"Let there be peace…
And let it begin with me."
A lyric written by Seymour and Jill Miller
Lynn Kyle was extremely uncomfortable.
But it wasn't because the wedding was between a human and an alien, it was because of the identity of the bride and groom.
One's a killer of humans and the other is killer of aliens and humans, he thought sourly, folding his arms. Great difference.
But Minmei had insisted on coming when she'd been approached by one of Captain Gloval's aides to provide entertainment for the reception.
He had tried to talk her out of it, of course, not just for pacifist principles either. There was the fact that in a number of quarters the Zentraedi-human marriage wasn't being very well received.
Kyle was pretty sure that Minmei would gain no fans doing this and to top it all off he had to be here too, which was all the more grating.
The only good thing was that someone had had the decency to seat him and Minmei on the opposite side of the room to the warmongering pilots. Still the sight of all of them in their uniforms was almost enough to make him ill.
As Sterling and the Zentraedi exchanged a kiss, Kyle heard Minmei sniffle and turned to see her dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Oh come on, Minmei," he whispered in her ear, "they're nice words, but that's all they are."
Minmei frowned. "Oh, Kyle, don't be such a cynic. They love each other!"
Kyle wasn't sure about that, though he supposed the new couple looked happy enough as Captain Gloval introduced them as "Second Lieutenant and Mrs. Sterling."
But of course, the military had to make their presence felt as ever, by arranging to have Sterling's squad mates do a guard of honour.
"They have swords now," he hissed at Minmei, "that makes me feel so secure."
To his annoyance, Minmei shushed him putting a finger to her lips.
She just doesn't get it, he leaned back in his seat however to let her get a better view. All the glamorising of the military and their weapons…all the while sprouting out platitudes about peace. They're all a bunch of damn hypocrites.
Still, as much as he wanted to leave, he couldn't, after all, Minmei had no intention of going and he had to keep an eye on her. She was just no good in front of the media when she was by herself.
The things I do for that girl.
Rick's palms were sweating, he wasn't sure how he'd been talked into this, but he was sure that Roy had been involved somewhere.
That's right, Rick remembered sourly, remembering yesterday when Roy had taken him aside to tell him about this whole Guard of Honour thing.
"It's just the thing to do, Little Bro," Roy told him, handing over his ceremonial sword. "Besides it's fun."
Rick wasn't sure about that, he didn't particular relish swatting an Ace Zentraedi warrior on the rear end even if it had all been explained to her.
Across from him Joseph Hart, Max's wingman didn't seem to have a problem with any of it, and gave Rick a wink the signal for the two of them to cross swords to block the couple's way.
"You know the rule," Joseph said with a laugh, giving Max and Miriya a sharp salute.
Max blushed, pushed his glasses up on his nose and then shrugging turned to plant a quick kiss on his new bride's lips.
"It is a rule to kiss now?" Rick heard Miriya ask, which at least brought a smile to his face.
Max shook his head, then whispered in her ear, hopefully another warning about the whole swatting thing.
He and Joseph raised their swords again and the couple proceeded through.
Well, here goes…
Rick almost lost his grip, which would have made everything a whole lot worse. As it was he ended up squeaking. "Welcome to the military, ma'am!" which earned a few laughs and made him wish there was a hole he could crawl into.
Luckily, Miriya took it in good humour, turning around she pursed her lips and looked at him thoughtful. "I look forward to bestowing the same gesture on you at your wedding ceremony."
This made the whole of the Vermillion team and quite a few in the crowd who were sitting close to the honour guard crack up.
Rick shut his eyes. Why does this happen to me?
"Watch out," Joseph gasped between his laughter. "Who knows how Zentraedi handle swords?"
"Yeah, yeah," Rick grumbled back, relieved that everyone had risen from their seats to watch the bride and groom continue on their way.
The pushy Events Organiser had commandeered the microphone from Captain Gloval.
"All right, all right, if everybody would like to move in an orderly manner towards the double doors on the right – that is my right – you'll be at the reception hall. Wait to be assigned to your seats, if you please."
"Geeze, that guy needs to take a tranquilizer," Gleeson whispered as the Vermillion team lead the way as the crowd began to vacate their seats in the direction Metz indicated.
"Times like this I wouldn't mind one myself," Rick muttered under his breath.
He was slightly startled when a hand fell on his shoulder, but it turned out to be Roy who had caught up with him.
"Good work, Little Brother, I had no idea you were working on a Bee Gee's impersonation."
"Oh, shut up."
"Seriously though, even if I've never seen a woman in an Honour Guard before I reckon we better change the rules…it'll be worth it just to see Mrs. Sterling swat you one."
