This will be a long chapter that will cover the time frame of operation Star Saver. There will be some other stuff before we get to Minmei and Kyle being kidnapped. It will be different then the series and the way I have seen some others write it. I hope you liked my version.
Rick was leading Skull squadron as the escorted a shuttle carrying Admiral Gloval and Chase. Rick also had Vermillion squadron being lead by his sister Rachel close at hand incase of any problems.
They were just about to the factory satellite when 10 Zentraedi ships folded in close by and heading towards the factory.
"Shuttle make an emergency descent back towards Earth. Lt Adams, you and your flight fly escort. Vermillion squadron form up on the factory satellite and keep any battlepods away. Skulls we are heading to intercept the ships."
Rick got confirmations from everyone. While the Skulls were moving to intercept the Zentraedi ships, Earth defended ships were also moving to intercept the ships.
The space around Earth that had been quiet for two years now was lit up with explosions as Skull squadron fired 90 reflex missiles at the 10 Zentraedi ships. In an instant 5 of them exploded from the over whelming number of missiles. Each of Skull squadrons remaining flights targeted a ship.
The remaining Zentraedi ships opened up on the fighters with no success. They at to revert to launching fighters. Once the fighters were launch changed in to battloid mode to better handle the battlepods.
It was not a minute later ships and fighters from the RDF defended fleet joined up with the battle. The Zentraedi were completely over whelmed in minutes. The whole thing lasted about 5 minutes from the first shot fired. Earth did not lose a single ship and only a few fighters. Once it was over Rick had all his fighters join up on him
"All Skulls and Vermillion fighters lets head back. We will need to make the trip another day."
R/L
Two hours later. Rick was in a meeting with Macross Command senior staff.
"What I would like to know is what did Khyron hope to achieve. Assuming it was him. It couldn't be to get the Admiral because only the senior staff knew about the trip before today. I didn't brief my pilots till just before we took off." asked a mystified Rick.
"We may never know, Captain." replied Gloval.
Lisa thought about it for a minute before replying. "Lets think about what happen when the ships appeared. Every ship or fighter we had in the area responded. The others moved to either back up position or to cover areas patrolled by ship engaging the enemy."
Col Leonard replied "You mean a test or possibility a distraction.?"
"Very possible Col. We know Khyron was on the planet a couple weeks ago. He could have snuck off planet or brought another ship in. Our ground radar is still sparse. Most of it covers populated areas. The lower hemisphere is still not as covered as well as the north. Engineering says it will be another couple years for complete coverage."
"Lisa you present a real problem in our defended. We are still building our fleet, which is mostly converged near the factory satellite or the moon base. We have a few ships trying to cover the rest of the planet. Breetai's fleet is just outside the earths orbit doing patrols or patrolling the rest of the Sol system." stated Gloval.
The staff started discussing what could be done to improve defended of the planet for the next couple hours before Gloval ended the meeting. Once that meeting was done Rick and Roy headed to the airwing section of the command building for another meeting.
R/L
Rick walked in his house exhausted but all his weariness disappeared with one word. "DADDY" Two fireballs came running at him as fast has their little legs would carry them. Rick bent down an scooped up his two daughters. From the kitchen doorway Mitch Hunter watched his son interact with his daughters. 'Sarah if you could see your son right now.'
"Hey son, wasn't expecting you back for a couple days."
"Hey Pop, yea plans changed. Tell you about it later. Lisa should be home in another hour. Today's events messed up her schedule."
Mitch nodded "Dinner will be done in a half an hour."
"Thanks Pop"
Rick set his daughters down then went to the office and doped of his bag. Once that he was done and changed in some more comfortable cloths on he went back and played with his daughters.
Once dinner was ready, Rick made Lisa a plate and set it in the microwave. He and Pop got the girls feed and ate their own dinner as Pop told Rick about what the girls did all day. With a few comments from 'Double Trouble' them selves. After dinner Rick wiped the girls faces and hands off before sending them in the living room to watch a cartoon. Lisa showed up just as they started washing dishes.
Lisa walked in and seen the girls engrossed in a movie. She put her bag in the office before walking over and gave the girl a kiss. Once she had a little mommy time she went to the kitchen where her husband and father-in-law were discussing today's event.
Lisa was half way threw her dinner when the secure phone in the office rang. Rick went and answered it and came back with a solemn expression on his face when he came back in.
Khyron attacked a Minmei concert. There were several killed and injured. Also both Minmei and Kyle are both missing. It's believed that Minmei was the target."
"I guess they want us back in."
"Yea are driver is on the way. I told Mindy to call Max and the rest of Skulls. Pop."
"Mitch cut his son off "Don't worry you two I got them and little Dana too."
Rick went and put a fresh uniform on while Lisa grabbed their stuff from the office. When Rick came back in the living room, Max and Miriya where there with Dana. After a tearful good bye the 4 RDF officers left for command.
R/L
When they arriver Rick and Lisa headed to the Command Operation Center while Max and Miriya headed to the Skull squadron offices.
R/L
When the hunters walked in Admiral was already talking with the Operation Center duty officer Lieutenant Commander Mindy Tayor.
