Jisedai Macross

by Seif412

Eps. 4(chapter 5) is up! It is the alpha version, but it is up none the less. The group meets with the UC and an old friend of Seif's gets married. A mysterious group rears its ugly head aginst the council.

3. Preperations

Jisedai Macross: eps-2

"Preperation"

[If you are reading this episode that means you are at least mildly interested in this siries witch is good....or I have a gun to your head either way you are reading this and that is good. If you remember from the first episode we left off with the selection of the number 1 ranked fighter pilot to receive a VF-99 Katana. Well lets continue...oh yeah and by the way I will try to get the story moving more in this episode and I appolagize for the lack of story in the first episode but I had to get things moving...]

Seif is on stage in front the huge crowd about to announce the ultimate victor of the compitition for the VF-99. Right now Jon is thinking and organizing what he has to tell the three pilots. Well first and most importantly I have to tell them about the syncronization... Seif starts the announcement, "And finally the number 1 ranked fighter pilot in the universe and the ultamate victor of this compitition is..." ...And then I have to tell him about the handleing chara.... "...First Lt. Jonathan Hester." The crowd is on their feet applauding. Wha? He called my...name? That doesn't make sense. Oh well can't let them stand up there forever...better go up...at least for image sake... Jon stands up out of his seat in the audiance and walks toward the stange a little dazed and confused. He notes the similar looks of the pilots in the audiance as the look at him but there is anger mixed in with their looks. Hester climbs the stairs and shakes the hands of the men he had once admired as anime characters. Each give him a slight compliment on a job well done. Seif steps back up to the mike, "Ladies and gentlemen these three men will lead us into battle hence forth and represent the Earth, the U.N. Spacey, the Universal Council, and this dimention as the best of the best of the best." The crowd somehow tops there previous decible level to an almost escruciatingly lound roar. Seif walks over and stands next to Jon. Jon turns his head just enough to get Seif's attention with out taking his eyes off the crowd, "I need to speak with you afterward, ok?" Seif looks confused but says, "Ok, meet me at Mikes[this is a famouse bar/resteraunt for fighter pilots that has some how gotten permission to set up before any other civilian shops are even allowed on the ship...most likely from pressure of the fighter pilots upon the higher commanders] after this is all over" The two return their attention to the crowd.

----------------------

At a small round tabel in a cliche bar complete with pool table and jukebox. There is a large, well built man in a white t-shirt and black pants. He is Mike and he is both bar owner and bouncer so he is a bad guy to piss off. Luckily he has been friends with Jon since he started flying at Edwards AFB in the desert. The bar is quite large because of the amount of pilots that visit. The only thing not cliche about the bar is that Mike doesn't allow smokeing in his bar so the air is quite clean. Seif, Danielle, Isamu, Guld, and Jon all squeeze into the small table talking to each other. Jon takes the floor, "Seif I told you that I wanted this to be fair. Just because I designed the damned thing and I'm your friend since grade school doesn't mean that I deserve to fly the plane." Seif looks a little mad, "You think I did that on purpose...you won it fair and square, you can check the vid-records we kept of every pilot's simulator experience and you demolished them all." Jon is really confused now, "Ok lets see if what you are saying is true...Isamu, Guld what level did you get to in the simulator?"

They think for a second and Isamu is first to come up with the number, "I got to level 22 but...couldn't beat the onslaught on lev. 23. I thought I did awesome...untill that boss and fucking army came along." Guld states his level, "I beat level 22 but, had trouble on 23 but, I think I found the secret to beat it though. I lost to Isamu by 5 points." The two are confused by the looks from the rest of the table.

Jon looks the most surprised, "The...two...greatest fighter pilots from the 'Macross Dimension'...lost on level 23?" Isamu and Guld nod in agreement and ask, "What level were you at Jon?" After a second of recovering from the shock of the startleing information he had just learned Jon replies "I...left off...on...level...45...and I was taking it easy cause I found the simulator to be so easy I figured you would beat the whole thing."

Isamu and Guld almost fall off their chairs. Jon turns to Seif, "Maybe...I did earn it...but, you two(addressing Isamu and Guld) need to spend a lot of time in the simulator if you want to survive the comming battle. Well we have an early day tommarow...oh yeah almost forgot. Isamu when you come to the hangar tommarow for sycronization bring Myung with you, you will need the support and Guld if you got some one who you really care about and cares about you I suggest the same. This is both a metally and physically painful process. I'll see you all tommarow at oh-ninehundred[just incase you don't know millitary time that is 9 a.m. fairly late for things to get going for millitary men.]" Jon stands up and walks up to the bar and gives Mike a tip for his service but, Jon isn't going home quite yet it is still early in the evening.

Jon is back on the fight deck outside his hangar with his 99's inside with white cotton covers over them. He is talking to the men who deliverd the aircraft to the hangar. "...thanks for taking extra care of them. I'll make sure your superior officers hear of your good work." As Jon turns around he sees a[this is in his oppinion so if you don't agree...tough] he sees one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen before wander into the hangar with the 99's.

She is slightly shorter than Jon and has long brown flowing hair that almost reaches the small of her back. She has on normal blue jeans and a white t-shit, which is tucked into her jeans. She is about to lift up the white cotton cover up to see the aircraft underneath when Jon walks up.

"Ummm...excuse me this is an extremely restricted hangar." Jon states in a stern manner. She drops the cloth in her right hand and looks up him. Jon can now see that she has large blue eyes that sparkle. Jon, almost regretably states, "I have ask you to leave." She puts her hand on her hip and puts on a very pissed off face. Jon get a little nervous of what is to come.

"How dare you! I have clearance to see the entire ship with few exceptions! MY FATHER WILL BE FERIOUS WITH YOU IF I AM DENINED ACCESS!" She looks like she has expected him to just give in.

Jon a little shaken that such anger can come from someone so beautiful, "I sincerely doubt you have access to this area. The only people allowed in here are the pilots of these aircraft, Gen. Seif, Gen. Danielle, and few others. Not even the Captain of the ship has access to this hangar yet so once more...." Jon gulps, "I must ask you to leave."

He is surprised to see she has taken that well, "Oh...wow I guess I don't have access...ok I will leave...on one condition...you have to buy me a drink and give me a ride home." Jon now even more shocked at the turn of events agrees. He escorts her out of the hangar and closes it up.

As they walk to the car he has been temporarly issued by the government(which means it is like a small, futuristic, white Ford) they start to get to know each other. She starts the conversation, "Is that your car?!" Jon laughs a little at this, "Noooo. It's government issued untill I get the car I had set up for me. I never caught your name." She smiles as they sit down and close the car doors. Jon starts the energy driven engien and starts to make his way off base. "You can call me Elly, that is what all my friends call me. And what about you?" Jon accelerates the car up to normal speed[to allow the personel to get around the ship faster cars have been modified to drive at normal speeds of between 200-300 mph.(sorry don't know kph) Also cars are now mostly driven by computers with few exceptions and on the ship no harful gas producing vehicle is allowed on base or in the seperate little dimension. This may seem dangerous but the computers are very good at not getting into crashes and anybody with a non-computer driven car has a vigerous driving test to pass every year or so.

