Chapter 1 Beginning of Memories
Admiral Rick Hunter gripped his arm rests as he watched the center of the black hole grow on his display as his ship was pulled further and further into the gravity well. He could feel the sweat run down his back as cold fear gripped his gut. He'd just signed the death warrant on his crews' lives. Everyone onboard the SDF-3 Pioneer was now dead, and it was his fault. Why hadn't he listened to Lisa and moved his ship further away from the target zone? Because he was cocky and sure that they were in no danger. But how the hell was he supposed to know that the Neutron-S war head would create a black hole? He changed his train of thought. Guilt was not a luxury he had at this moment. He still had to try every conceivable option.
"Alright." He said as he rose from his chair. "Anyone have any idea as to how we can get out of here?"
He looked around the room and saw only hopeless faces as his crew were coming to grips with the fact that they were doomed.
"Damn it." Rick thought bitterly. "There has to be something I've over looked. Some fold in the pl-Wait! That's it!"
Hunter looked down to his helmsman, a young female Lieutenant.
"Lieutenant, prepare to fold." He ordered.
The girl blinked in surprise before Admiral Edwards spoke up.
"Hunter! We can't fold out of a black hole! It's impossible! No one has every done it!"
Rick shot him a glare.
"Well, have you got any bright ideas?"
Edwards remained quiet as he simply returned Rick's glare. The former pilot smirked as he took the silence as a sign of his opponents defeat.
"Very well. Besides. What's the worst that could happen?"
"We blow up." A voice sounded from behind him.
Rick knew who it was and simply nodded his head.
"That's true ma'am, but at least it'd be quick and painless compared to doing nothing, and getting ripped to shreds inside of a black hole."
Fleet Admiral Lisa Hayes-Hunter could only shake her head at Rick's logic, even though it did make sense. Instead of answering him, she turned to the young helmsman.
"You heard the order Lieutenant. Fold us out of here."
"Aye aye, ma'am." She answered with a shaky voice.
The woman tapped the controls with a shaky hand and began inputting the coordinates when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Glancing up, she saw the smiling face of Admiral Hunter.
"Hey. Relax, You can do this. I wouldn't trust you steering the ship if I didn't have faith in you."
The woman nodded and faced her controls with determination as she steadied her hand and finished her computations.
"Fold system ready Admiral Hunter."
Rick smiled as he moved back to his seat.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get out of here."
Around the SDF-3, space began to wavier as the fold systems began to manipulate the fabric of space, struggling to break the hold the black hole had on the vessel. But black holes were stubborn and refused to release their prey with out a fight. The SDF-3 began to shake violently and the lights began to flicker as energy surged through her systems. Consoles began over loading, spewing sparks and arcs of electricity across short distances.
"Report!" Rick ordered.
"Fold system is overloading! The Fold Targeting System is non responsive. FTL drive is showing high feedback into the core! Reaching dangerous levels!"
"Main thrust systems off line! We're losing attitude control!"
"We lost our holding station! I show two minutes until we're completely pulled in!"
"Fold energy is cascading through out the relays! Core breach imminent!"
Rick was lost in a sea of confusion as the reports hit him at once. Panic gripped the crew as he made a very dangerous decision.
"Dump all the excess energy into the fold system. Standby to initiate fold!" He bellowed over the alarms ringing around him.
The bridge crew paused to see if he had perhaps grown a second head. But the look that Lisa gave them made them all gulp in fear.
"You heard him! Get a move on!"
"Yes ma'am!" They chorused and turned back to their stations.
"System ready, sir." The helmsman stated calmly.
Rick rose from his seat as he watched the core of the black hole close in on them.
"Standby."
He felt a hand on his and glanced back to see Lisa giving him that same determined look she always had when things were life or death. She gave him a nod that gave him the confidence to give the order.
"Initiate fold…NOW!"
Xxxxx
Darkness gave way to flickering emergency lights as Rick came too. He grunted in pain and placed a hand over his ribs, figuring they were either broken or bruised. Neither any better than the other. Hunter gripped his command chair and roughly pulled himself to his feet, wincing in pain. Beside him, Lisa was all ready being tended to.
"Let's get some lights on in here." He ordered in a calm voice.
