

"If we got attacked by a bunch of those it could be trouble, but we should get out of here, before they do just that," Guardian Moon said. The scouts leapt back into the sewer and were soon racing up the tunnel.

"GMERC come in!" Sailor Mercury said.

"Right here," Gmerc said.

"We just heard from the others, the enemies you'll be facing will only be weakened by sword shots, but higher level attacks do the trick quite nicely."

"Understood," Gmerc said.

"Good luck."

"All right," Gmerc said. "Forget the swords for now, they're close range weapons anyway, let's just hit them with what we have. Guardian Pluto, Guardian Venus, you two hold back and wait until you can attack with your close range attacks, in the meantime keep an eye on those flyers for defense. See what you can do. Mars, you and Saturn try and hit those fighters before they get close. Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, we'll attack. Everyone got it?"

They nodded.

The fighters streaked in.

"MARS STAR LASER!"

"SATURN ICE RINGS BLAST!"

The two attacks flew out and smashed into one fighter each, they spiraled out and crashed into the ground. More fighters swarmed unleashing energy blasts.

"VENUS STAR BURST!"

"PLUTO STORM FIST!"

The energy was knocked away.

"URANUS FLAME OF DESIRE!"

"NEPTUNE TIDE OF DESTRUCTION!"

"JUPITER STAR INFERNO!"

"MERCURY DEVOUT REVENGE!"

The attacks slammed into the line of monsters causing many enemies to vanish, more raced towards them.

"Here we go!" Gmerc shouted. Another fighter exploded.

"They are proving to be quite formidable," Sero said.

"You know what we should do now," Trision said.

"Yes, energize the main cannon," Sero said.