"Well since we are only going by how we are referred to I'm Jon. What were you doing wandering around the base any way." She replys, "I was just admiring the aircraft. I was going to be a pilot when I joined the U.N. Spacey but I found this new job that they were training for was easier and safer. I'm a communications officer. What do you do?"

"I'm a fighter pilot. Do you know who you are assigned to yet?" He glances at her for a second before returning his eyes to the road.

"Well...actually no. I haven't gotten time to read through my packet yet. Where are we going anyway." She asks with a bright smile.

"We are going to a little place where us pilots hang out at. The owner and I have known each other for a while now...it's a place called Mike's." Just then they arrive at Mike's and Jon pulls into the parking lot. Hours pass with the two sitting at the bar talking about their jobs and experiences. They overall have a good time. "Well it's time to go. I am sure your father is getting worried.

Elly is obviously drunk[she is a lot like Misato Katsuragi a...'happy/fun drunk'], "Oh, I'm sure he is worried but...how about one more drink?"

Jon gives a slight chuckle at this, "No way you are too drunk as it is."

Mike overhears this and steps up, "Hey Hester this can help out. They are instants sobers. Law states that everyone must have one before they leave."

"Cool, give me a couple." Jon catches two as they fly through the air[please any Mugen Tenchi Muyo fans no hate mail for barrowing this ingenious idea], "heh, Alka-Sober huh? Interesting name. Thanks Mike. See ya later." Jon gives one to Elly who takes it thinking it is some kind of candy. Jon winces as he swallows one. The two are instantly sober. As they step back into his car he asks, "I never asked where do you live?"

"Oh, over in the officers section of the temporary housing section...I'll give you directions when we get there." The ride home is a quiet one.[I suggest the song Space Lion from Cowboy Bebop to play here] When they arrive at the officers section in a large neighborhood Jon tapps her on the sholder to wake her up from her nap. "Sorry about that...umm...take a right up here go down a block take a left and stop at the third house on the right." He follows the simple directions and pulls into a small driveway.

"I have had a great time...maybe we will meet again some time. I'd better go..." Elly gives him a 'million dollar smile' and almost reluctantly steps out of the car and turns, "Well...good night...and good luck."

Jon smiles and nodds, "And to you to." He sits and waits until she is inside and the door closes before he starts the car again and backs out.

-----------------------

It is the next day inside the 99's hangar with a few exceptions. The aircraft are uncovered and to the right of each one there is a chair resembleling one a dentist's has, also there are a couple carts and computers. All of these objects have wires leading up into the now opened cockpit of each aircraft respectively. The big hangar doors are closed but, there is a small door open at the far left side corner of the hangar.[keep in mind the millitary part is inside the ship part so there is always bright light outside and no sunrise or sunset, but there is a visible time change in the small dimension where Mike's is and where the neighborhood where everyone is staying resides] There are quite a few people inside the hangar including 3 scientists, Isamu, Guld, Jon, and Myung. At this time Jon is completely hidden because is in a back storage room when Elly walks in. She is in regular uniform dress. [in the millitary there are 3 modes of dress. One is a casual dress which they where when working in the field. Another is regualr dress which is wearing the uniform but not completely decked out in awards and such. This is the usual mode of dress when on duty and nothing important going on. Finally, there is full dress which is completely decked out with awards and other accesories. It is very spiffy looking and is only worn when something important is going on.] She walks up to the first available person which happens to be Guld.

"Excuse me, I'm Major Evallynn Hunter. I have been assigned to a Lt. Hester as his communications officer. Can you point me to him." She asks with a lost look on her face as she looks at the 99's, "Wow so these are the new VF-99 Katanas I've heard about. I have to agree they have a very agressive but elegant look about them."

"Yes they are the top of the line in fighter design...or so I'm told. I will go get Hester...wait right here." Guld turn and walks toward a small door in the back to the hangar. Just as he walk out with Jon stareing down at a folder with a number of papers inside it, Elly continues reading a similar folder in her hands. "Hester this is your Com-officer."

They both look up and at the same time they state enthusiastically, "You!" Guld looking very confused and lost at this point says, "Ummm...I'm assuming you two have met already."

Elly is the first to respond, "Yeah this jerk kicked me out of here yesterday."

Jon follows up, "Well at the time you didn't have clearance and you were gonna touch one of my aircraft. I never caught you full name. I'm First Lt. Jonathan D. Hester."

Elly lets in a gasp at this, "You...mean...you are THE Jonathan Hester. The Jonathan Hester who set the record for the highest score in the simulators. The Jonathan Hester who designed and built the VF-99's. The same Jon who was drinking with me last night." It takes her a minute to take in and recover from this new information. "Wow...well...I'm not so unfamous either. I'm Major Evallynn Hunter." She says with a proud tone.

Isamu walks up at this and says, "So what." He is immediatly hit in his ribbs twice once from Elly and the second time from his wife Myung. He is now doubled over from the pain, "OWW! What was that for!"

Myung replys with, "For acting like an idiot." she state with an angry tone, "I love him but sometimes he acts like a total and completely insensitive jerk.

Guld starts, "But he does bring up a good..." WHACK! He is hit very similarly to Isamu. "HEY! You didn't hit Isamu that hard.

Myung turns to Elly, "You wanna take that one?"

Elly grins evily, "Sure, thanks. You should have learned from his mistake...and since you didn't we hit you harder." The two women turn to Jon.

"Heh...ain't no way in hell I'm asking." Jon says in a shaky voice as he very cautiously backs from the women. "I got it!" Jon finally says in triumphm, [again no hate mail for this but lets face it...it is like a game women play they say or do something and we men are left to figure out what they want us to say or do and if we get it wrong we are in BIG trouble. NO HATE MAIL! I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!] He states in a very cautious voice, "Would you kindly explain who you related to that is famous...please?" All three men cringe and block their faces in fear.

The viciously angry faces of the women dissappear in happy faces as Elly agrees, "Well I'm surprised you don't know my family name but, I'm the captain's daughter." This is enought to relax Isamu and Guld but, almost causes Jon to faint.

"S...so your saying...I got the captains daughter drunk...am I still allowed on the ship?" Jon asked with a very nervous tone about him.

"Of course...in fact he laughed when I told him. You see he still retains most of the ways he picked up being a fighter pilot. I'm surprised he hasn't stolen one of the 19's or 22's for a joy ride." She has nice smile on her face which relaxes Jon finally.

One of the scientists that was working on connecting the machines to the aircraft walks over to the group. He has the classic look of a white lab coat, black rimmed glasses, and buzz cut short brown hair[I was thinking along the lines of the main character from Half-life with out the enviro- suit]. "Umm, excuse me but we are ready for you Capt. Bowman."

Guld, now green in face from nervousness, replys, "Uh...ok. Fine. Lets get this over with." He reluctantly follows the scientist to the chair on the right of the aircraft closest to the left wall.

"I'll be over to help out in second. Don't start the procedure with out me." Jon quickly states. The group, except Jon and Elly, goes to where Guld is now sitting in the chair getting wires stuck to his head. "Uh...Elly...can I ask you something?" She nods in agreement. "We are...friends...good friends...right?"

