Chapter 1

"Captain! The fold drives are fully operational and ready to engage," Lisa reported.

"Engage," Gloval ordered.

Protoculture energy flowed into the massive fold engines located deep in the bowels of the SDF-1, coursing through unknown and untested conduits.

Even Dr Emil Lang, the enigmatic Robotech genius did not have a clear picture of how Robotechnology worked, having only had a glimpse of its mysteries revealed from Zor's first and only warning to Earth's inhabitants when the SDF-1 crash-landed in 1999.

Just as the expanding sphere of energy enveloped the space vessel, a Zentraedi Heavy battlepod was sent careening towards the engineering section by a Skull veritech's missile volley. Still fully loaded, the battlepod slammed into the SDF-1 and disappeared in a violent explosion, sending shock waves deep into the vessel's structure. Rupturing one of the protoculture conduits, the explosive remnants of the battlepod and its corrupted Protoculture fuel were sent flowing into the massive fold drive machinery.

The crimson fold sphere fluctuated and warped, turning an eerie blue in response to the contaminated flow. As Dr Lang stared at the diagnostic screen and sought to correct the anomaly, the fold drives activated.

-----

"Your big brother told us to stay put," warned Minmei softly, as she saw Rick run through his pre-flight diagnostic checks.

"He told us not to wander about, he didn't say anything about me offering you a lift back to Macross Island. Your aunt and uncle would be worried sick if they don't see you."

Rick gave Minmei a re-assuring smile as he offered his hand to her, signalling her to get into the fanjet's cockpit.

"Are you sure this plane can take two people?"

"Yes, if they're nice people. Hang on!"

As the blades briskly rotated to life, Rick started turning the fanjet towards the looming hanger door.

As the door opened, Rick and Minmei could see Macross Island rapidly approaching as the SDF-1 descended.

Rick did a quick silent prayer and shoved the throttle forward.

Caught in the slipstream generated by the descending SDF-1, Rick struggled to keep the tiny plane under control in the turbulent airflow. Many stomach-churching moments later, the plane recovered its ability of straightline flight.

"I don't feel too good, Rick."

"We're alright now, aren't we? Let's get moving. Your family is waiting."

The fanjet dove straight towards Macross Island, with SDF-1 in tow.

-----

"Exedore, can you tell me what tactical advantage the Micronians stand to gain by bringing their vessel down to their planet?"

"Your Excellency, I find their responses extremely illogical and cannot comprehend what advantage it would provide. It seems that they're headed for their base of operations. Perhaps they think they can draw our forces down to their base where their short-range missile batteries can engage us more effectively."

"Agreed, it shows signs of desperation by the enemy," replied Breetai as he surveyed the rapidly descending SDF-1.

"Perhaps they have a secret weapon that we do not know about."

"We shall see, Exedore."

-----

Roy banked sharply as he avoided the rapidly growing cloud of debris that used to be a Zentraedi battlepod, "Skull Leader to Skull squadron, we're been ordered to maintain a distance of 300m with SDF-1."

"Check your six, Leader!"

As he dove sharply, Roy caught sight of a volley of laser blasts lancing past his Veritech fighter.

Skull Six launched a volley of missiles, slamming the Heavy Battlepod towards the SDF-1.

"Ouch! That's gotta hurt the lady, I hope Claudia's alright," Roy winced and stared as he saw an expanding ball of light emanate from SDF-1; fluctuating from orange, then to blue and back to orange before the teeming light overcame his sight.

-----

As the fold sphere contracted and disappeared, Rick and Minmei stared into the black voidness of space.

Looking out of the fanjet's rapidly condensing cockpit window, they noticed 2 sleek spaceships activate their thrusters and began moving towards the SDF-1. They did not seem to bear any resemblance to anything they had seen in the media and looked totally different from the giant machines and men that had invaded Macross Island.

"Oh Rick! What's going to happen to us now?" exclaimed Minmei.

"I'm not sure. Somehow I think we're not in Kansas anymore."

Chapter Commentaries *spoilers*

The story starts at the point where the SDF-1 descends and conducts a space fold, with the intention to re-appear on the far side of the moon. In this project, this disastrous fold brought them through time and into the Battletech universe instead.

According to Robotech Masters novels, protoculture does flow inside conduits but it is unclear if such conduits actually exist in SDF-1. If having damaged conduits is potentially possible, how contaminated protoculture flow reacts to the fold process still remains unknown.

Other than the key Macross characters, most of the Skull squadron members were not named. It contrasts with Rogue squadron of Star Wars in which each individual is named and has his/her personality and background. Also, not detailed greatly is the composition of Skull - is it a 24-man squad or does it follow the three-man team led by

a team leader with a squad leader overall in charge? ie 1 squad leader + 3 team leaders + 8 teammates.

Any clarifications on the above would be much appreciated.