The bridge crew slowly began to get back into the swing of things and with in a few minutes, the regular lighting was restored. In that time, Rick was checked over and was happy to find out that he had no breaks. Only bruised ribs, like he thought. However, Lisa had suffered a broken arm. Most of his bridge crew were fine with the most severe injury being Lisa's. Everyone else had a few minor lacerations and some bruises, but were alright.
"Give me a damage report."
"Hull damage is extensive Admiral. The port side or the bow has exposed superstructure. Also, our fold system is inoperable at this time pending full repairs. Bulkheads 189 to 197 have ruptured and is reading as breached." A young Commander responded.
Rick sighed and rubbed his temple.
"Where do we stand with engines?"
"Engine two is a flame out. Three and one aren't far behind. We have zero attitude control, sir." The helmsman reported.
"Alright. Let's find some where to set down and make repairs."
"Looks like were going to be making a landing sooner than expected Admiral. We're descending onto a habitable planet." She reported.
"Well, good job Miss Cramer. Job well done on locating a planet. Have you found us a landing zone?" Rick asked pleasantly.
The young girl snapped her eyes back to the display and checked their descent trajectory and spotted an area just large enough for them to set down.
"Yes sir. Firing thrusters to align for correct reentry profile. Estimate touchdown in ten minutes."
Rick smiled.
"Very good." He responded, activating the ship wide intercom. "Attention all personnel. Attention all personnel. This is Admiral Rick Hunter. All stations are to prepare for emergency landing. Repeat, prepare for emergency landing. Once we have touched down, I want a full sitrep from all stations. That is all."
Rick leaned back in his seat and caught the sight of Lisa still on the bridge, arm in a sling.
"You should be in the infirmary."
Lisa raised an eyebrow.
"And leave you in charge of my ship? No way." She retorted.
Rick smirked.
"According to REF command regulation 1020.34 Alpha, in the event of injury, the commanding officer is relieved of command until a medical professional is able to determine any and all effects said injury will have on the commanders abilities."
Lisa glared at him.
"Vice Admiral Hunter. I don't need you quoting regulations to me. Especially ones I wrote." She retorted.
Rick grinned.
"Well, Fleet Admiral Hunter. It seemed you needed a refresher and after all, a good leader must also be able to follow her own regulations, otherwise, your subordinates might feel free to disregard orders they don't like."
Lisa wanted to argue back, but knew he had a point. She conceded defeat but sent him one last glare.
"Don't think you've won. I have other ways to make you pay for this one."
Rick watched her leave and cursed his own loud mouth.
"I can never win. Even when the rules are on my side!"
His bridge crew couldn't help but snicker at his misfortune.
xxxxx
Lisa Hayes-Hunter waited patiently for the doctor to finish up on her arm. With the miracle of modern medicine, the doctor was able to set and mend her arm in fifteen minutes. Now, she just had to wait for the go ahead for her to leave the infirmary. She glanced at the clock again and marveled at the fact that they had touched down less than thirty minutes ago. And the damage that had followed. As if right on cue, the target of her frustrations strutted into the med bay, grinning like he just won the lottery.
"Well, we down. I have personnel doing a check of the ship." He said as he walked over to her.
Lisa rose from her bed and glared at him, hands on her hips making Rick freeze in his tracks.
"Yes. And you've caused damage to my flagship. And, you saw fit to remove me from my bridge. I think your going to become very familiar with the couch."
"Aw…but Lisa…come on! It was for your own good. Besides," He continued with a grin as he stepped aside, "She would've hated me if I hadn't gotten you to the doctors. Isn't that right kiddo?"
Lisa's expression softened as her and Rick's seven year old daughter, Claudia Lynn Hunter rushed forward to hug her mother. Lisa hugged her daughter as the little girl giggled at her parents antics.
"Mommy, why were you yelling at daddy?"
Rick grinned. She wouldn't bash him in front of their own daughter.
"Because daddy is an idiot."
Or maybe not. Lisa looked up at him and gave him a hard look.
"Rick. We still have to talk about that stunt you pulled on the bridge. But we'll talk later. Now, I need to see the damage reports."
"Not so fast." Doctor Lang said as he came out of his office. "I may have fixed your arm, but it'll be at least two days before I'll release you to full duty. Until then, your to stay off the bridge."