"Of course we are...why?" She has a very confused expression on her face. "Well...", Jon continues, "This syncronization is a very painful physical and mental operation. It will take a lot out of me. I asked Isamu and Guld to bring moral support for this. The thing is I problely wouldask Seif to be my support but...he and Danielle are at a very important meeting with the Universal Council...and won't be back untill this is all over....I'd ask Isamu and the others but...I just don't feel that close to them yet...what I mean to say is....(he makes a frustrated grunting sound) Would you...be my support?" He hurredly adds,"You know you don't have to if you don't want to...but...it would help."

She now has a very large smile on her face, "I'm touched. I got to do my set up with my computer in the communications office but...I should be done in an hour or so. Is that ok?" Hester is relieved to hear this, "Yeah it should take somewhere from 30 to 45 minutes to finish each one so you should be just about right on time..." after a little silence, "Thanks."

"Oh no problem, I'm happy to do it. Well time to get to the com-office. I'll be back as soon as possible." She smiles once more and rushes out the door she came in.

Jon walks over to Guld who is feeling like a lab rat, "Uh...is all this nessesary?". Jon give a little chuckle at this, "Of course...would you like more wires?" Most of the group laughs at this. "Sorry to tell you now Guld but...this procedure has only been on in simulation before now. All tests show this will be non-fatal but very painful. Since we haven't actually performed this procedure you have to endure a little more pain as we might have to work out problems, non-fatal ones of course, as we try to get this thing to work correctly. Sorry...guess that Zentradi ability to endure pain will come in handy eh? Well...lets get started...you guys can stay and watch and help him...just don't get in the way."

------------------------

It is now an hour and a half later and the operation to get Elly set up with the computer took longer than expected and she is now rushijng back to the hangar in her temporary white convertible that resemble a porche 911. Back at the hangar the operation has been successful on the first two and despite some early problems...relatively easy. Guld is waking up with a splitting headache. Isamu is sound asleep as the pain has drained him of energy to stay awake. Myung is currently at Isamu side, and despite the comfort of the scientists who have told her that he will be fine with the exception of a headache, is quite worried for him. Jon is anxious as he is currently being set up and Elly hasn't returned yet.

Guld walks over to where Jon is sitting in his chair. "Man! You weren't kidding when you said that it would hurt. Well at least it is letting up now."

"We used the Instant Knowledge Tech. to insert all the info on the 99 into your head. Try accessing it...it is similar to remembering." Jon laughs a little as Guld face goes wide with awe as he metaly scrolls through the info on the aircraft. "Amazing huh? It is as if you knew all of that your whole life. Now you know what has been in my head since high school...and I'm still working on new little designs. Oh yeah...you are not to speak to anyone, with the exception of Isamu, Seif, Danielle, and me. This information is more delicate than you can ever concieve. If you leak this information to any source that may be dangerous...the punishment is that the Universal Coucil with condemn you to...Death of the Soul. [this is a form of capital punnishemnt created by the Jurians...it is said to be THE MOST painful and worst way to possibly die. Essentially...well it is too sick to describe. It is so horrible that it has been outlawed and only used for the most capital of capital punishments...even high treason isn't sentenced this. It is so bad you wouldn't wish it upon your mortal enemy for life. If you REALLY want to know about it consult the fanfic Mugen Tenchi Muyo.]

Guld's face immediately turns from amazment to pure fear for even from their relatively short time in this dimension most people of the Macross Dimension know about it from the 'news interview incident'. What happened is many leaders from this dimension where giving a televised intro to help the new dimension understand things from this dimension. When a reporter asked about it the council couldn't describe it so they showed a clip...the entire gymnasium of people, with the exception of the council who knew not to watch, regurgitated thir last 2 meals. That part had to be edited out of the televised program. Many of the new comers continued asking what happened they we able to describe it and the issue was never brought up again. "MY GOD! This...must be...pretty important."

At that moment Elly runs in relieved they haven't started yet. She is perplexed at Guld's current expression. "What...is..." Jon is the only one with the strength to answer, "I just told him that the giving of the information in his head about the VF-99 to any dangerous sources...he would be condemned to Death of the Soul by the Universal Council." Her expression immediately mimics that of Guld's. The only words she can mange as of yet are, "Oh...my."

After a moment for the two to recover from what they have just heard it is time for Jon's procedure to begin. Elly takes Jon's only free had which happens to be his right. Jon quietly closes his eyes and says, "Ok...begin."

Immediately Jon's body arches in pain and he uses all his strength to stop him from crushing Elly's hand. She finally struggels free and places her hands on his right arm and his body returns to a normal sitting position. She can see he is holding a scream inside and that his eyes are starting to well up from the pain. Finally he can't hold the scream any longer and lets out an almost deafening scream of pure pain. The scream lasts for about 1 minute. All his muscles are tensed and his fists are in such tight fists his finger nails have dug into his palm and are starting to bleed. Jon begins to thrash his head back and forth. Elly places her hand on his face and Jon begins to calm down as he stares into her very scared eyes. In the background at the door's entrance Seif and Danielle notice his reaction to Elly and decide to stay out of view. Jon finally cannot with stand the pain any longer and faints for the rest of the procedure. This gives the scientists a chance to bandage the injury in his palms. Elly is almost crying from the pain and sheer terror she seen in his eyes.

----------------------

It is almost an hour before Jon wakes up again. At first he think the object that his blurred vision has centered on is an angel and that he is dead but, after a little his eyes focus and he realizes it is Elly sitting in a chair next to the chair he is in. Jon smiles widely when he realizes this. He turns his attention to the foot of the chair where Danielle and Seif are standing trying to convince Isamu that what Guld has told him about the punishment is true. Myung has long since fainted when Isamu was told.

"ISAMU! SHUT UP! I HAVE A FUCKING BAD HEADACHE!" is the only thing Jon can muster. Isamu immediately shuts up. Elly is suprised at this because appearently she wasn't paying much attention when Jon woke up to notice that he did.

"How are you feeling?" She says softly. "Like I've been beat up by Muhammed Ali(in his prime), Mike Tyson, and Terrance Alverisk(the current heavy weight champion)[note...this takes place in the future so this guy isn't real]...oh yeah and by you too Seif." Seif laughs at this and bounces back with, "Well if I had beat you up, you wouldn't be alive right now."

After a little Jon is able to stand and takes the attention of the group, "The procedures when flawlessly. I assume you have played around with the info in your head and yes Isamu that is the punishment. You should have already been trying to find out the different things with controling the aircraft and the other uses you now have mentally linked to you from your aircraft. We start flight tests tommarow at oh-eighthundred hours[8 a.m. for those of you that are millitarily illiterate]. Be hear bright and early because we do flight tests quite differently than you do in your dimension. We are much more thorough. I trust we will all sleep well tonight." The group breaks up and leaves the hangar turning the lights off as the go out.

-------------------

The group has rejoined at the specified time the next morning inside a meeting room off to the rear of the hangar. The only differences are that Seif and Danielle are once again out on buisness. Isamu, Guld, and Jon are in flight suits. Elly is in her U.N. Spacey uniform (regular dress). After quite a bit of slipping papers around Seif managed to get Myung into the U.N. Spacey as a Com-officer in charge of Isamu and Guld and in the case that she must directly order them to do something she was made a Major right away. She is wearing a very similar outfit to Elly's.