Rick was considering retorting with something particularly rude, but one of Metz's minions appeared right then and rather pushily directed them to a table in the far corner.
So, he, Roy and the rest of the Vermillion ended up with a palm tree blocking their view of the happy couple.
"I'm glad they remembered who the groom flies with, huh?" Roberts craned his neck to look around it.
Rick, though, couldn't say he was too disappointed, besides from where he was sitting he was able to see Minmei, Max and Lena Lynn and unfortunately Kyle clearly. They had, of course, been given the best table in the house after the bride and groom.
"Hey, isn't that Minmei?" Gleeson suddenly asked, pointing over Rick's shoulder.
"Yeah," Rick replied, adding, "and don't point."
Gleeson grinned. "Sorry, Ma."
"It's rude," Rick objected annoyed. Not to mention the fact she might look over and see I've got someone acting like an idiot sitting next to me.
"Yeah, yeah, but hey, what do you think she's gonna sing? I heard she's been working on a new song." Gleeson moved on.
"They always say that," Roy rolled his eyes. "And most of the time it's just that they've added in new intro."
Rick didn't really care what Minmei sang, he just wished he could think of some reason to talk to her. It had been months since they had. Just after...Ben died, he realised, suppressing a sigh. He knew Max had probably thought of Ben himself, the big fella would have enjoyed something like this, he was sure. And he probably would have just charged over to where Minmei was sitting and greeted her.
But Rick certainly couldn't do that and not just because an army of waiters was already swarming about laying a choice of either steak, chicken or tuna in front of each of the guests.
Another chance lost, he supposed as one of them blocked Minmei from his sight.
"Hey," Roy whispered, poking him in the arm. "Can we trade? I hate tuna."
The transmission had ended but what had been said in it still had Azonia completely stunned.
At some point during the micronian ritual, Azonia had all but collapsed into her command chair, the sight of Miriya Parina had been so unexpected.
Yiata, pale herself stood next to the chair.
"M'lady?" She finally managed.
"Brainwashed," Azonia repeated, recalling Miriya's personal message, "brainwashed? Us? She speaks out against the High Command, against the Masters themselves." She shook her head. "It is unbelievable! What could those micronians have done to her?"
Yiata was at a loss.
"Commander Azonia," one of the techs called faintly, "we're receiving a transmission…from Second Officer Seloy."
It took Azonia a moment to remember who that was, so disorientated she had been, but then she did.
"Patch her through."
She got to her feet as the red haired Zentraedi appeared looking pale and shaken.
"Commander Azonia," Seloy greeted with a somewhat half-hearted salute. "I..." she trailed off, looking about rather hopelessly.
"Do you know the meaning of this, Second Officer Seloy?" Azonia folded her arms, tapping her fingers nervously. "First Officer Miriya went aboard the micronian vessel to defeat a micronian who bested her. Now we find her participating in a degrading ritual that involves…touching…a male micronian and claiming to no longer want to fight with her race."
Seloy shook her head. "I cannot understand it, m'lady. There were the male defectors, of course," she swallowed, but there was none of the gloating that usually accompanied comments about male failings. "But…a female…"
Azonia shook her head, she didn't want to hear anymore about it. "Dismissed," she said waving a hand and turning away before the screen could even be turned off.
"Yiata," her aide looked at her in surprise. "I want to speak to Breetai, and I want to do so now. I don't care if he is blocking our transmissions, find some way around it."
Yiata appeared ready to object, but thought better of it when she saw the look on her Commander's face.
"Yes, m'lady," she saluted and quickly turned to issue instructions to the techs.
Azonia chose to pace, her thoughts a whirl, for the first time in all her nos she had no idea what she was facing in the enemy.
"Well, Exedore, what do you make of it all?" Breetai grumbled from where he was, still in his command chair.
Exedore had managed to shake off his shock at the goings on of the micronian ritual to do some research and had an answer for his Commander.
"I believe First Officer Miriya Parina just underwent what the micronians call a 'marriage'."
"'Marriage'?" Breetai repeated turning his head sharply and narrowing his eye. "What is that?"
"A micronian custom that involves a male and female of species coming together for the purpose of…" he trailed off, and swallowed, unsure if he would even be able to get it out and then wondering how his Commander would react to it.
"Exedore?" Breetai grumbled in a tone that held a warning.
"For the purpose of…procreating," he finally managed, unfortunately Breetai did not looked particularly enlightened by this. Exedore had no choice but to try another way. "For…bringing forth further members of their species."
"Without…cloning?"
"Yes, m'lord," Exedore licked his lips, which had become extremely dry.
