Chapter 372

In the SDF's secondary command center.

"Casualties?" General Nagumo asked.

"Another twenty percent sir, but we're recovering many ejected pilots," An officer replied.

"I believe it was worth it," Nagumo said.

"We don't know much damage they can do, but anything will help," General Patterson said.

"Yes, we'll rest our troops," General Nagumo said. "And get me the UN."

The warship was in chaos, as would be expected. Sailor Moon looked around a corner.

"All clear it looks like," She said.

"YAH!" came a shout as a group of soldiers charged down the hallway.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Mars shouted and dropped them.

"Let's keep moving," Mars said.

They hurried into the hallway.

"This is Sailor Uranus, are there any other scouts around by chance?" Uranus said into her communicator.

"Funny you should ask that Uranus," Guardian Moon replied.

"You.." Uranus said.

"You can bawl me out later, but I've got Sailor Earth, Guardian Jupiter, Sailor Saturn, and Guardian Saturn with me," Guardian Moon said.

"And I have Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, Guardian Pluto, Guardian Mars, Sailor Mars, Guardian Earth, and Guardian Uranus with me," Sailor Uranus said.

"Wait a second.." Guardian Moon said.

"Hi.." Guardian Neptune cutting in "So looks like we're getting a lot of people up here then huh.me and Guardian Venus are somewhere...don't ask me where?"

Another communication came in.

"Oh wait, I've got another call," Neptune said.

"Oh..thank goodness you're all right," Sailor Venus added.

"We should be saying the same thing about you," Guardian Neptune said.

"Look we have to meet up," Sailor Uranus said cutting in the conversation.

"I can hone in on your signal with my cameras and lead you to us," Guardian Moon said. "We had been leaving, but maybe we'll stick around for a while."

"Good idea," Sailor Moon said. "Now we can really take it to them."

"Hold on, I'm working on it," Guardian Moon said.

"SIR!" Saritin said.

"What?"

"Multiple enemy sightings?"

"What?"

"Apparently, there are more scouts on board."

"Come on then," Sero said. "And where are those warriors of yours?"

"I've lost track of them sir, but I'm sure they're on the trail of the scouts as well," Saritin said.

"Very well," Sero said and the two hurried out.

"Damage repair crews report in your status," One of the bridge officers said. A bolt of energy hit the officer and knocked them to the ground. Several more blasts knocked out the rest of the bridge crew.

Maverick, Guardian Mercury, and Sailor Mercury dropped to the floor.

"That was too easy don't you think?" Maverick asked.

Sailor Mercury walked over to the helm control. She stopped and let her special power flow through her. She touched the key pad understanding instantly how the system worked.

"Are you sure about this? She could just use the computer," Maverick said.

"Her power is better suited and faster," Guardian Mercury said.

"Has it worked before?"

"Yes, in just a situation like this," Maverick said.

Mercury pressed several buttons letting the aura take control.

The ship began to hum.

"I have redirected the ships course and started the main engines," she said. "However it will take them some time to warm up."

"That powers's a little too good if you ask me," Maverick said.

"So now do we let the scouts know where we are?" Sailor Mercury asked.

"No, I'm not entirely certain the enemy isn't tracking our communications," Gmerc said. "After every transmission they seem to leave to do something."

"Good point," Maverick said.

"The enemy will figure out something's wrong soon enough, but I don't want them to know what the problem is," Gmerc said.

"I guess that's good thinking," Sailor Mercury said. "We'll wait here until the ship is in position."

"That's the plan," Gmerc said.

"Someone's coming," Guardian Moon said. "My cameras are scouting ahead though. I can't know who it is nearby.

The two Saturn's readied themselves.

A figure emerged from the corridor and laughed.

The two Saturn's fired, the figure blasted the attacks away and launched a barrage. The scouts all hurried out of the way.

"Hah hah! Just try and run from Viko!" he shouted and raced after them.

"He was one of those monsters," Sailor Earth said. "I thought you had taken care of them."

"Uh..I thought I had messed them up somehow,"Guardian Jupiter said.

"Now what monsters are these now?" Guardian Moon said.

More energy flew at them. They rounded a corner. Fire flew at them.

"Time for fun with FIKO!" came another shout.

"I sense they put some thought into this!" Guardian Moon said avoiding more energy.

"An offensive posture is suggested," Sailor Saturn said.

