"All right, Vanessa, give me a status report," Lisa commanded, running to her post.
"Single vessel approaching; range 27 miles and closing fast," Vanessa reported.
Lisa tracked the enemy ship's approach on her radar. It's obvious the SDF-1 is it's target. Veritech squadrons, including Rick's, have been deployed to try to slow its progress, but Lisa knew a fight was inevitable. She hoped their improved weapons systems can hold up and destroy the cruiser, but she had a niggling feeling of doubt. The SDF-1 hadn't engaged in battle since Dolza's attack, and Lisa worried about their precarious position in the center of Macross City.
"...range 20 miles," Sammie updated.
"I'm getting a high level energy radiation reading!" Kim's panicked voice cut in.
Lisa felt her stomach drop. "Vanessa?" she turned for confirmation.
"They're firing on us, Captain!"
And before Lisa could suck in her breath and order her crew to evacuate, everything went blindingly white.
Rick felt the jolt of the impact of the energy beam hitting the SDFs 1 and 2. He gripped the throttle to stabilize his Veritech and felt his blood run cold at the sight of black smoke pouring from the vessel. It looked like the approximate area of where Lisa's command center was hit.
"SDF-2 has taken a direct hit," his wingman reported. "We've lost communications. It looks pretty bad."
Rick swallowed hard. "Yeah... pretty bad," he echoed before switching his comm channel to the SDF-2 bridge. "SDF-2, do you read me? Come in SDF-2." Rick fought against a wave of nauseous panic rising in him. "Let her be all right," he prayed. Ignoring protocol, Rick burst out, "Lisa! Captain Hayes!? Lisa, it's Rick, answer me!" His hands trembled, and he began to see red. "They'll pay for this!" he snarled, throwing himself into battle.
Lisa blinked the water out of her eyes and pulled herself up, bracing against her console for support. The ship's automatic sprinkler system kicked in, and it was practically raining inside the command center. She glanced over at Vanessa, relieved the officer was all right and was toggling switches on her console, back to business. A look down below showed Lisa that Sammie and Kim were likewise unharmed and ordering requests for status reports and fire control. Other crew members were not so lucky, and Lisa drew her lips into a thin line while assessing the damage around her as well as the injuries and casualties.
"Computer's dead; no manual override," Kim reported, trying the switches on her workstation and getting no response.
"Recommend we abandon ship, Captain," Vanessa said, glancing over her shoulder at Lisa.
Lisa stood at her console with her head bowed. She had taken in the damage and status reports Vanessa, Kim and Sammie were reporting in, trying to figure out what to do next. "Think..." she urged herself. "What would Admiral Gloval do at a time like this?" She envisioned the SDF-1 bridge. Even during the heat of battle, there was an efficient order to the place. Lisa opened her eyes and straightened her back, pushing her drenched hair out of her eyes. "Of course! Admiral Gloval!" Lisa pivoted and started for the hatch. "Come on!"
Lisa and the Bridge crew were astounded to find the SDF-1 bridge up and running with Claudia calmly flipping switches at her workstation and Admiral Gloval in his command chair as if they were waiting for Lisa and the others to report in all along.
"Welcome aboard, ladies," Claudia greeted them with an amused lilt to her voice. She looked over her shoulder and grinned at the newcomers' soaked and bedraggled appearance. "What took you so long? Now, get to your positions!"
"Don't just stand there; we have a job to do!" Admiral Gloval added. He confirmed their inquiries whether the ship had enough power to fly.
Lisa and the Bridge Bunnies hurried over to their workstations. Lisa ran a had fondly over her console before powering up, scrolling through status reports which confirmed what the Captain had already told them. The SDF-1 had just enough power to lift off and deliver only one critical shot from the Main Gun. Lisa felt exhilarated as she felt the ship surge with power before lifting off.
Minmei was feeling sorry for herself. She knew she was, but allowed herself a moment of self indulgence. In less than 24 hours, she went from playing house with Rick to being hunkered in a shelter while the man she loved was once again risking his life to keep her and the city safe. Not only that, Rick went from "thinking about" her marriage proposal to declaring his love for Lisa Hayes. "Didn't he say he loved me?" Minmei cried to herself. "Yes, but that was two years ago. Situations can change," a voice of reason piped up. Minmei thought back to that fateful day when she and Rick bore witness to the destruction of Earth. She had wept for her mother and father. Rick whispered Lisa's name as silent tears flowed down his cheeks. Rick had loved Lisa back then, maybe even earlier. Minmei realized that the passionate kiss they had shared then was really a goodbye, and she felt a stab of loss.