"Ah, good morning and I would like to start off with...Isamu how does it feel to have a wife, overnight, join the U.N. Spacey and straight ahead of you in rank?" The group with the exception of an embarrased Isamu is laughing. "Well anyway we got a lot of work to do. We are doing a relatively short and non-detailed test flight...well for me it's non- detailed. So any unseen problems that may come up you will have to solve on the spot. Guld lets start with your fight plan...[at this point I have decided to skip over this next part but still give you an idea of what happens]. After about an hour of dissusing the flight plan in the meeting room they all go to the bases mess hall, which happens to be a very nice spiffy place to eat, and have breakfast. Later in the air Guld takes off for the Western coast of South America for under water test and a few land tests in dense jungle, humid climates, and mountainous terrain. Isamu is sent into space to a simulated astroid belt and tests the computers abilities to handle multiple moving, objects in battle conditions, and still be able to present easy to understand information to the pilot. Jon takes off for high and low altitude flight testing and performing tests such as spin roll-out and high angle of attack manuvers. All three haveing a good time doing it. Elly and Myung are side by side in the Com-office and are performing their duties to perfection. They run the simulation programs which produce enemies and other obstacles as well as relay info to the pilots on their next objective or point marker.

The 99's pull into their places in the large hagar and the cockpits pop open and hiss with exscapeing pressureized gas. Guld climbs down his ladder while Isamu and Jon jump down. They take off their helmets and all three are wearing wide grins of enjoyment. "WOW!", Jon is the first one to speak, "What a rush! I knew this thing could do some radical things but...WOW...whew. I'm beat how 'bout you guys?"

Isamu catches his breath finally, "I've done some things today that would baffle my old physics professor." Guld the ever silent but strong type finaly speaks, "I don't know how you came up with the concept with this jet but, thanks for doing it."

Jon is looking with great pride at his creations, "I feel sorry for those who would take opposite side of these babies....'beautiful...but deadly'."

Guld states silently, "Ah but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm sure if you were faceing these you wouldn't think of them as beautiful at all."

"So your still alive are you Isamu. Well...if you keep pulling off those 'too close for comfort' manuevers you won't be living much longer." Myung walks in with Elly, "Remember no insurance company in the universe wants you as a customer so I don't get anything if you die."

Isamu smirks at his wife's joke, "Well that is because I'd figured you'd follow me shortly after hearing of my death."

"Hah! I'd problely marry Guld and forget all about you." She smiles at her husband. Jon grabs everyone's attention, "Hey how about some beers in celebration of the maiden flights of the greatest aircraft ever to exist by the greatest fighter pilots in the universe." Everyone agrees.

--------------------

The group is crowded into a booth at Mike's. There are quite a few people at the bar at this time and they creating the cliche bar noise of talking, glasses being raised in toasts, ect...Mike walks up with two beers per person in hand. "The beer is on the house...until you fail and my bar is destroyed...then I'm charging 100% intrest." this raises a, "I hear you!" from Isamu. As Mike leaves Jon and Elly decide to move to one of the small, circular tables near by.

Elly has to raise her voice a little to get over the noise of the bar. "A couple of my friends are going to get together at a dance club like bar in town...you wanna come?"

"Sure. What is the name of the bar and when are you going." Jon asks pleased that she asked him. "Its at a place called the Blue Floor Club at 8 pm tommarow...I need a ride to and from, perhaps you could give me a lift."

"Perhaps...kidding ofcourse. I'd be happy to...especially since I have no idea where this place is. Will I be the only guy in the group or what?" She laughs as if it were a stupid question, "Who cares but since you asked, no. A couple of them are bringing their boy friends...Hey don't you have that air show to do tommarow?"

"Yeah but I leave for it at 6 in the morning and get back at about 5 at night so I will have plenty of time...trust me on this one." after a short pause, "It is almost unconcieveable that in less than a month all these men...and more will be fighting for their lives and many may not even survive..." they look around the room in quiet thought on how these men would give their lives to protect all they beleive is true and good.

"What's it like..." Elly catches Jon's attention with sad eyes, "What is the battle field like? What is it like facing hundreds of enemies not knowing if you are gonna live to see the next sun rise?"

"Well..." Jon is lost in thought for a moment but come out of it slowly and as he speaks he stare into space, "In our dimension we never have battles like that of your dimentsion..it is more of a one on one thing..." Jon is cut off by Isamu who sits down next to them, "Your field of view is filled with enemy markers and you say to yourself 'how the hell am I gonna do this'. Then all normal thought kinda...slips away and all you think about is killing and trying not to be killed. You really have no time to feel. If you stop and feel your emotions...your dead."

Jon cuts back in with his own knowledge, "We fighter pilots don't fly for the battle. Those who do die quickly. We fly to fly...fighting is just another task in front of us. If we ever got to liking the killing...we wouldn't be human...but...animal. No we fight the fights we do because we want to protect our way of life...our beliefs...We fly for those at home who can not or choose not to. If it wasn't for us or any other armed forces for that manner...you wouldn't be able to sit at home and watch tv or sleep peacefully. We don't just fly and fight for us but for every man, woman, and child whose very lives depend upon our success...at least that's what I think." By now the whole group is up and around the table and shaking their heads in agreement to what Isamu and Jon has said.

Jon stands up and after a while get the attention of the bar. He raises his glass of beer, "I propose a toast...a toast to all those brave pilots who came before us...to those who are here now...and for future pilots...all those who died for what they believed in...or or those who died to make our lives better by furthering the knowledge of the day...men like Orvil and Wilbur Write...the Flying Tigers...the Tuskegee Airmen...George Washington...Galleleigo...and a man who I have admired my whole life Chuck Yeager who took a very dangerous plane on a run to break the sound barrier when the only other man (Scott Crossfield) wanted major bucks to do the same job and Chuck said sure I'll do it and for my normal Air Force pay too...he risked his life doing something that most scientists said was impossible...breaking the sound barrier...to all those I cannot name from the macross dimension...wait I got one Roy Folker...and many many many more not only in aviation but in other areas as well...to those people a toast." The rest of the bar raises their mugs and agree with a "Here, here!".

-----------------------

It is 5:30 in the morning and Jon is slowly putting on his flight uniform. He is thinking over the manuevers he must perform perfectly at the first annual U.N. Spacy Air Show. This is the first public showing of the VF-99 and if anything goes wrong the image of the aircraft will forever be tainted in the publics mind. Jon,though, is very confident that everything will go as expected and he is expecially pleased to know that he and his 99 have been invited to do one of the few things Jon has always wanted to do as a pilot...fly as the 'missing man' in the 'Broken Wing Manuever'. In this flight formation manuever there are usually 7 aircraft in a V-type formation and the last man on the right wing of the V breaks off from the rest. This is a powerful symbol for remembering and showing respect to all pilots who have died before them...to be invited to head this V is honorable but to be the 'missing man', in other words the pilot that breaks off, is one of the highest honors a pilot can have. You see it symbolises a flight group in combat and the 'missing man' is a pilot who gives his life in order to save the rest of the group...really quite sad when you think about it. It is usually performed during the opening ceromonies after the playing of the national anthum.[oh just to let you know that part is all true...not made up at all. I have also chosen the "Star Spangeled Banner" as the U.N. Spacey national anthem because...frankly I like it much more than the traditional U.N. Spacey anthem and I like it more than any other country's and if you dont like it...tough...I'm the author so *pulls down his right bottom eyelid while sticking his tounge out*]