"We're a little low on energy right now," Guardian Jupiter said.

"DIKO says come out and fight!"

Another monster shouted racing down the hallway towards them.

"Just keep running!" Guardian Moon said firing off several blasts. DIKO avoided the attack and charged them. They dodged and ran past him.

"All right, I'm homing in on the others," Moon said. "One of you be nice and let the others know what's happening."

"Oh...strong monsters now?" Guardian Neptune asked. "That's always a wonderful surprise. Thanks for letting us know."

"This is serious," Guardian Saturn said into his communicator.

"Yeah, yeah," Guardian Neptune said.

"You hear something?" Guardian Venus said.

The wall exploded. A creature flew at them. They dived to the ground.

"ZIKO says you're gonna die!"

"Hey, guess what, we found a monster too!" Guardian Neptune said into his communicator.

"That's not something to celebrate, VENUS STAR BURST!"

"ACH!" Ziko shouted and fired back. The two attacks met and neutralized each other.

"Gotta go," Guardian Neptune said.

In another part of the ship.

"What is going on out there?" Guardian Earth asked.

"Apparently we've got some new enemies to worry about," Sailor Uranus said.

"That you do," a figure said appearing at the end of the hallway, followed by two more.

"AIKO, BIKO, and CIKO are ready to fight," they said in unison.

"Us too.." came voices at the end of the hallway in the other direction.

"PIKO, MIKO, and RIKO!"

"Uh...nice of them to come out to welcome us and all, but..let's trash them!" Sailor Moon shouted.

The scouts shot energy out of their hands. The enemies shouted. A melee ensued.

"You hear that, there is fighting near," Sero said.

"Yes, my troops probably found one of the scout groups," Saritin said.

"Good," Sero said. "They will warm them up for when we arrive."

The two quickened their pace down the hall.

"ZIKO!" the creature shouted and charged at them.

"NEPTUNE TIDE OF DESTRUCTION!"

The attack slammed into Ziko knocking him to the ground. He rolled and then stood up. Fire blasted down the hallway.

"Geez..I hate this guy!" Neptune said leaping into a side hallway.

"He is proving to be formidable," Guardian Venus said. "But not indestructible. Besides his powers would be more useful..."

Ziko slid around the corner. The two scouts dived under him.

"If he was in the air," Guardian Venus fired a sword blast it hit Ziko causing the flyer to whirl towards him.

"Hit him too!" Guardian Venus shouted.

"Ah..yes," Guardian Neptune said and fired his sword quickly. Ziko was hit again and he dived in at them pushing them into a wall.

"I'm going to drain the life out of both of you and supplement my power!" Ziko shouted.

The two felt the pain.

"Is this part of the plan?" Neptune asked.

"YES!" Venus said and dug his sword straight into Ziko.

"Ah.." Neptune said and dug his sword in as well. Ziko screeched and let go. He was soon flying down the corridor.

"Not bad huh?" Neptune asked.

"Well..I prefer to work with someone who can anticipate," Venus said. "But we managed didn't we?"

"Sure did," Neptune said. "Now let's go find the others, something tells me this is ship wide, but it's good news."

"What is?"

"Did you hear him, he wanted to drain our energy!"

"So."

"So, the enemies that want to do that never win, it's just a matter of principle, just like the old days!" Neptune said.

"Didn't you really stink as a soldier back then from what I here?"

"As compared to being a moderately incompetent warrior now? Well yeah, but still what's the point of reminiscing if it's not about the old days?"

"You have me there," Venus muttered.

Neptune grinned.

In yet another part of the ship.

"GALACTIC MOON POWER!"

"Run for it!" the enemies shouted and dashed down hallways.

Sailor Moon held off releasing it.

"Guess they can't take that can they?" she asked.

The rest of the scouts nodded.

"We should move somewhere where we're not so confined," Sailor Uranus said.

"Guardian Moon, you all right?" Guardian Pluto asked.

"Not really, we're on the run, but we should be arriving near you in about..."

The scouts rounded a corner.

"Now..." he said.

"We need a good place to fight them," Tuxedo Mask said.

"One of their launch bays, if we can get there, it's where we can fight them out in the open," Guardian Moon said. "We can escape if we need to, but they're right on our tail."

"Not anymore it seems," Guardian Saturn said.

"That's not always good," Sailor Saturn said.

"Let's go, lead the way," Sailor Uranus said.

