Author's note: I do not own any of the characters, events or songs from Macross Frontier. The following is a sequel to the anime television series and does not acknowledge the two movies.
Many thanks to the following resources, on which I am relying for technical and character data (sorry, I don't think we can post actual links here):
The Macross Compendium, Macross Mecha Designs, Macross Mecha Manual and the various Wikipedia entries for all Macross entities (when I can verify the information elsewhere - it's Wikipedia after all!).
Chapter 1
Skull Squadron Captain, Alto Saotome accelerated toward the attacking craft, the distance between decreasing to nothing in seconds. Shifting his VF-25 Messiah into battroid mode, the two clashed, tons of metal crashing together.
"Unnnh," grunted Alto, inertia throwing him against his restraints. "Not this time Sterne," he yelled, "you will not get away with that trick again."
There was no reply from Brera Sterne in his crimson VF-27. But in his mecha, a thin smile appeared on his face. Alto Saotome, I will defeat you once again.
Grappling and kicking out of holds, the two mechas twisted and shot through space among the asteroids and dust in the thin debris belt between Hinan, the planet they called home for a little more than a year now, and the next planet in the system.
Twisting free from Brera, Alto spun and took aim, ready to deal the killing shot. But before he could fire, a careening mass plowed into him from the side sending him spinning into the distance.
"What?" Alto yelled, craning his head to see what had hit him. Did I lose track of an asteroid?
"You didn't think it would be that easy did you?" came the deep, but feminine, voice from the red Queadluun-Rea battle armor.
"Klan!" Alto exclaimed, now prepping a defensive position to take on both enemies, "Damn! Damn! Damn!"
Klan Klan, the female Zentradi pilot, laughed as she raised her armored suit's arm, took aim and let loose with a barrage of fire. Alto, re-thinking his posture, quickly shifted back to fighter mode and blasted away, evading the fire but not the mecha of Brera Stern.
"You will not escape me," came Sterne's voice inside Alto's helmet, the crimson mecha now holding on to the top of Alto's fighter.
"Goddamn it! I could really use some help here," yelled Alto, knowing that help should be out there. "Where the hell are you?"
In response, a bright bolt lanced out from a distant asteroid, hitting Sterne dead center. He spun off into space, a sigh of frustration reaching Alto's ears over their open inter-craft comm.
"Damn IT!" cried Klan as she spun, scanning for the origin of the incoming fire. But before she had even begun the spin, the second shot was on its way - and on target. Klan's armor was disabled instantly.
"Tally-ho Princess Alto! You didn't think I forgot about you did you?" the female voice asked.
"You sure took your damn sweet time," Alto screamed back over the radio, trying to sound angry. But, to himself, he smiled. "We're done here. Return to base. Now."
Back on Macross Quarter's landing deck on Hinan, Alto stood in his open cockpit and watched as the blue VF-25G that had once been piloted by his friend Michael hovered next to him, it's sniper rifle mounted beneath the fuselage. His close-cropped hair barely moved in the breeze. It had been difficult for Alto to lose the long hair but as leader of Skull Squadron, he felt the short hair was more appropriate for a position of authority. And if it cut down on the "Princess" comments (it hadn't), all the better.
He let the recruit hover there for a minute. It was a standard procedure he put in place for all new recruits. If he was flying with them, they were to hover, legs down in GERWALK mode, until he landed, observed and manually signaled them down. A stable, close-to-ground hover could come in handy some day. This recruit, however, had mastered it long ago and with a tiny, almost imperceptible gesture of his finger, he signaled her down. The blue mecha cut power and settled gently on the deck.
Textbook landing, he thought. I won't be able to fault her on that either. Damn. And, again, the smile.
The cockpit canopy on the blue mecha lifted and Alto watched as the pilot finished her shutdown, ran through a checklist, stood and removed her flight helmet, blonde-pink hair falling out, past her shoulders.
"Saved you Alto-kun!" Sheryl Nome yelled, punctuating it with a wink.
Alto cringed. Nothing was ever subtle with Sheryl.
"Ahem." Captain Ozma walked out from beneath Alto's fighter. Now Captain of the Macross Quarter, Ozma still spent a lot of time with his old squadron, even during operations. "Captain Saotome, acceptable flying. Sheryl, you still need work on the aerobatics..."
"But, Sir!" she interrupted.
"BUT," the Captain continued, "you continue to impress with your sniping abilities."