A shudder ran through Breetai's huge frame. "You mean…that birthing process the micronian captives spoke of?"
"Yes, m'lord," Exedore confirmed with a nod.
"And a Zentraedi would…willing submit to such a thing?"
"Well…First Officer Parina seems to…our scanners indicate no sign of anything but sincerity in her speech to the fleet." Exedore was forced to admit.
"Our records warned us of this, didn't they?"
"Not in quite those terms, m'lord, but perhaps I have taken it too literally…It mentioned the Zentraedi being almost destroyed…I took this to mean through casualties. But perhaps it meant through defection."
Breetai suddenly rose to his feet, Exedore cringed, slightly fearful.
"Defection," he growled. "No, Exedore, I won't believe it."
Had it been anyone but Breetai, Exedore would have replied with the obvious I fear it has all ready begun, m'lord.
"M'lord," one of the techs called up to the bridge, "we are receiving an urgent signal from Commander Azonia."
Breetai ground his teeth and clenched his hand into a fist.
"Patch her through," he finally ordered.
The female Commander's harried face appeared on screen. "Breetai, you've finally decided to answer me."
"I have no time for snide remarks, Azonia," he began warningly, meeting her eyes with his impatient one. "Say you part and be done with it."
"You saw…the transmission –"
"Of course I did," Breetai snapped, "we all did! Get on with it."
Azonia's pale cheeks coloured and she straightened. "I only contact you to ask what it is you plan to do about this? It cannot stand, we know of twenty-four Zentraedi now who have turned their backs on our glorious race. Are you going to allow more to do so?"
Exedore had to feel some sort of admiration for the female Commander, not even Khyron himself had ever spoken to Lord Breetai in such a manner.
But Breetai obviously saw the truth in Azonia's words, since he did not immediately order her arrest or execution. Instead a cold look came over his one eye.
"No, Commander Azonia, I shall not…and neither will you. Give the order to attack."
"Ladies and gentlemen," the MC for the reception stood up in front of the bridal table. "I hope you've all enjoyed this fine food –"
There were calls of approval from those assembled.
The MC held up his hand. "The chefs' thank you for seal of approval," he assured them. "Now, before we dig into this grand cake," he gestured towards a set of double doors, that opened admitting a huge cart upon which the masterpiece, a towering replica of the SDF-1 in battle configuration, a mass of chocolate sponge and coloured frosting. The crowd "ooh"ed and "aahh"ed appreciatively and quite a few licked their lips at the sight.
"Yes, it's just asking to be eaten, but before that we would like to welcome a very special guest who has agreed to sing for us and for the bride and groom in particular, of course, would you please welcome, Miss Lynn Minmei!"
A great cheer rose from the crowd and applause broke out as Minmei, dressed in a rather eye catching pokadot dress rose from her table and made her way over to the microphone, waving to various people.
"Oh thank you, thank you!" Minmei called, smiling. It had seemed like forever since she had been invited to sing before an audience like this and thinking of it, it had.
Taking the microphone in had she held up a hand for silence. "First of all I'd like to give my congratulations to the bride and groom, I hope you'll be very happy together." Turning she smiled at them, remembering how much she had liked quiet Max Sterling when she had first met him. As for Miriya, well, Minmei didn't know anything about her, except that she seemed very happy to be here.
They both accepted her congratulations with a nod.
"I dedicate this song not just to them, but to all of us, those aboard and elsewhere," she added, having been told that her song would be broadcast much like the wedding had been. "I hope you love hearing it as much as I loved writing it."
All the lights in the room dimmed, excepting one that illuminated her in a spotlight, the music began, softly at first.
"All my life I've searched
For the one for me.
The one I can call my love.
But everywhere I've gone
Everywhere I've looked
It's never been."
Slowly the music rose and so did Minmei's voice, except for a song there was not a sound from the crowd.
"All units battle stations, all units report to mecha."
The alarm rang out throughout the entire massed fleet.
But for once there was not the usual running and excitement that came with battle.
Because in between the calls from command, there was a voice, a voice they had never heard before, speaking in a way they could never imagine.
"But one day I rounded a corner,
One day I saw you.
My heart lifted to the skies
My life suddenly made sense."
Aboard Breetai's cruiser, Gundul a Zentraedi who had never actually attended one of Rico, Konda and Bron's displays, but heard about them was frozen in his tracks. As fellow Zentraedi ran about him he listened intently to the female, a word coming to him, a word for what her voice was doing.
"Singing."
A fellow Zentraedi heard him and stopped looking at him confused. "What?"
"Sshh," Gundul pointed to a speaker in the hallway.