"Guardian Venus, Neptune, where are you?" Guardian Earth asked.

"Haven't you found out yet?" Venus asked.

"We've been a little busy," Guardian Earth said.

"I've got you now, you're right where we want to be, we're heading for that launch bay deck, can you just go back to where you came in?" Guardian Moon asked.

"All right," Guardian Venus said.

"We're on the way!" Sailor Moon said.

The scouts took off.

"Maybe it's time we kinda got out of here," Guardian Pluto said.

"Incoming transmission..what..from where?" Guardian Saturn asked and flipped open his communicator.

"You can fight them all you want, but don't leave yet," Guardian Mercury said.

"GMERC! Where are you?" Saturn asked.

"The ships control center, we've taken over, but we need you all to keep their forces busy while we move the ship out to sea," Gmerc said.

"Gmerc, just how did you get in there?" Sailor Uranus asked.

"I just did," Gmerc said. "Sailor Mercury and Maverick are here with me."

"Oh good," Sailor Moon said. "That's more people accounted for. We're headed for the launch bays."

"I've been keeping an eye on progress. You've also got a bunch of nasties behind you, I suggest you keep moving," Gmerc said.

"Thanks Gmerc," Sailor Moon said.

The scouts took off.

Back on the bridge.

"I can only hope that communication doesn't bring the enemy back here," Gmerc said.

"What are you afraid of? You're a warrior too you know," Maverick said.

"Yes, but.."

"But what?" Sailor Mercury said. "I thought you liked a good fight."

"I just don't want you two hurt okay!" Gmerc snapped. "Geez..you two always break down my defenses."

He went off and stood in a corner.

"He's such a nice guy," Maverick said.

"We're lucky to have him," Sailor Mercury said.

"Ah..there you are," Saritin said.

"Ah.." Viko said. "We live to serve."

"Good," Sero said. "We've got to get after those scouts."

"We were merely feeling them out. But now we will pursue them," Viko said.

"Excellent," Sero said. "We will follow..."

The ship rumbled.

"What was that?" Sero said.

"Sounds like the engines.." Saritin. "But they shouldn't be operational, not now.."

"You're right," Sero said. He pulled out his communicator.

"Bridge," he said. He received no response. "BRIDGE! Come in!"

"Nothing?" Saritin asked.

"Saritin come with me! All of you after those scouts!"

"Yes sir!" Viko said and hurried down the corridor with the warriors.

"What could have happened up there," Saritin said.

Sero studied a mini computer she had brought along.

"There was a transmission from the bridge, scout in nature!"

"They're on the bridge!"

"Apparently so. But not for long!"

"Well looks like we're about to get company," Maverick said.

"Mercury, get up to where we were hiding," Guardian Mercury said.

"I can fight too you know," Sailor Mercury said.

"I know, I just want to you to be able to study our enemies and learn their weaknesses," Gmerc said.

"You're also trying to protect me," Sailor Mercury said.

"I have to," Gmerc said. "But you also know that we really could use someone up there."

"You're right," Sailor Mercury admitted.

"Don't worry we'll provide plenty of a welcoming committee for them," Maverick said.

"All right," Sailor Mercury said and headed back up to a platform above the bridge hiding behind some boxes of some sort.

"Two of them..the leaders," Gmerc said staring at his watch and the camera picture on them.

"Be careful you two!" Sailor Mercury shouted.

"I'll take the smaller one," Maverick said.

"Of course," Gmerc said.

The two waited tensely.

Back in Tokyo.

"I can't stand this waiting," Sailor Pluto said trying to stand.

"Pluto you're hurt. Rest some more," Sailor Neptune said.

"No," Sailor Pluto said. "Come on..let's find a car.."

"But.."

"You heard me!" Sailor Pluto said. "There's a war going on out there, and I want to see what's happening."

"All right," Sailor Neptune said. "I guess you have a point."

"You're right I do!" Pluto said.

"Calm down, we're going," Neptune said.

Can't blame her. She thought.

"You feeling better?" the sewer daimon asked.

"Yes," Jupiter said. "But stil...l it hurts."

"Rest some more all right," The daimon said. "Your friends are doing well without you."

"You've seen them?"

"Well..I've heard them and seen what they've been up to more specifically."

"Oh.." Jupiter said.

"I should be up there."

"Not injured like this you shouldn't."