Jon is in the 99's hangar now and is doing his final flight check of the aircraft. When he finishes walking around the plane, checking everything, he climbs up the ladder on the left side of the nose of the aircraft. He steps down into the cockpit he puts on his helmet(and air seals is), straps himself in, and closes the cockpit. At first it is pitch black but the computer kicks on and the cockpit lights up with the image of the surroundings of the aircraft. Little menus pop up from a holo-laser- projector in front of Jon. They ask weather or not to turn on a system and/or a setting for that system.[As we all know these menus are pulled up by the pilots mind.] Useing the laser interface all Jon has to do is touch the selection he wants. Jon quickly turns on all computers systems, sets weaponry to 'Paintball Mode'(this is a training mode where the weapons will act as if they have fired, but don't. The computer calculates where the weapon would go and makes a simulated paint splatter where it would land.) He then sets the HUD[Heads up display for the not so wise of people] to 'Navigation Mode'(A mode for basic, non-combat, flight. HUD mode can be change rapidly depending on the situation. Essentially the computer could show everything to the pilot...but that would be confusing so the pilot chooses a mode that would feed him only the information he needs to know in that situation.) Jon then turns the energy flow in the engiens and verniers on and then starts the in-take blades. While the blades get up to speed(producing a high pitch whine) Jon situates other things in the cockpit. Finally, Jon lights the engiens and Jon taxis(pilots term for moving around the flight deck) to an elevator which takes him down to a very dark section of the ship. It is an unpressurized flight launching area.[this is a fairly good sized area where the aircraft are launched from. It is the last thing between the ship and the out side and it sits only in the middle of the Laviathan where the doors are visible from the outside.] A man in a pressurized suit guides Jon to the take off point with his bright orange batons. Jon taxies into a small tunnel leading toward the outside. Jon locks the breaks and powers the engiens to 40% which is far more than enough to get airborn and then contacs the tower for permission to take off. After he gets the go ahead from the tower the hundreds of solid and engergy doors open in front of him. After the final door on the outside opens and sunlight gleams through the greenish energy barrier which is just on the inside from the last door. It will allow Jon to pass through it but not allow anthing else to leave and nothing to enter that tunnel. Jon lets the breaks off and the 99 shoots down the tunnel like a bullet through a barrel. As he exits the tunnel there is a seriene sunrise in front of him. Jon quickly smiles at the sight and pulls back on the stick and pushes up the accelerator and the aircraft rockets into the sky.

--------------------

At the airfield where the airshow is going to be held a group of pilots are standing next to their custom painted F-22's. The leader is an old adversary of Jon's and has no idea the pilot that will be the 'missing man' in his 'Broken Wing' performance is Jon[neither does Jon know about him]. He is a shorter man than Jon. Well built with short brown hair and hazel eyes that pierce you to the core. He is wearing the old U.S. AirForce flight suit and pacing agitatedly.

"Where is this son of a bitch!" He nearly screams at his team mates, "They said he would be here 20 minutes ago!"

"Calm down Craig. I'm sure he will..." He never gets to finish his sentence because the hangar's radio connection to the tower comes alive saying, "The pilot you were waiting for is here." The group walks out of the hangar toward the runway to meet their temporary member. They all stare at a point in the sky try to get a glimps of this new highly advanced fight-plane. Finally, after many anxious moments, they spot a tiny, shiny dot in the sky. Soon the dot turns into a large white airplane and makes a graceful, short, landing and pulls into the hangar where the rest of the team's aircraft are. The engiens cut out and a high-pitched whine is made from the slowing blades in the intakes. The first thing the pilots notice about the aircraft is its size. For a fighter plane it is rather large, like the Su-37 or the Mig-29. The next thing[or things depending on your point of view. For me it is thing because it is the setup, or style, of the aircraft] is that it has forward swept wings, kanard foreplanes, and short tail fins. This starts an arguement about the setup of the aircraft between the pilots.

"The kanards give you better manueverability at low speeds and that is great for dog fighting.", one of the pilots says to another one who in returns, "like the cheif designer from Boeing said 'I've never seen a bird with its tail in the front and birds fly just fine.'" Just then the cockpit pops up an inch or so and oxygen escapes in a white cloud while makeing a hissing sound. The the whole cockpit opens up and Jon steps down the ladder on the opposite side of the aircraft from the rest of the pilots. As Jon comes around the nose of the aircraft he comes face to face with Craig who intended to verbaly slam the late-comer only to find it was Jon his old rival from U.S. AirForce flight school.

Craig speaks[if you call yelling speaking] first, "What the hell are you doing here! Last I heard you got shipped out to Death Valley to a dead-end test flying job! And what the hell are you doing with this fucking ugly airplane."

Jon replys calmly after stiffleing a laugh, "Well Craig I'm here to fly as the 'missing man' in, what I'm guessing is your flight routine, and I left that dead-end test flying job to build and fly the most advanced aircraft and greatest fighter plane ever to be built!", Jon is quite pleased with his answer and crosses his arms.

Craig by now is obviously angry, "What! This piece of shit! It will be a cold day in hell when that piece of shit can win a dog fight!", Jon once again stiffles a laugh because Craig's face is beat red, "HA! How about sometime during the show we have a dog fight. Huh? Wha do ya say?"

Craig cracks a smile of confidence, "Sure. Now I will finally be able to get you back for all those times you embarrased me at flight school.", As he finishes his sentence an airshow official walks in. "Alright. You guys need to be in the air in 10 minutes. I want you to fly out somewhere where you can't be seen. Then do a fly by just as the Star Spangled Banner finishes, not supersonic. The when you are lined up we will start the music for the 'Broken Wing' formation, again not supersonic. Got it? Good." He turns and walks out of the hangar.

When Craig goes to insult Jon he finds that Jon is already getting in the cockpit and decides to let it go for now. All the members of the flight team make their way to their 22's and climb inside. Jon takes off first going in a seperate direction of everyone else for the manuver that is planned for the opening ceremonies.

---------------------

Later that day parachuters are dropped from an airplane high above airshow- center and they carry the U.N. Spacey flag and the "Star Spangled Banner" starts playing and it is being sang by a popular male singer. At the end of the song when, "And the home of the brave." is sang the team flies towards the crowd from the front and Jon comes from behind and flies straight through the center of the team(they do this just in front of the crowd and of course about 300 feet above the ground.

After a short period the song Taps(Day is Done) is played on a Trumpet and the flight team, with Jon in position, flies low and slowly down the airshow stage from the right to left. When they are at the center Jon pulls up and away from the team acting as the 'missing man'. When Jon is finally on the ground again he taxis to a position where on lookers get a closer look at the aircraft. Jon sticks around the airplane to answer the many questions that people have. At about half way through the show, for Jon anyway, it is time to dog fight Craig.

"Right now we have a dog fight between two of the best pilots at this show. This fight will be real not faked or set up. The only thing not real about this fight will be the electronic bullets and missiles they will be using for safety reason. They will be doing the best two out of three. And here they go now!", the announcer informs the crowd.