Lisa raised both hands in defeat.
"Fine. Besides, I'll get to spend time with my child."
Rick gave her a questioning look.
"What about me?"
She gave him a warm smile.
"I was talking about you. Now, don't you have something to do? Like get repairs underway?"
Rick's eyes widened.
"Oh yeah! Gotta go. Be good for mommy, k?" He said as he kneeled in front of his daughter.
She smiled brightly, her green eyes shining in the med bay lights, her dark brown hair framing her face.
"Of course daddy. I'm always a good girl."
Rick chuckled as he stood back up and walked over to Lisa.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Love you." He said as he leaned in.
Lisa smiled and moved forward in a short, sweat kiss.
"Love you too. Now go fix my ship." She ordered.
Rick came to attention and snapped off a crisp salute.
"Aye aye, Admiral Hunter!" He said as he cut the salute and moved out of the med bay.
Claudia looked from the door to her mother with curiosity.
"Does daddy always listen to you?"
Lisa smirked.
"Only when he knows what's good for him."
Xxxxx
"Skull squadron, you are cleared for take off. Vermilion, Red, Blue, and Gold squadron, stand by to begin CAP mission." Commander Williams voice sounded through Colonel Sterling's head set.
"Rodger. Skull Squadron heading out." He said as he shoved the throttle forward, feeling the vibrations as his fighter's engines kicked to life.
The dozen fighters lifted off, one after the other until Red Squadron began to take off.
"Alright Skull, we're on perimeter defense. Stay sharp."
His wingman acknowledged the order as Max began the first route of his patrol. This would be a long day.
Xxxxx
Rick clenched his hair as he looked over the reports. They lost half of their vertical thrusters and the hull was severely weakened to the point that any take off would probably destroy the ship until sufficient repairs could be made. The time estimate really made him hate his life. Four years to get the SDF-3 ready for space flight again.
"Lisa is gonna kill me." He muttered.
"Maybe. How bad is it?"
Rick looked up to see said woman leaning against the door. Rick sighed and leaned back.
"Engineer Olsen is estimating four years until we can even leave."
Lisa sighed before she gave him a small smile.
"I'm not mad. If you hadn't of ordered the fold, we'd all be dead. Your quick thinking saved us all."
"Only to strand us on this unknown planet in an unknown area of the galaxy." He mumbled.
Lisa walked behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Leave the reports to Edwards. Come to bed. I miss you." She whispered into his ear.
Rick sighed and simply enjoyed the warm weight pressing against his back.
"Alright. You win Lisa. I'll-" His sentence was never finished.
"Admiral Hunter to the bridge!"
Rick snapped his eyes open and he and Lisa moved quickly. With in moments, they were both on the bridge as Edwards turned to face them, a grim look on his face.
"Report." Rick ordered.
"Red Squadron reports contact with locals. They appear to be human and are demanding to speak with our leader. The call themselves ninja. They belong to a village not far from here. Something about leaves."
Rick looked at the pad Edwards handed him and sighed.
"Very well. Bring them aboard. We'll meet them on the flight deck."
Xxxxx
Rick stood on the flight deck as the transport vehicle landed and disgorged it's occupants. Four men with strange clothes stepped off the transport and walked in the direction an LSO pointed. Rick noticed that each of them had on a dark brown vest with many pockets and each had on the same head band. A swirl in the shape of a leaf. What was apparently the leader stepped forward. A man with dark hair, brown eyes, and a goat tee.
"Asuma Sarutobi. Hidden Leaf Village Jounin." He said, extending his hand.
"Vice Admiral Rick Hunter. Robotech Expeditionary Force. Executive officer of the SDF-3 Pioneer." Rick grasped the man's hand briefly.
"Well, now that that's out of the way, would you mind explaining why you have appeared so close to our village?" the man named Asuma question.
"It's along story, but to put your mind at ease, we're not here to cause trouble. Once we have completed repairs, we will be heading out."
Asuma took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke, watching the rings dissipate.
"Well, our leader, Sandaime Hokage requests your presence so as to ascertain your motives on our land."
Rick glanced back to Lisa and Edwards, both gave a grim nod. The Admiral turned back to the strange man.
"Very well. We will meet with your leader."