Sheryl beamed. Alto rolled his eyes. He knew how Sheryl reacted to praise. She'd never let him hear the end of it.
"Sterne and Klan won't soon forget this one," said Ozma in conclusion. He looked into the sky at two rapidly growing points of light. "And speak of the devils."
Sheryl and Alto climbed out of their mechas and down to the deck of the ship. The roar of Sterne and Klan's crafts echoed over the Macross Quarter and the pair of vehicles touched down next to the two parked fighters. Klan stepped down from the front hatch of her armor as it opened.
"Excellent shooting Sheryl. I owe you an ale," Klan said, casually checking over her Queadluun-Rea, looking for any minor damage.
"Yes," from behind, made Sheryl jump. Brera Sterne had the uncanny ability to suddenly appear from nowhere and startle her. Sheryl liked Brera but, as she had put it to Alto, "the guy's still uber-mysterious."
"Your shooting skills amaze me," he said, deadpan but sincere. "I look forward to furthering your flight skills as well," he continued with a sideways glance, and a smile, at Alto.
Taking the compliment, and ignoring the rest, Sheryl exclaimed "thanks Brera!"
"OK, OK. Time for a quick debriefing, Sheryl," Alto said, and then, lowly, as he stalked past, "and then dinner."
"She's good," Brera said to Alto as they changed out of their flight suits and into their regular SMS uniforms. "I would not have expected that from someone with no military training until recently. Especially from someone as," he searched for a word, "flighty as Sheryl."
"I know," lamented Alto.
"You don't seem too pleased about it Alto," Brera observed.
Alto looked up from pulling on his boot and grunted. "I'm glad she's doing well. Really. It's just the worry that is going to come along with having my girlfriend out there with Skull Squadron."
Brera shrugged. "Girlfriend, huh?"
A quizzical look appeared on Alto's face "Yes, girlfriend. What's wrong with that?"
"Alto, you two have been together for more than than a year now and living together for almost that entire time. Do you not think it might be time to proceed in the relationship?" he paused, "girlfriend, hmpfff!"
"You're talking marriage. I haven't even thought about that," he lied. "And how's your love life anyway Sterne?" Alto rebutted jokingly. "I'm not sure you're the one to be giving me advice in this matter!"
Brera contemplated that. He'd never had a romantic relationship. His past was one of technological connections rather than connections of the heart. He hadn't ruled the idea out - he was still a young man. But, for now, he was focused on learning to live alone, without the connections to the networked population of the Galaxy. Even after a year, the adjustment was proving daunting.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not," was his only response.
An awkward pause followed.
Quietly, Alto asked, "how's your sister? How's Ranka? I haven't heard from her in a while."
"Alto, she is fine. She desired to give you and Sheryl space. She wanted that for you and needed it for herself."
"I miss her," Alto confessed, suddenly looking up, feeling the need to clarify, "she's a friend!"
"Understood," said Brera with a smile. "And she understands too. Ranka has no ill will toward you or Sheryl. She considers both of you her closest friends and she asks about you often. Besides, she's busy being `Auntie Ranka' to the baby."
Alto smiled at that. Ozma Lee and Catherine Glass hadn't wasted any time after the battle against the Vajra, Grace O'Connor and Battle Galaxy. Within weeks the two were married and within a month, pregnant. Gilliam Michael Lee came along two months ago.
"Well, I hope to see Ranka soon," he admitted.
"You will my friend. Soon," Brera replied, Alto never catching the mischievous tone or the wry smile on the usually stoic face.
Alto and Sheryl sat in the cafe enjoying dinner. Alto enjoyed seven-color carrot soup and a sandwich and Sheryl, a salad with chicken cut up and mixed in. Each enjoyed a glass of wine. Just one glass though. Both of them knew how Sheryl reacted to alcohol.
Breaking the silence with a sigh, Alto closed his eyes and paused a moment, gathering his thoughts.
"Sheryl, I am very proud of how successful you have been since joining the SMS."
Sheryl, not expecting the sudden compliment, just stared at him with a shocked look on her face and one cheek bulging with food. She swallowed her food and smiled and in a soft, very un-Sheryl like way replied, "thank you Alto."
It had taken quite a while for Alto to become comfortable sharing his feelings with her. Although it wasn't unusual for him to do so these days, it still surprised her when he did. She hoped the surprise factor never went away.