"There I found you,
Waiting for me
There I saw you
Everything I needed
There I came to be with you
As I always will be."
"What is it?" the second Zentraedi breathed. "It's amazing."
"Singing," Gundul repeated.
Slowly several other Zentraedi stopped, almost blocking the hallway, listening intently, the call to battle stations forgotten.
They weren't the only ones, throughout fleet one or two became dozens, then more. Zentraedi after Zentraedi stopping in their tracks to listen to the song.
"There's Zentraedi on that micronian ship now," a Quadrono remarked to no-one in particular. "The ace of the Quadronos, our finest warrior, if she will not fight, why should we?"
Vividine heard her, and whirled to face her. "Stop your talking," she commanded, "we have our orders."
The other Quadrono looked at her. "We have, but I don't know if I want to follow them anymore."
"All my life I searched
'Til I found you.
I always knew there was someone
Who would know me
Like no-one ever had before."
Claudia had to admit that this particular song of Minmei was rather a cut above the rest. She had never been much of a fan of Miss. Macross, but this song was definitely heart-felt.
The Bridge Bunnies were listening raptly to every note, holding each other's hands.
Probably thinking of those three spies of theirs, Claudia thought with a smile.
Then she looked over at Lisa. She had been shocked that morning when Lisa had shown up on the Bridge early as ever in her neatly pressed uniform ready for duty.
Captain Gloval had not yet left the Bridge and together the two of them had tried to convince Lisa that it was a bit too early to jump back into duty.
But Lisa was not to be convinced.
The Captain had left, but had instructed Claudia to watch Lisa closely and if there was any sign of something not being right, to send her off to rest.
Lisa had seemed slightly drowsy, but considering how quiet things were Claudia had decided not to count that against her.
Now though, she was hunched over her console her thick brown hair shielding her face from view.
"I have always loved you
From the moment I was born,
I needed only to see you
For my love to find its home"
Claudia had a bad feeling her best friend was crying, and her heat reached out to her.
Poor girl, after everything's she's been through, Claudia shook her head and made to step from her console to go and comfort her friend. Before she could take one step however, an alarm rent the air.
The Bridge Bunnies jumped, shocked and suddenly Vanessa's board changed from footage of Minmei's song to the radar view.
"Oh my God," she gasped. "Several squadrons of enemy fighters have launched! They'll make contact in less than five minutes!"
"Damnit," Claudia swore, returning to her console and quickly entering inputs.
Lisa had shaken herself out of her funk, and had all ready opened the comm. net.
"Attention all Veritech squadrons, attention all Veritech squadrons, we are under attack. All pilots to Veritechs, repeat all pilots to Veritechs."
Claudia thought of Roy, trying to push back the fear that always came up in these situations.
What a way to gate crash, she thought, as through the bridge view port the enemy squadrons started to come in sight.
Miriya had been caught up in the 'song' of the female micronian. It was hard to believe that some lons ago she had been horrified by even the suggestion of music and singing. Some of it still shocked her, but this particular tune, soft and gentle had made her feel calm and close to Maximillian.
He had just whispered into her ear. "Can I have this dance" – an odd micronian custom of moving to music when the alert sounded.
There was a loud groan of dismay from all assembled, but quickly from everywhere pilots got to their feet and began dashing from the room towards the bays and their mecha.
Automatically, Maximillian had begun to set off towards the decks of the Prometheus, Miriya quickly caught up with him, but before she could take his hand someone called.
"Hey, Sterling! You sit this one out, Captain's orders!"
Miriya looked about, but the Captain had disappeared, no doubt returning to his post.
"Well," Maximillian murmured as the soldier who delivered the orders hurried on. He looked at Miriya and took her hand, then turned to look out the observation window.
Miriya looked too, a large group was coming their way.
"It looks like we need every pilot we've got," Maximillian whispered.
"You must go then," Miriya spoke, "for your people."
"Yes," Maximillian nodded, he took her other hand and squeezed both of them. "I'm sorry to be leaving you…"
"Leaving me?" Miriya repeated, tilting her head. "What do you mean? I am coming with you, of course."
Maximillian looked at her stunned. "Coming with me? But –"
"You told me that marriage is a partnership, a promise that we will remain together. So we will."
"But…you don't have a Veritech," Maximillian objected.
"The one we flew in to come to the ceremony is capable of been armed is it not? It has two seats, I will come with you, I will help you," she looked deeply into his blue eyes. "As I promised."
Maximillian looked ready to object, but he seemed to realise something and finally nodded. "What are we waiting for then? Let's go!"
And with that the two ran following the rest of the pilots on their way to protect the Fortress and those aboard.