"Ready to loose Hester!", Craig shoots off, "I highly doubt it. Ok break in 3...2...1...BREAK!", Jon cracks. The planes turn and split going in opposite directions. Shortly after they split Jon immediately transforms to Battleroid mode and easily strafes Craig with electronic bullets from his gun pod. "What the hell Hester! Mother Fucker!"[sorry but I think if I were to have them say things other than swears well...it would sound like dialoge from DBZ on Toonami for example..."You dirty dog" What the hell is that! No one says that!] "I admit that was a little cheap but...I didn't want you to be too cocky, eh. I promise I will beat you totaly with fighter mode for now on." With that Jon transforms back into fighter mode and forms up[man...another pilot phrase to explane. Ok, forming up on someone's wing means to get into a formation with them.] on his wing. Then after they realign themselves with the airshow stage.

"Ok in 3...2...1...BREAK!", Jon calls again. They split and Jon performs a gut wrenching turn(almost 90 degree) and faces(coming at Craig from the side) the still turning Craig. Craig seeing this turns his plane back to flat and level and pulls straight up and spins. Jon follows him up with ease. Craig rolls to his left and performs a nice tight loop. Jon follows with another tight turn that litteraly spins the nose directly back toward the ground and for a moment actually flies backwards. Craig watching the move suddenly realizes how good the 99 is and decides that he will have to go all out to beat him. So, Craig tumbles the F-22 around just long enough to get a lock on Jon and fires an electronic missile. Jon sees the missile as if it were real from his cockpit and deftly dodges it while fireing his gun at Craig. Craig narrowly dodges the bullets (more luck on Craig's part than skill) showing that he is good enough pilot to stand against a valkyrie in an ordinary[well advanced ordinary] airplane. As Craig's nose is now pointed strait at the ground so he pulls around to level and then rolls to his right and when he looks for Jon again Jon is gone. The computer in the 99 predicts Craig's movement and suggests that Jon rockets down so that when Jon pulls up he will sit directly under Craig aircraft and Jon agrees.

Craig now is geting very scared. "Shit Hester where'd you go?!", Jon almost dies laughing, "Oh...no where. Well lets finish it eh?" Now Craig is sweating bullets trying to find Jon and just happens to glance at the right time to see Jon's right wing dissapear under him. "O...K...Hester...but I have a good feeling your gonna loose.", just as Craig says 'loose' he hits the air break and flips over to fire straight up Jon's tail pipe but Jon is not there. Jon seen Craig glance over and knew he had been caught so Jon had fallen back to about a couple hundred feet behind and let him roll right into his gun sight. The last thing Craig hears is laughing and the the alarms in the cockpit go off telling him he is dead.

"And it appears that Lt. Hester of the U.N. Spacey, currently stationed aboard the U.N.S.S. Laviathan has won the first two fights with relative ease. Congrats Lt. Well I guess this proves the huge capabilities of the brand new VF-99 Katana." The announcer states to the crowd as somehow with all the manuevers Craig and Jon manange to stay within easy view of the crowd. When Jon taxis back to his place on the ground he is greeted by a large crowd applauding him. As Jon steps down the ladder he gets comments from "good job" to "How the hell did you do that?" from some of the more expierianced pilots. Finally after an hour the crowd dwindles down and Jon gets a break from asking questions. It is now that Jon notices an old P- 51 Mustang D-model. Since there is no danger Jon decides to go over and check out the airplane. As Jon walks around the aircraft admireing the different parts of it and getting to the opposite side of it he notices a good looking woman bending over into the cockpit. Jon pauses confused on wether or not to bother her.

Jon finally gets the courage to say something, "Hey. Nice plane. I see you've totally restored it.", when she looks up and tosses her long blonde hair back Jon has to stop and regain his self control by thinking that he is already trying to get a girlfriend in Elly. "Thanks...hey aren't you that pilot that was in the dog fight?"

"Yeah, it was really easy especially with the 99.", She looks nervous now. "Wow, correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you design that plane in high school." Jon is looking a little embarrased now

"Yeah,...It took me all four years to complete. Designed it down to each individual wire and fuel line" She looks a little dizzy now, "That is impressive. Oh, where's my manners. My name is Terry and you have to be Jon. It is a true honor to meet you."

"Why thanks, I don't get that much. This was my favorite plane for a long time. So beautiful and yet so powerful. Have you suped-it-up or is it completely original?" She steps down that small ladder and wipes her hands with a little red towel.

"It is completely original and it still screams. Even the guns work. But enough of the relics how the hell could you design a plane, in high school, that is ranked as the best?", Jon chuckels a little.

"A long story. It officially started on my trip to Florida with my A.F.J.R.O.T.C(AirForce Junior Recruit Officer Training Corps.) when I drew a crewd picture of a Macross jet I had come up with. Well, later when I found that the Macross jets were very realistic I realized my drawing was horrible so I completely redesigned it but I kept the name. Looking at the picture and comparing to this(motioning toward the 99) you would say 'how could you get from this to this?' but, I did. Before, I even started the remodel of that original copy I spent about 3 months researching how Macross jets worked and got most of it down pat...problely the hardest thing for me to find out is how a jet engien could run in space...it isn't a jet engien at all. The blades in the intake merely act as a cooling system when in the atmosphere. The rest is a nuclear powered rocket engien. In our dimension it was an idea played around with with great results but got shut down because people were woried that if were to blow up in the atmosphere the Earth would die or something like that. To us it was called the N.E.R.V.A.[have no idea what it stands for] rocket engien.", Jon acts knowledgeable on the subject.

"Wow, that is quite detailed for a cartoon even if it is an anime." Just then Jon's watch beeps and he looks down and becomes very nervous. "Ah, I got to go. I would love to stay and talk but I am meeting my girlfriend and we are going to a night club. Good bye Terry. It has been nice meeting you." Terry looks a little sad, "Well, I will let you go on your way. Good Bye Jon." Jon shakes her hand and spins on his heel.

-----------------------------

An hour later, Jon is climbing down the ladder of the 99 in side his hangar onboard the Laviathan when Seif walks up.

"Hey Jon, what's up. Anyway guess what I did today.", Seif is looking very happy. Since Jon is so tired that he just shrugs in ignorance. "I finished the conversions on your car. It is ready for the road. I tell you what though...V8 engiens are hard to convert to energy use. Your car is now more powerful than most new-age sports cars."

"Great! I can pick up Elly in it. Cool! I owe you big time buddy. Shit! I got to go. If you would just leave it here I will pick it up in a bit. Thanks man." Jon then turns to go home, well to his temporary home. "Sure Jon, no problem. Oh, and good luck tonight." Jon steps into his car(the temporary one) and starts it and drives home.

---------------------------

About a hour later and a half hour till Jon and Elly need to be at the club There is a knock on a door. When the door opens Jon is out side wearing a smile as he sees the person who opens the door is the captain of the Laviathan himself, Rick Hunter. Jon is wearing a button down shirt that has an anime style image of a samuri on it[to my friends you know what this style shirt looks like] and a pair of black slacks and a pair of shiny black shoes. Rick is in some casual jeans and a t-shirt.

"Hello Mr. Hunter. It is pleasure to meet you in person. I came to pick up Elly...if that is ok with you.", Jon is starting to get nervous that Rick wont like him.