Alto took another deep breath. "I think Skull Squadron has found it's new sniper," and he slid a Skull Squadron patch across the table to her. The smile on his face appeared strained. He was happy, but not totally. And it showed.
"Oh, Alto! Thank you so much," she said as she picked up the emblem and looked at it. "I have worked very hard for this and I know how conflicted you are about it."
"Yes," Alto replied.
"It's difficult for me as well," Sheryl continued. "You're well aware of how spontaneous I can be. It's taken everything I have to keep from lapsing into girlfriend mode while we're out there."
Alto smiled. There had been one or two times on an exercise, not blatant, and not obvious to anyone but himself, when Sheryl had said or done something like that. Still, she had done well with the boundaries he put in place when agreeing to her enlistment. And this wasn't the military after all. The SMS was much more relaxed in such matters.
"You've done well Skull-4," Alto replied, referring to her, now official, call sign. Sheryl met his gaze and smiled. Skull-4, Sheryl thought. I like the sound of that.
"Still," Sheryl said, suddenly getting a serious look on her face, "I'm not sure this can continue."
"Wha, what?" Alto said loudly, yanked out of what had been a sweet moment between the two. "What do you mean?"
This is it, he thought. She's not happy with the boundaries and she's chosen the SMS over me. I never should have agreed to this!
Sheryl watched his face, almost hearing Alto's thoughts. For a long time now, they almost always knew what the other was thinking.
"Alto, things have to change. And I have made a decision." Sheryl's expression was deadly serious.
I can't believe this is happening. Alto's mind raced. We're perfect together. No. It can't. I'll quit the SMS first!
"Alto," Sheryl said softly, her expression changing to tenderness as she took his hands in hers. "Alto Saotome, marry me."
He stared at her in disbelief. And stared.
"Alto?"
And stared.
"Oh Alto?"
"Yes."
"Are you OK?"
"Yes," said Alto, processing the last thirty seconds of his life as Sheryl watched. They locked eyes. "Yes, Sheryl, of course I'll marry you."
Sheryl sighed in joy as if a great weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. Then, without warning, she launched herself at Alto and hugged him, knocking him and his chair over.
"I love you Alto!" she said as she plopped down on top of him and kissed him repeatedly.
Alto paid for the meal and the two walked out into the cool Hinan night holding hands. He turned to his right to head back to their apartment but within a step, his arm became outstretched as Sheryl had come to a stop.
"Sheryl?" Alto questioned.
"Let's go this way," she said indicating the opposite direction with a movement of her head. "I'd like to walk a little. I like the cool air."
"Uh, OK," was all Alto could muster. Something is up he thought.
They walked downhill in the San Francisco district and after only a few minutes, Sheryl stopped in front of another small restaurant.
"What? Desert?" Alto joked, still wondering what, exactly, was going on.
"Better, I think," replied Sheryl as she pulled the door open.
Inside, the tables were slightly to each side of the room leaving an aisle up the middle. Only a few of those tables were occupied and Alto quickly realized he knew each and every one of the customers.
Sheryl, pulled Alto close and whispered, "you know how impatient I am my love. When I asked you to marry me, I didn't mean in six months or a year. There's no reason to wait!"
A look of realization dawned on Alto's face.
"It's our wedding," Sheryl said to Alto.
She looked Alto in the eyes, truly not knowing how he would react.
He closed his eyes in thought for a moment. This is my life now. Spontaneous and full of surprises. Sheryl... He smiled and opened his eyes.
"Sheryl, this is amazing. You are amazing." Then, with a worried look he whispered, "but I don't have a ring here for you."
Sheryl reached up to his left ear and removed the violet fold quartz earring he had worn ever since she had given it to him for luck prior to the battle for this very planet. And luck it had certainly brought him, in battle and in love. She then removed her own and handed it to him.
"We don't need rings, Alto. We'll exchange these again. These mean more to me than rings. These earrings are us. They're connected. We're connected. Even when separated by great distances. That's us."
Alto nodded and then looked at the guests. It was a simple affair - there were just a few people here. They had discussed weddings before and both desired a small ceremony with only their closest friends. Present were Brera Sterne and the micronized version of Klan Klan. Alto's older brother, Yasaburou was present - he and Alto had become closer, at the urging of Sheryl, ever since their father's passing six months earlier. Yasaburou smiled at his brother who responded with a slight bow. Captain Ozma and Catherine Glass were there as were as Luca and Nanase and even Bobby Margot, the flamboyant helmsman of the Macross Quarter. Sheryl and he had become good friends since she joined the SMS.
