There was battlefield. 
	A great war was fought here, but now it was silent, only 
inhabited by the dead. Occasionally, a skeleton lay clutching a weapon, 
though sometimes not. Those that held the rusted weapons were 
invariably large and humanoid, though the bones were often replaced by 
equally-rusted cybernetics.
	Others included large humanoids, with one difference: the 
skeletons bore evidence of an extra set of arms.
	Sailor Pluto walked across the battlefield, shaking her head. She 
considered the monstrous battle that must have been fought here, *And 
now, they're bringing their war to Earth. There must be some way I can 
stop this... without disrupting the flow of time!*
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                   Based on stuff that's not mine
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                         Written by Cyclone
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     W  H  I  R  L  W  I  N  D     P  R  O  D  U  C  T  I  O  N  S
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                              presents
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           T  H  E     L  U  N  A  R     K  N  I  G  H  T  S
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Author's Notes:
	Not really much to say here. Just enjoy the 'fic and tell me what 
you think.
	A note on pronounciation: Branaugh is pronounced brawn-NOW. 
Lathian is pronounced lay-THEE-en.
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Episode Two--Escalation
	General Vargas glanced at his subordinate and spoke in their 
guttural native tongue, "<Report.>"
	"<Initial reconnaissance suggests an overall weak and 
disorganized military presence, with numerous world powers and a great 
deal of infighting. However, this planet, like several we have 
encountered before, seems to possess a 'superhero' element which may 
prove itself a nuisance.>"
	"<Would a larger resource allocation be ideal to handle them?>"
	"<No, sir. There is little cause for alarm from that area, as the 
'superheroes' are few in number and apparently isolated into local 
regions. With one of our better-trained precision strike forces, they 
can be easily dealt with.>"
	"<Recommendation?>"
	"<I request that Omega team be activated, sir.>" At this, General 
Vargas frowned. The colonel continued, "<Their expertise in this 
field-...>"
	"<...is entirely unnecessary. Activate Bravo and Delta teams 
instead. They will be more than enough. Have them coordinate a 
simultaneous strike. We don't want to give them any opportunity to 
prepare.>"
	(Author's Note: It should be mentioned at this point that the 
teams aren't actually called "Bravo," "Delta," or "Omega." These are 
simply the closest English, or actually Greek, analogies.)
	Colonel Karya could not complain. She had just been assigned two 
of the best-trained covert operations teams in the entire Lathian 
military. Admittedly not as good as Omega, but Omega was reserved for 
the gravest of mission, anyway. Still, she had more, worse, news for 
her commanding officer.
	"<There is more, sir. The Branaugh also seem to have taken an 
interest in this planet. One of our scouts reported encountering one 
just before we lost the transmission.>"
	His eyes narrowed, "<Did they retrieve any of our technology?>"
	She shook her head firmly, "<No, sir. The Branaugh in question 
terminated the scout via a technique that consistently results in the 
elimination of not only the target, but also much of the surrounding 
area and the Branaugh itself.>"
	"<Good,>" he paused and deliberated for a moment. "<I'm 
authorizing you to activate two level three combat drones of your 
choice. They should be sufficient enough to eliminate any foothold 
those demons have acquired on this planet. Dismissed.>"
	She saluted (in the Lathian manner, which is to say, she bowed 
her head slightly, touched her forehead with the index finger of her 
fist, and jerked it out toward him), "<Yes, sir!>"

Elsewhere...
	"<Lord Graegor, I have disturbing news,>" the Branaugh was on one 
knee, head bowed in respect. The Branaugh tongue, identical to the 
Lathian language, sounded even harsher, due to the gravelly voice of 
the speaker, which somehow conveyed in its tone the reverence he held 
for his lord.
	Graegor nodded, "<Rise, my son. What news?>"
	"<We have met unexpected resistance, and the Lathians are here.>"
	The Father Of All Branaugh suddenly rose to his feet and 
demanded, "<Do they know of our plans?>"
	"<There is no indication that they do, Lord-Father. Contact with 
them has been brief, but what we _do_ know suggests that they were as 
surprised by our presence as we were by theirs. Also, I am saddened to 
inform you of the death of Brother Targath.>"
	Graegor slowly sat back down, "<I see. Continue with the plan, 
but be wary of the humanoid scum. Avoid the local resistance if 
possible. We do _not_ need another enemy.>"
	"<Yes, m'lord.>"
	"<I trust this matter to you, Calador.>"
	The young Branaugh knelt again, "<I am honored by your confidence 
in me, Lord-Father.>"