"That is perfectly okay and call me Rick ok. Elly will be down in about 5 minutes or so. Is that a...classic car from your dimension? I ask because one of my old wing man...you problely know who Max Jeanus is...is a old car nut...he has an old Cobra right now.", The old man seems pleased with Jon.

"Just call me Jon. Yeah wanna take a look at it while we wait. Come on.". The two walk over to an old car[I will explain exactly which one in a sec] Jon pops the hood and starts talking about the car. "This is a 1967 427 Corvette with 425 horse power, well originally, now that it has been changed to energy use it has 1300 horse power. Easily more powerful than most new cars. I has a super charger and the body is a Red with black striped convertable with sting-ray body. It has leather seats and chrome side pipes. This is a bad ass machine. I also have a new motorcycle that I am currently building.", Jon is looking very proud with his 'piece of art' and Rick looks a little lost.

"Now this is a car!", Elly says as she walks up to them wearing a little black dress with no sleeves and only goes halfway down her thighs. At the moment she has her hair up and a little black purse hanging from her right sholder and a little gold and dimond necklace hanging down on her chest."Now I see why you never liked that temporary car." She walks over to Rick and gives him a big hug, "I'll be back by eleven...I promise. Don't worry about Jon he is a good guy. He wont try anything...for now. Good night daddy." She kisses him on the cheek and turns to Jon. "We gonna go or what?"

Jon looking a little dazed as he stares at her and after a short pause, "Uh...uh...yeah ok. Lets go." Jon opens the passenger door for Elly and then closes it after she is seated. When he sits in the driver's seat Rick walks over, "Take good care of her or I will hurt you." Jon doesn't look surprised, "If she gets hurt when she is with me I will hurt myself...so don't worry." Rick then walks back to his front door and watches them leave.

Jon starts the car and the engine gives a very satisfying low rumble. Jon smiles, takes a deep breath, and hits the accelerator. The car fish tails with some smoke coming from the rear tires. As they drive on the highway, Elly turns on the radio but it is useless because of the noise comming from the side pipes drowns out everything.

-----------------------

Jon and Elly walk up to the bouncer outside of a classy looking club about 10 minutes early. They seem to have known each other for a while since he knows her by name. He is a fairly tough looking african american whearing a black silk shirt and black slacks. He has a shiny gold necklace around his neck and a nice rolex on. His black hair is cut short, real short. He has an obvious gold tooth.

"Hey! Elly! Its been a while. Whaz'up. You ain't been round much no more."[excuse my grammer this is just how he talks], they give each other a short hug, "Oh sorry Cris, I have a had a ton of work. Are my friends here yet?"

"Yeah dhey at your normal table in the back..."Elly catches this pause in the sentence, "Whats up Cris?" Now he is acting very concerned as he debates with himself on wether or not to tell her. "He is here. Max came in bout an hour ago...w'ch out...he been lookin' for you...He pretty mad."

Now Elly looks a little worried. "Shit! Not tonight! God damit! When will he learn! Hey, thanks for the heads up. I owe you one Cris." With this she turns and starts to walk into the club. When Jon follows Cris stops him, "Where da hell you t'ink you goin' buddy!" Luckily for Jon Elly hasn't gotten inside yet and comes back.

"He is the reason I'm really worried about Max. He's with me Cris...don't worry he's cool." Cris looks Jon up and down confused why he would be with Elly then just shrugs it off with, " 'k if you say so...Just be carefule o' Max...he very protective o' Elly even t'ough she not his no more and you'd better take good care o' her or I kick yo ass. You hear me...and if you get in fight with Max, w'ich you will, take it out side, 'k."

"I hear you man. I'll make sure nothin' happens inside. And about Elly...don't worry I'll take good care of her." Now Jon and Elly turn and walk into the club together. The club has a dancefloor in the center and bar near the rear. There are round tables and booths every where. The club is busy but not as busy as Jon imagined. Walking is quite easy. The main bulk of the people are on the dance floor dancing to loud music. Jon and Elly make their way to the rear of the club. They stop at the booth where their friends are sitting.

After a moment of shaking hands and kisses on the cheak Elly introduces Jon. Jon just shakes hands with every one at the table. There are 3 women and 3 men at the table. (starting on Jon's left and moving around the U- shaped table to Jon's right) Nick, Estella, Don, Tracy, Matt, and Cary. Apperantly this had been discussed by the new group of people before they got here cause all the guys, deftly, get up from the table and take Jon over to sit at the bar. Elly sits down with the girls who gather closer together to talk with each other over the loud music.

Estella, a rich girl in a purple dress with long brown hair,"He's kinda cute but...are you sure he is the right guy for you? I mean you could do much better than him." Cary is wearing a sparkley blueish-white dress and has her short blonde hair in curls. Cary looks agitated at her friends remark, "I think he looks cute, smart, and careing and, besides, if Elly likes him then she likes him for who he is. I doubt anyone like Max will get under her radar like that again." Tracy has a medium length red dress on and her long brown hair up in a bun. "I agree with Cary...but...you could find someone better...especially in the looks department. I mean he isn't ugly but he is no superstar either."

Back with the guys at the bar, they are all drinking from brown bottles of beer. Matt speaks up first, "So...how did you meet Elly any way." Matt has short and slightly curly brown hair and is wearing a silk shirt similar to his date's dress(Cary) and a pair of black slacks[sorry about my poor taste in style...lets just say...I'M A GUY...and I am NOT gay so...black slacks will be very very popular. Oh and one more reminder...NO HATE MAIL].

"Well...I met Elly because she is my com. officer. You see...I am a pilot and..." He is cut off by Don. Don has straight black hair and is wearing an Armani[hey hey something different] Suit. "We know what a com. officer is...we are all pilots." Nick butts in here, "So, is that the only thing that makes you like her?" Nick has short blonde hair and is wearing a red shirt white slacks and white shoes. He is obviously the crazy one of the group.

"No no no, she's beautiful...actually too beautiful. I sometimes wonder if she is leading me on because she could have any guy she wanted so why me? She is really intelligent and compasionate. She is just plain fun to be around...and there is something else...I can't quite describe...I don't know it just...feels right. Well anyway nothing is set in stone yet. I'm mean so far it feels as if she is deciding to take our relationship to a boyfriend-girlfriend thing or to just stay good friends."

Suddenly there is a sound that catches the guys' attention...well mainly it was Elly saying, "Get out of here Max!" When the guys look over he is a tall guy with a tan complexion and black hair. He is sitting next to Elly comming on to her at a disgusting pace. Jon stands up but Matt puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him, "Don't get into this. All of us, including the girls discussed this last time when the three of us got our asses kicked by him and his buddies. He will grow tired of this and leave soon. For now just let it be."

Jon looks back to Elly and the look of disgust, anger, fear, and sadness put him over the top. He breaks free of Matt and walks over and taps Max on the right shoulder. This grabs the attention of about 20 of Max's buddies and they walk over and surround Jon. Max turns around looking very pissed that he has been interrupted. "What do ya want!", Elly is looking scared at what is about to happen to Jon.

"Leave her alone..." Jon is cut off by a very hard punch in the stomach. He falls back into the group of Max's buddies and mumbles under his breath, "I promised Cris nothing would happen inside so..., " Jon lifts himself up with a grunt, "lets get this outside." He taps Max on the right shoulder again.