"Sorry for bringing the two of you back in and away from your little girls." said an apologetic Gloval.
"Not your fault Admiral. So what do we know so far?" asked Lisa while Rick was looking over all the big monitors along the wall that showed the North American Quadrant.
Commander Tayor answered "The concert was in New Chicago. It was about half way threw when Khyron attacked. Reports are scratchy. We were alerted about 10 minutes in to the attack. We launched Catseye to help try to track the Zeds. We also launched the alert fighters. Knight Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Dixen and his squadron are heading in a intercept course. We lost radar signal shortly after they left the New Chicago area."
Rick turned to Taylor "How long till Knight reaches the predicted intercept point?"
"A hour Captain Hunter."
"Admiral I don't think Dixen will find them. I think they let us pick them up to give of a false direction then reengaged the jamming they are using."
"I agree Captain, Commander recall Dixen. Have them prepare to head out in a moments notice along with Skull squadron once we have a location where he is holding the hostages."
"What's the plan Admiral?" asked a curious Lisa.
"Right now we wait. I believe he will contact us soon. Till then lets head to the briefing room off the command center. LTC Emerson and Col Maistroff are on their way here also. Col Leonard is in Monument City at the moment. I will tell you now the EUG wants Miss Minmei back."
R/L
When everyone was present they went over all the information they had. They also looked at what air and ground assets they had. For air they had Skull and Knight squadrons, They also had a shuttle with a special Ops team on stand by. For ground they would need a location to see what units they had available.
It was early the next morning the call came in. Everyone went in the command center. When they arrived Lisa ordered the transmission traced. When Kyron came on he was not the only Zentraedi present. Azula was there too. They also could see both Minmei and Lynn Kyle in the back ground.
"Hello Admiral Gloval, I see Hunter and his whore are their too." Rick wanted to say something but Lisa took his hand and gave it a squeeze to clam him down.
"Get on with it Khyron what do you want."
See Azula so uncivilized."
"Enough Khyron. What do you want. I got better things to do then listen to you."
"Very well. Hand over the SDF-1 or I kill the Sorceress and your warrior."
"You must think I'm crazy if you think I am giving you that ship."
Kyron had Azula grab Kyle and bend him different directions. When Gloval got the signal that the trace was successful he told Khyron he would see what he could do.
R/L
Once they had a catseye view of the area they began the planning. A destroid unit out of New Toronto which was the closes unit. The two fighter squadrons and the special ops shuttle would leave in an hour. They would remain in radio silent till they reached the area. When everyone started to file out Admiral Gloval pulled Rick aside.
"Rick, I know you want to lead the mission and I would love for you too but."
"I've been up all night unlike the rest of the pilots who were asleep in the bunk rooms we have for alert squadrons."
"Yes."
"I hate it but I understand."
"I want you in the command center with me and Lisa. First though you both need to find a quiet place to get a few hours sleep. I'll have Fokker brief the squadrons, he and Claudia should be in by now."
"OK, I'll get Lisa and head to her office, the couch has a pull out bed. Get us up half an hour before hand."
R/L
Rick and Lisa walked in just as Max was checking in. Rick headed towards Roy who was talking to him on the TACNET, while Lisa went to see how Claudia was doing.
"OK, Max ground forces are in position. Taking a holding pattern and wait till needed to provide support."
"Yes sir." Max saw Rick stand by Roy. "Don't worry skipper we'll peaceful."
"I know Max. I just hate sitting it out. I trust you and Ben to handle the mission. Just be careful we traced the signal too easy."
"You think it's a trap skipper."
"I know it is."
"OK, we'll keep a watch out."
With that Max signed off. Rick rubbed is face trying to get rid of the last of the sleep. 'He didn't have nearly enough' he thought.
The personnel in the command center watch the ground troops move in and secure the area. One it was secured the special ops shuttle headed in. Rick kept thinking this is too easy.
Turning to Lisa at the TACNET. "Lisa have the catseye do a wider search of the area. This is too easy."
Lisa turned to her husband and saw the worry in his eyes turned and gave the order Trusting his judgment. When the catseye got father out it picked up around a 100 battlepods. Rick ordered the fighter squadrons to attack while Emerson ordered the ground forces to hold the warehouse till the hostages were saved.
Rick was watching to what was happening on the tactical screen. Half the battlepods went after the squadrons the other half went after the ground units. The special ops shuttle had landed and the troops headed in to the building.
While Rick was watching the air battle Lisa and Emerson were watching the camera footage form the special ops team. Every thing seem to be gig OK till the signal was lost. Lisa was giving orders to communications while Emerson tried to reach the ground troop commander.
Rick had also lost communications but the catseye was high enough to be outside of the jamming. So they could still watch the battle unfold. Lisa was talking with Kim. They were trying to find where the jamming signal was coming from and break threw.
The battle had been going on for 15 minutes when they saw the special ops team leave the building with two others. The shuttle took off and the ground troop guarding it started to pull back. As more units notice the shuttle leaving they started to move to support the veritechs. The rescue operation was about over when there was a large explosion that came from the warehouse.