The mood throughout the shelter was also dejected. Minmei paid minimal attention to what was around her as she was consumed with her own feeling of sadness. For some reason, at this particular moment, she hit pause on her personal drama and really paid attention to what was around her. She heard others talking about the battle raging outside and how this may be the end of Macross City. Witnesses have seen a Zentraedi battle cruiser fire an energy beam directly at the SDF-1. The ensuing explosion and ominous black smoke pouring from her side was a significant hit. The people of the city collectively mourned the ship and the inevitable end of their own existence.
"The SDF-1 is taking off! It's taking off!" an excited voice cut through the gloom.
Minmei gasped and felt herself being borne along by the tide of humanity forsaking their safety to witness the miracle. She felt the people's collective spirits rise at the sight of the old ship standing tall to face off humanity's enemy. She recalled Rick's and Lisa's words and understood. Without the SDF-1 and the RDF she and the inhabitants of her beloved city would have been annihilated with the rest of the world. Minmei remembered the day of that great battle and the role she played. Without her singing, what was left of the human race wouldn't have had a fighting chance. Minmei now saw her gift was a calling greater than herself, just like Rick and Lisa's calling to serve in the military was greater than themselves. Unlike her, they embraced their calling, applying their talents. Singing can at times be both a blessing and a curse, but it always brought Minmei joy. She trained her eyes to the skies knowing Rick was up there, using his passion for flying to protect them all. He will always be in her heart, but her first great love is music. Their paths met, only to diverge onto their separate destinies. Minmei saw that now and was able to let go of any heart break or resentment. "He was never truly mine to lose," Minmei realized, and voicing that thought actually lightened her heart.
"Main Gun standing by," Claudia announced. "Energy reading at present, niner five zero."
"The Admiral was right. That's enough for one shot, so we better make it count," Lisa added.
"Are all Veritechs clear?" Gloval asked.
"All but one," Claudia sent Lisa a sideways grin. "Funny, they should have all been recalled by now. Lisa, would you care to tell your wayward pilot to get the heck out of there?"
Rick faced off his enemy like a man possessed. He racked up kills like a hungry war machine. He paid no attention to the chatter on the Tac net, and only was focused on destroying every enemy in sight. When he heard Lisa's voice on the private channel, he almost got walloped by an incoming Pod. Thankfully instinct and experience had him quickly feint to the left and avoid getting hit.
"Rick! Rick Hunter, is that you?"
"Lisa! I must be hearing things!"
"No you aren't," Lisa chuckled. "I am aboard the SDF-1, Rick. We're preparing to fire the Main Gun, so I strongly suggest you get out of there!"
Lisa's mind flashed back to when he did get caught in friendly fire under her hand. He almost bought it that day. When Lisa realized she almost lost Rick permanently, her perspective of him as the cocky loudmouth shifted, though it would take awhile before she admitted it to herself. Lisa anxiously tracked Rick's progress on her radar while also being mindful of the Main Gun countdown. When he reached a safe distance, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. "All clear!" she called out.
"Fire!" Gloval ordered.
The cannon primed with a bright glow before sending off a burst of energy, hitting Khyron's battle cruiser. The ensuing drop in power on the SDF-1 made for a rough landing, but the Bridge was relieved that they met their objective and waited for the telltale explosion to announce the enemy's destruction.
But no explosion followed, and Gloval and the rest of the crew were sickened by the sight of the smoking behemoth heading right their way.
"The enemy hasn't altered its course," Vanessa reported trying to keep the panic from her voice. "It looks like he plans to ram us!"
"Sammie! Do we have any power left?" Gloval barked.
"Not enough to fire the Main Gun again, sir," Sammie bit her lip.
"Same here. I have no helm control," Kim followed up.
"Our reserves are depleted too, sir," Claudia added
"Ready the escape pods!" Gloval bellowed, but was stopped short by Sammie shaking her head.
"Damaged, sir," she said, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Brace for collision!" Lisa exclaimed. She looked down and noticed her private line to Rick was still open. He heard it all. "I love you Rick," Lisa whispered before shutting the channel down.