"Yeah, I know..it's hard you know."

" I understand," the daimon said. "You want to be part of it. But don't worry. I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Yeah." Sailor Jupiter said. "Guess I should rest some more."

"Try to please."

"There they are!" Sailor Venus yelled finally finding Guardians Neptune and Venus. They had also since found the rest of the scouts.

"Hey!" Guardian Neptune said and hugged his ex thought, possibly current girlfriend.

"And one for you," Sailor Venus said and hugged Guardian Venus.

"You're not mad?" Guardian Venus asked.

"For what?" Sailor Venus asked.

"Leaving you to be captured."

"You had no choice," Sailor Venus said. "I'm just happy you're both all right, and that everyone's all right."

"This should be an excellent defensive position," Guardian Moon said staring at the landing bay.

"Couldn't they just open the doors and blast us out?" Guardian Pluto said.

"Yeah, but so that makes it more treacherous, but we're not in space," Guardian Moon said.

"I kinda forgot, it's so dark out you know," Guardian Pluto said.

"Let's set up some sort of defense," Guardian Uranus said.

"Excellent idea," Sailor Uranus said.

Viko strode down the hallway.

"They're in there," several troops said pointing to the landing bay doors.

"Thank you," Viko said and the group drained the troops energy.

"It's all for the greater cause," Viko said and headed for the door.

"We are ready for combat!" Viko said. "Is everyone ready."

"Wait.." Aiko said and pointed.

"Ah..more food," Viko said. Several of their own troops broke and ran.

"No come back!" Aiko said as the group chased after them.

They zapped them and came back.

"I think we're ready," Viko said and opened the landing bay door. What he found himself looking at was a shuttle craft and apparently nothing else.

"Oh..now that's cute," Viko said.

"Blast it!" the group all let out an attack. The ship exploded back through the hangar and exploded.

The enemy raced in. The scouts all let loose their attacks. The battle began.

Sero and Saritin approached the doors to the bridge.

"We don't know how many scouts there are beyond there," Saritin said.

"I don't care," Sero said. With a wave of his hand the door exploded.

"MERCURY DEVOUT REVENGE!"

The attack flew right at them. Sero blocked it with an energy shield.

Maverick and Guardian Mercury fired quickly. Sero let loose an energy barrage. The two scouts avoided it.

Sailor Mercury rapidly began to scan them.

Now show me just what you're made of. She thought and began to study them quickly.

"I give you credit for taking over my bridge, but I will defeat you right here and end this," Sero said.

"Yes, I figured you might say something like that," Gmerc said.

"Let me ask you something," Sero said. Gmerc and Maverick stood ready.

"What?" Maverick asked.

"Just how is it that you think you can defeat all of our forces?" Sero asked. "Speaking hypothetically as soldiers."

"That's easy, we never lose," Gmerc said.

"That's right," Maverick said. "I should know, I'm one of the ones they beat."

"You are?" Sero asked.

"Sure thing, I used to be possessed by Gala daughter of Queen Galaxia, now I'm one of the good guys!"

"You were possessed by the daughter of Galaxia?" Sero asked.

"You've heard of her?" Maverick asked.

"Enough of this," Saritin said. "Let's fight."

"I quite agree," Sero said.

"Oh and we were having such a nice chat too," Maverick said.

"But first," Sero said and thumbed a button on his computer. The bridge equipment sank into the floor.

"Can't have that damaged," he said.

"Suits me fine," Guardian Mercury said.

"Hey if you don't want to change your course that's fine with us."

"I assure you that is not a problem," Sero said.

Sailor Mercury tensed. There must be somewhere else they can change the course. Or else he wouldn't be so calm about it.

She noticed a camera floating in front of her.

Thanks D.V. she thought and immediately sent the camera through the ship using what she had learn to locate what else might change the ship's course aside from the bridge.

"I was worried they might have another way," Gmerc said. "But no time to worry about that."

"Right," Maverick said.

The two sides faced off.

"Nagumo you're telling, me that their shields are down?" General Jackson of the UN said on the view screen.

"Yes I am, and that the ship is moving towards the sea, slowly."

"Then we should attack."

"You should wait for it to clear our city."

"Well we'll begin now, by the time we get there it should be open right?"

"Yes."

"Then it's time to end this war."

"Just be careful we've lost so many lives already."

"I know, it is time to prove they were not lost in vain."