The whole command center froze for a second before calls went out to unit commanders trying to determine the status of all personnel.
R/L
Rick was standing on the tarmac. Lisa was standing beside him while Roy and Admiral Gloval were standing a little bit away. They knew Rick was having a hard time dealing with the loses two of his squadrons. Out of 35 fighters, 5 had been lost to air to air combat, 17 fighters crashed due to damage caused by the explosion. A few pilots had been able to eject but the turbulence from the explosion had been sever. Total all 22 planes lost 15 pilots killed and another 7 injured. Including Max. The remaining planes where expected back any minute escorting the medical transport. Medical personnel were on stand by waiting to rush the injured to the hospital.
R/L
The group waiting watched as the medical personnel loaded the injured on the ambulances. Once loaded they left under MP escort. The two squadrons most senior officers approached the group. Rick walked up to both Miriya and Ben.
"Get your people taken care of and get some rest. Miriya I know you want to check on Max. When you find out how he is please let me know."
Lisa added "Rick and I will watch Dana tonight for you. We do need both you in her tomorrow morning at 0800 for a debriefing."
Admiral Gloval and Roy both talk to the two officers before releasing them. Lisa gave Miriya a quick hug and a promise to take care of Dana. Gloval and his three senior officer waited for the special ops to roll up to the tarmac so both Lynns could be loaded up on the ambulance and taken to the base hospital for the night. They too would be debriefed tomorrow. Once the Lynns were gone the 4 officers headed back to command. They still had recovery operations going on.
R/L
The next morning everyone that needed to be there was in the Admirals main briefing room. They went over the operation from beginning to the end. Once that was done Ben and Miriya went happen from their point of view.
Rick was going to combine the two squadrons till replacement pilots could be brought in. Miriya would act as Rick's XO till Max returned to duty. Ben was not upset. He knew Miriya was more qualified. Out of the 7 injured pilots 3 would be back in a week, 2 would be back in a couple. Max would be out for a month and the last would not be able to return.
Col Leonard was back from monument but Emerson gave the report on the destroid unit. The destroid unit had lost 67% of their personnel and 74% of their Mecha. Col Leonard would be moving some units around to help boost up the Toronto 136th Unit.
Admiral Gloval addressed the group. "We knew going in there tat this could be a trap. I don't want anyone in here to blame them selves. " He looked right at Rick when he said that. Rick nodded in return. "We planned the mission chidingly. We adjusted assets recon assets when things looked to be going to well. That allowed us to hit them from the air before they were able to spring their trap. It also allowed the ground units to reposition them selves to handle the attack.
The three field commanders handled the situation with the determination and conduct that is expected. Al three should be proud of them selves and there men.
To those that had to stay behind. We all wanted to be there like any good officer you rather be with the troops. There comes a time you have to step back and trust the officers you have in charge in the field. All of you did the job you were suppose to do. You planned the mission, made sure your field commanders had the information they need and let them know what we did not know.. When the operation took off you watched the over all picture and look for ways to help your people in the field. As much as some of you would have like to call your commanders every 5 minutes you didn't. Which is the right thing to do.
You all did an outstanding job yesterday. I could not ask for more. Now to the worst part about war. We need to start planning for the return off the pilots we lost. I know Col Leonard and LTC Emerson you will be heading for Toronto later tonight. Please pass on my condolences to the families that lost love ones. Captain Hunter let me know when your people are due in."
"Yes sir. I got a conference call in an hour to get an update on recovery. LTC Emerson and I will be speaking with the Toronto base commander then. As soon as I have an official number of KIA and the names My staff and I will start making the house calls."
"Keep me appraised. I have a meeting with Col Maistroff next. He is speaking with the Lynns now."
"I don't envy him that one Admiral."
"Neither do I Captain Hunter." replied Gloval.
"Henry, do we have any information where the snake went?"
"No, we had air recon assets sent to the area a soon as they could fly there. He was gone before they arrived. Also all ground stations where looking."
Roy decided to speak up "We need to find a way to break the jamming they are using. Khyron is able to go where ever he wants and we were unable to communicate with the field commanders during part of the operation."
"Dr Lang and his team are working on it. We are also speaking with Commander Breetai. Hopefully we will get some answers soon. OK, everyone lets get things taking care of."
R/L
Rick and Lisa stop by the hospital to see the injured pilots before heading home. Pop greeted them both. The girls where already in bed. After Pop made sure they both ate, they went and checked on their daughters and gave them a kiss. Then they did the same to Dana who they were watching tonight.
Miriya went home and got changed before running across the street to see Dana. Rick and Lisa would not care of the lateness. Once she checked on her daughter and said her goodnight to Rick and Lisa and her thanks to Pop, she head to the hospital.
Roy got home and kissed Claudia that was only working half days, before the two ate dinner. Roy filled her on what was happening over the next couple days before the two headed to bed.
So a big change in how the series had the episode written. I'm sure you all where surprised about Rick staying back. I wanted to do something different. I'm going to try to write some more scenes that out not work related.