Much later...
	Klataban crept through the Juuban District. His large frame went 
unnoticed by the majority of the populous. A few seemed somewhat uneasy 
when they went near him, but they all shrugged off the feeling as just 
nerves.
	Well, almost all.
	Even so, Sailor Pluto was reluctant to interfere. Everything had 
to fall into place _just_ right, or it may prove disastrous.
	The Branaugh approached the park. *Unless my sense is off, the 
nexus point should be riiiiight... there!*
	Klataban confidently strode out to the nexus point. All he had to 
do was-...
	ZZAP!
	He heard laughter. He snarled and pulled himself to his feet, 
ignoring the large burn on his back. The Walls of Distraction spell was 
now wearing off thanks to the blast, and the locals had fled, screaming 
for help. He quickly spotted and identified his assailant...
	"<Lathian,>" he muttered under his breath.
	The Lathian replied, "<Of course. Captain Vekan, at your 
service... your _funeral_ service, that is.>"
	Capt. Vekan leveled his rifle at Klataban. The gun was a beefed-
up, enhanced version of the standard Lathian battle rifle.
	Klataban wasted no words. He let out an inhuman battle cry and 
leaped at the Lathian. Vekan, expecting the berserker charge, was 
nevertheless stunned by the ferocity of the attack. He was thrown back, 
flung against and through a large oak tree.
	The Lathian shook his head clear and looked up, only to see the 
massive Branaugh standing over him, slamming him with four energy 
blasts and driving him into the ground.
	Vekan snarled. He could not, _would_ not, let himself be defeated 
by this... this _primitive_! His sturdy rifle, damaged beyond any 
capability of firing, still made a more than adequate club.
	WHACK!
	Stumbling back, Klataban cursed himself for forgetting about the 
impossible strength that cybernetics lent the average Lathian. Vekan 
took this opportunity to bumrush the Branaugh, slamming him beyond the 
park limits, across the street, and into the side of a concrete 
building.
	Klataban did not move.
	Vekan drew his sidearm, resting the barrel flush against 
Klataban's forehead, and muttered, "<To think that primitives like 
_you_ have been causing so much trouble. I can't believe High Command 
is raising such a ruckus about something so... hideous and barbaric as 
you.>"
	He chuckled. "<This is almost too easy.>"
	Then he heard a voice, speaking in the language of the local 
people, "Hey, you! Damaging public property and endangering innocents 
is..." The voice trailed off and dropped to a whisper, "Guys, umm, a 
little help here?"
	Another voice sighed and broke in, continuing where the first had 
left off, "...a crime against the people. These people have done 
nothing against you, and to threaten them is an immoral injustice!"
	The first voice returned, "I am Sailor Moon! I will right wrongs 
and triumph over evil, and that means you! In the name of the Moon..."
	"...and Mars!"
	"...and Mercury!" This was the voice that had finished the 
initial speech.
	"...and Jupiter!"
	"...and Venus!"
	All five of the sailor-suited females cried out simultaneously, 
"...we'll PUNISH you!"
	Vekan looked at them casually... and laughed. *_This_,* he 
wondered, *is the local team of heroes?! I can't believe they actually 
took the time to make such a _ridiculous_ speech and not even get the 
whole speech done properly!*
	He smirked and raised his sidearm, pointing it at the Sailor 
Senshi.
	(Author's Note: Hi, again. To get the proper image of Vekan's 
"sidearm," one must take into account the immense strength afforded 
him, and most Lathians, by his cybernetics. Then one must consider that 
the "standard Lathian battle rifle" mentioned earlier has approximately 
the same caliber as a small mortar. Putting these two facts together, 
it then becomes clear how the hand cannon Capt. Vekan held would be 
considered a "sidearm" by a Lathian, even with its shotgun-sized 
barrel.)
	The Senshi eeped and dove out of the way. The blast impacted a 
tree and shattered it with ease. Vekan laughed. While the mission he 
had been assigned to was actually reconnaissance, that didn't mean he 
couldn't get a little more fun out of it, especially since High Command 
wanted these "superheroes" disposed of anyway.
	Still, it was time to get down to business...

On the flip side of things...
	The Inner Senshi were not having a good time. This new cyborg was 
proving to be more of a challenge than the other two cyborgs they had 
fought. It seemed much smarter and faster than the other two. The only 
good news was that it seemed to have lost its main weapon in the battle 
with... whatever it had been fighting.
	Suddenly, they heard a pair of voices that lifted their spirits 
considerably.
	"WORLD SHAKING!"
	"DEEP SUBMERGE!"
	The double-team attack from the Outer Senshi slammed into the 
cyborg, sending it flying back into the smashed building.

Back to Vekan...
	He snarled. Those two, the short-haired blonde and the green-
haired girl, had blindsided him. He cursed himself as he picked himself 
up off of the apparently comatose Branaugh. He should realized that 
they would hold a small force in reserve for any weakness they might 
spot. He had grown careless. It didn't matter that "superheroes" rarely 
used common-sense military tactics; he should have anticipated it, 
anyway.
	*Time for a strategic retreat.*
	He flicked a switch on the barrel of his sidearm and fired a 
rapid-fire stream of explosive energy bolts from his gun as he ran off, 
activating his cloaking device.