But Alto was looking for one person in particular, and there, just over Captain Ozma's shoulder, Alto saw what he was looking for. Just a bit of green hair. He smiled.
"Ranka," he said softly.
She pushed between Ozma and Catherine and ran to Alto and Sheryl.
"Oh Alto! Sheryl!" she cried as she grabbed both of them and hugged them together. "I'm so happy for the both of you! When Brera told me about this I was so excited!"
"Ranka?" asked Sheryl, "could I please talk to you for a moment?"
"Uh, sure," replied Ranka, a quizzical look on her face. She looked at Alto as if to ask "what's up?" but he just shook his head and shrugged. I'm sure Sheryl's not done with surprises.
Sheryl and Ranka stepped away to talk in private. Sheryl facing Alto but Ranka facing away. He couldn't hear what Sheryl was saying but suddenly Ranka let out a little squeal and brought her hands up to her face.
Uh-oh thought Alto. What's she doing, warning her off?
But then Ranka threw her arms around a smiling Sheryl and all appeared to be normal.
The two returned, holding hands, both tearing up a little.
"Alto," Sheryl began.
"Sheryl asked me to be her maid of honor!" Ranka blurted.
Sheryl and Ranka both burst into laughter.
"Perfect!" said Alto. "Ranka, I'm so glad you'll be part of this."
Sheryl turned to Alto and said, "I planned all this but hadn't asked Ranka about that part yet." She was relieved. "I did ask Brera to stand with you Alto. I hope that's OK. He said he'd understand if you wanted your brother instead."
"No, that's OK. Things are still new with my brother. Brera's become a good friend to me over the past year. And he is my wingman after all. He belongs up there with me."
Overhearing this, Brera said, "then as your wingman, I'd suggest we assume proper formation over there," he pointed to the front of the room, and adding a "Sir," with his customary deadpan humor and that hint of a smile.
Alto turned to Sheryl and sighed.
"So this is really happening, huh?"
"Oh, I'm afraid it is Princess," she replied in mock sympathy.
"OK then, lets get it over with," he said jokingly.
Alto started to the front of the room, only letting go of Sheryl's hand when their arms could stretch no further.
Sheryl approached the front of the room, Alto watching her intently. He wondered how he got so lucky to have this woman, once the biggest name in the galaxy, in his life. How it wasn't easy admitting to himself that he had fallen for her more than a year ago. He thought about all the clues she had thrown his way and how he had missed, or refused, to see them. It wasn't until the brink of battle that he had finally admitted to them both that he loved her and that he would not just return but return to her.
Sheryl arrived at the front and turned to him. Ranka stood behind her, smiling. Alto was so glad she was here but wondered what she was going through right now - what she must be thinking. Alto was marrying her onetime rival in love and in music. She seemed to be over the whole triangle thing - it had been a year after all - and she had a busy life of her own with her booming music career and doting on baby Gilliam.
There was no minister or official. Just the pair's declarations of love in front of friends and family. And that was all that was required on Hinan.
This whole thing being a complete surprise to him, Alto had to wing it with his vows. He decided to speak simply and from the heart.
"Sheryl," Alto began, holding her hands, "our relationship was not easy in the beginning. I was clueless and stubborn when it came to you. But you never gave up and you broke down my walls. Now, being with you is effortless. I can not imagine my life without you. I am a different man now, with you, than I was before," he paused, and in a quieter voice that only she could hear, "and it's not just the short hair." He punctuated that with a Sheryl-esque wink.
Sheryl let out a short giggle and sighed. Oh, how I miss your long hair.
"Sheryl," he said, taking a breath, "you are my life. You are my sky."
Not bad for winging it I'd say, thought Alto.
Sheryl's eyes were tearing up. She hadn't expected Alto to be so eloquent or open in front of others. But she kept the tears in check and began her own vows. Unlike Alto, she had planned her vows ahead of time but, like his, she went back to the beginning.
"Alto, I knew from our very first meeting that I wanted to spend my life with you. From that time in your arms soaring over the crowd when I first came to Frontier. And for all my torment and teasing, you never ran away. You've taken care of me, you've welcomed me into your life and you've supported me in endeavors in my own. I love you Alto Saotome. I love you now and forever."
They then exchanged their earrings - the earrings that connected them on so much more than a symbolic level.
And with that, they kissed lightly and turned to the crowed, man and wife. Alto and Sheryl.
Claps, handshakes and hugs signaled the end of the ceremony.
On the bridge of the SMS Macross Quarter, the bridge crew went about their duties, gossiping away the whole time.
"The Captain just messaged. It's over. They actually went through with it," Ram Hoa said as she checked her monitor.
"And another beautiful man is off the market," Monica lamented.
"Oh, please," from Mina. "You're married now too Mrs. Wilder!"
"But I'm not wrong am I?" Monica replied, the three breaking into giggles.
Monica and Captain Wilder had admitted their feelings for one another near the end of the Vajra conflict and followed through on them afterward. Married now, Monica continued to serve on the Quarter while Captain Wilder had accepted the Captaincy of the Battle Frontier. Still with the SMS, Wilder agreed to the position when the new Frontier President came to him for help in reorganizing the NUNS who had lost the confidence of the people following the actions and betrayal of Leon Mishima as well as the overall ineffectiveness of the NUNS as an organization. The public remained ignorant of the actions of SMS owner Richard Bilrer, who had been intimately involved in Mishima's plans and who had mysteriously disappeared either during or immediately following the final battle for Hinan.
"Seems like settling down is in fashion," Ram commented. "Captain Ozma and Cathy and the baby, you and Captain Wilder," looking at Monica, "and now the Princess and the Galactic Fairy. Who's next I wonder..."
"Galactic Fairy?" Mina asked. "Sheryl hasn't gone by that nickname in a long time. She basically quit singing to join the SMS."
"I don't know, I think of it as more of a hiatus," said Monica. "Singing is in her blood."
"I still find it hard to believe that she's now a pilot with Skull Squadron. Who would have seen that coming a year ago?" Ram said.
The three broke into that trademark giggle.
Aa alert sounded and Ram checked a flashing red icon on the communications screen. It was scrolling broken data across the monitor.
"What is it?" Monica inquired, calling up the same data on her terminal.
"Standby," Ram responded, all business now. "It's largely corrupted, but it looks like," she paused, typing in a string of code, "a level one distress call."
"Mina, call Captain Ozma. High priority," Monica ordered.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds stayed for a brief time, making sure they thanked everyone, but soon decided to head home and turn in. It was their wedding night after all. Ranka was the last person they said goodnight to.
"I'm so happy for both of you," Ranka told them. "After all we've been through," she paused, making eye contact with both of them, "I'm positive this is the way everything is supposed to be. Thank you both for making me a part of it."
The three hugged, Ranka and Sheryl tearing up, and said goodnight.
Alto and Sheryl walked home in silence, hand in hand. The only communication between them, the squeeze of a hand. It had been a whirlwind day and they were both exhausted.
They approached the apartment but Alto stopped Sheryl just as she was about to enter.
"Hold it," Alto said, shaking his head. "There's an old tradition here, my wife."
He quickly grasped her close to him and lifted her much like how he carried her the first time they met. She sighed as the pleasant memory came back to her. But instead of soaring over a stadium full of adoring fans, this time, Sheryl's adoring husband carried her over the threshold.
"Ahhh, Alto," Sheryl said, "the end of a perfect day."
"Not quite," he replied, "stay right here a second."
Sheryl made a show of planting her feet firmly and said "staying put, Sir," and added a quick salute.
Alto backed up a few steps and then quickly spun and ran to the bedroom. Sheryl could hear him rummaging through his dresser. Now what is he up to?
A minute later he returned, a strange look on his face.
"Sheryl, I know what you said earlier, and I agree with you that these earrings mean so much to us. But, I want you to have this," Alto said, holding out his open hand.
Sheryl looked and saw he was holding a beautiful diamond ring.
"Oh, Alto." Sheryl brought her hands up to her mouth as her eyes quivered.
"It was my mother's," he said, momentarily choking up. "My father gave it to me before he died. He made me swear it was for you and only you. We may not have agreed on much but he knew you were the one for me."
He placed the ring on her finger.
"Alto, I don't know what to say. I love you."
They stood gazing into each other's eyes.
And very quietly, and very softly, and for the first time in a long time, Sheryl sang, "how fantastic to be with you - my love."
"Mrs. Saotome," Alto whispered.
"No way. Mr. Nome!" Sheryl replied.
They giggled and leaned in for what promised to be a long, deep kiss.
And that's when the alerts went off on their phones.
9