Again to the Sailor Senshi...
	After the smoke cleared out, it was obvious that the cyborg was 
gone. However, they all spotted a large demon emerging from the 
remnants of a concrete building near where they last saw the cyborg.
	For once, Sailor Moon managed to put one and one together. Too 
bad she still came up with one.
	"It must've transformed into that demon!"
	"SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"

Back to the "demon" in question...
	Klataban rose, surprised that he was still alive. Usually, 
Lathians didn't hold much regard for mercy. *So, why-...?*
	His thought was interrupted by a sudden blast of cold that struck 
his chest. He flew backwards, but managed to keep from falling. He 
snarled, *So, that's it. He leaves me alive to let his cronies take me 
out instead. He _insults_ me with such behaviour!*
	The Branaugh gathered up a massive ball of energy between his 
four hands and sent it towards the seven ridiculously-dressed human 
females. As expected, they dove out of the way, and Klataban pelted the 
area with smaller and less powerful (but still quite deadly) blasts.
	Suddenly, a rose flew through the air and unerringly pricked his 
forehead. He growled with irritation and brushed the annoying flower 
away before smashing the well-dressed idiot who had had the gall to 
attack him in such a ridiculous manner.

To the Senshi again...
	Tuxedo Kamen flew through the air and landed painfully against a 
building, creating a small crater. He groaned and tried to pick himself 
up, only to slump back into the crater, unconscious.
	"TORNADO SLASH!"
	The demon stumbled back a few steps. Their mysterious saviour had 
returned. He shook his head, "Damn. This thing's even uglier than that 
cyborg."
	He charged, slashing his sword in a complex pattern of swings 
that changed from moment to moment...

Meanwhile...
	Ryouga felt like yelling again. It was a great way to relieve 
stress and tended to be less costly than breaking things, unless he had 
the good fortune to get lost before the owner found out.
	He snarled, about ready to unleash another Shishi Houkou Dan when 
he heard sounds of fighting. *Fighting? That has to be Ranma!*
	He crept around, trying to find the battlefield. It didn't take 
long, since even a Hibiki can follow his ears. He leaped to a rooftop 
and saw some kind of demon fighting the Sailor Senshi. His eyes 
narrowed, and he prepared to go help the Senshi...

In the park...
	"SHISHI HOUKOU DAN!"
	A green blast of energy slammed into Klataban. He grunted in 
surprise, but was otherwise unaffected. He spared a glance at the fool 
who had tried such a pathetic attack, but instantly focused on the 
opponent in front of him.
	The sword had struck him several times, but the cuts, while 
painful and a direct confirmation of the sword's power, were only 
superficial. He growled and stepped back, directing a volley of energy 
blasts at his sword-wielding foe.
	His eyes darted among his enemies. The females alone would not 
have been much of a problem, nor would the swordsman, though he was 
proving himself a fine and worthy opponent. Together, however, they 
added up to quite a challenge. Throwing in the distraction the boy 
provided, and it became a fight Klataban knew he could not win.
	He growled and stepped back. The nexus point would still be there 
when he returned. He faced the swordsman, brought his four fists 
together and bowed. Then he backed away and triggered the emergency 
teleport spell.

Back to the Senshi, again...
	The swordsman bowed, "Good luck to you, Senshi. Farewell."
	"Wait!"
	He half-turned at Sailor Mercury's call, raising an eyebrow.
	His eyes widened a barely noticable distance. "Yes, Mercury?"
	"Who are you? Why are you helping us?"
	He smiled faintly, "I'm Sir Terra, and I'm doing what I must. 
After all, a man can't ignore his sworn loyalty to the crown, can he?"
	With that, he turned and left.
	Then they heard a voice behind them, "Umm, where is the Tendo 
Dojo?"

Much later...
	"Aw, c'mon, pops! Do we gotta?"
	"Of course, m'boy! You need a vacation!"
	Ranma really couldn't argue with _that_ statement, but going with 
the Tendos to visit some of their family was _not_ what he had in mind. 
It felt like they were trying to make him a part of the family, which, 
of course, brought the engagement to mind.
	Still, there wasn't really any arguing with his father when he 
was in this mood. He sighed and began to pack. His father _did_ say 
they were going to be at the Hikawa Shrine for awhile...

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Rei Voiceover:
	My cousins make a surprise visit to the shrine while we're in the 
middle of a Senshi meeting! Why does Ami look so preoccupied? Hey, 
who's he? He's pretty cute.
	Mako-chan's old sempai?! I was beginning to think he didn't 
exist!
	All this and more, next time on The Lunar Knights, "Meetings"! 
See you there!
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Author's Postscript:
	Well, well! Part two. Never thought I'd get this far with this 
story arc. As for Makoto's old sempai, I don't know too much about him 
and will assume he isn't discussed in too much detail in the series.

		This is Cyclone, signing off.