"What now!" Max can't get out another sentence because of a surpisingly powerful punch in the face from Jon. Three of Max's buddies try to go help him but suddenly, out of no where, a sword appears in front of their throats along with the words, "This will be a clean one on one...I wont get involved and you won't either." comming from Seif who is accompanied by Danielle. "He is all yours Jon...good luck."

"Thanks Seif." Jon hoists the obviously very dazed Max onto his right shoulder and carries him through the crowd out side where he dumps his body on the ground with a, "Wow, good job." comming from Cris.

A bunch of people come from the club to see the fight. The first one out is Elly followed by Seif, Danielle, the group of Max's buddies(who are very nervous of Seif), Elly friends, and just a bunch of people from the club. Max slowly get to his feet now so pissed off that his face is turning red. He looks to he friends but see why they don't help. As he starts to calm down for the fight he finds that he has a bloody lip which causes the start of the fight. He strolls up to Jon and punches at his face. Jon has learned some moves from Seif though and deftly dodges it and counters with a hit to the stomach. This doubles Max over and Jon kicks him in the face throwing him onto his back.

"Just cause I'm not buff don't mean I can't fight. Seif taught me this style of fighting it is called Jeet Kune Do."[just a note this style is the same as what Spike, from Cowboy Bebop, uses.] As Max gets up he surprises Jon with an upper cut which knocks him onto his back. "Yeah well, technique is nothing compared to pure power." Jon laughs a little as he gets up, "Well that is good because this technique uses the opponents power against him." With that the fight continues.

Max makes a swinging kick with his left leg but Jon duck under it and grabs it after it passes over head. He then kicks Max's other leg out and Max fall flat on his ass. Max then swings his still free leg around and it land with a devastating thump on Jon face. Jon is now lying face down on the ground with a bloody lip and a boot mark on his left cheek. Max gets up and turns his attention on the noisy crowd who are cheering for him. He turns and stands by Jon's feet. Jon quickly slides himself backwards so his legs are on opposite side of Max's and spins himself onto his back so his left leg comes up and hits hard into the back of Max's knees and the right leg sweeps him off his feet. Max hits the ground real hard this time. Jon pushes himself to his feet and watches as Max slowly does the same. Max now has a really badly broken nose. Max uses both hands to push Jon in the chest saying, "You wanna die punk! HUH!" at the second push Jon skillfully grabs Max's hands and headbutts him in the face causing even more damage to Max's face. This time it doesn't go so smoothly though as Max breaks his right hand free and punches Jon in the ribs breaking one. The last hit from Jon was devastating though and Max goes unconscience as he hits the ground.

Jon being the victor he turns his head to look at Elly who is horrified as she stares at Max's body only glancing at Jon once as if saying, "How could you do this?". Jon feeling very lonely at this point starts walking to his car limping slightly and holding his left side. Seif and Danielle walk up and put his arms around their shoulders to give him support as he walked. Seif is the first to speak, "What about Elly?" The group stops, "The sad thing is women feel sympathy for the person more injured...even if they hated him more. Look at her...and prove me wrong." Seif and Danielle glance back to see Elly looking frightened at Max. The group continues watching.

Elly is kneeling at Max's side. half her mind is scared and concerned for Max while the other half is saying, "What are you doing do you remember how he treated you. He deserves this." At that moment Max regains conscienceness to see Elly at his side. He smile at her while softly saying, "I always knew you had a great ass." Elly immediately changes attitudes as she slaps him in the face putting him back into unconscienceness and standing up disgusted. She looks around for Jon and finds him limpind down a dark street with Seif on his right and Danielle on his left helping him walk. She is washed over with regret on how she treated him just recently and runs after Jon as it starts to rain.

"Hey Jon!" The three stop and Jon supports himself and turns expecting her to slap him or something only to find her soaking from the rain and on the verge of tears. "Ya know...I still need a ride home..." Jon smile and turns to Seif who beats Jon question with his answer, "Don't worry you take her home now and here this will help." Seif pulls a small pill from his right pant's pocket and gives it to Jon, "Think of it as a rejuvination pill...It will instantly heal most wounds...this one is made for broken bones so you will still have a bloody lip but you will be able to walk and drive.", Jon pops it in his mouth and smiles, "I owe you one Seif...thanks. Well see ya later."

Jon walks up to Elly with an umbrella Danielle had with her and puts his left arm over shoulder and she leans into him as they walk down the slightly dark street toward his car. The only words that are spoken between here and her home are, "I'm sorry Jon...it just took me a moment to realize once again that he is a jerk." and Jon's reply is, "All's forgiven."

--------------------------

By the time they get to Elly's house Elly and Jon are much more dry. When they pull into the drive way Elly turns to him, "Thanks Jon, I had a great time...well besides the whole fight thing. See you tommarow, eh? Good night." Elly pauses then turns and gets out of the car when she walk up to the house in the rain Rick opens the door. Jon puts the car in reverse and as he backs up both of them wave at him. They, obviously, will have a long night of talking ahead of them.

--------------------------

The sun is making a beautiful orangeish-red sun rise over the Laviathan as it sits in the water. The sea makes a georgous reflection of the sunrise. Suddenly the water around the Laviathan is desturbed and the giant ship lurches from its resting place in the sea. Simotaneously hundreds of birds take off from their resting place on top of the ship. Inside the command center of the Laviathan many people are at work ensuring that everything is working correctly. The captain, Rick, [though Rick is a General he is the "Captain" of the ship so when I refer to him as captain that doesn't mean his rank has changed so dramatically...but if some one else is known as a captain that is their rank]is looking over multiple screens as they float in mid air infront of him. He waves his hand with a smile and the screens dissapear.

"Start all anti-gravity engiens and run them at 100% capacity. Keep me up to date on our altitude. Have 2nd stage boosters ready." As Rick gives the orders they each recieve an 'Aye, sir!' from a different place on the command deck.

A slightly unkempt man with black hair falling straight down on all sides walks up behind the captain and gets Rick's attention. He has an aire of intelligence and skill. His uniform indicates he is the Cheif of Security. "General there are some people at the door who say that you invited them up here." The man motions toward the door. When Rick spins the chair around to look he finds his daughter, Jon, Seif, Danielle, Isamu, Myung, and Guld. "It is ok. Let them in and remember them they are my good friends...and family. Good job, though, Seargent Wolfwood. Oh, one more thing how is Lt. Stampeede settleing in as munitions expert?"[Hah, if you think this will be the only character from an anime/game who will work on the ship...then I laugh at you...expect, not a lot, but more.]

"He is haveing a fun time fireing guns all day. Thanks for asking." The seargent walks back to the group and informs them they can go in now recieving a 'Good job on checking.' from Seif. The group walks up to Rick. All of them are amazed at the room with the exceptions of Seif, Danielle, and Jon who have already experienced the room. Elly is about to hug her father when Jon stops her telling her it would embarass the military because at that moment television viewers are watching with a very resticted view as to prevent much information from leaking to any potential enemies about the Laviathan's command deck. "Thank you Jon, you prevented thousands of dollars being wasted on trying to appease the public's conscience about the captain's daughter being given a job on the ship."

A young luitenent with short black hair[not an anime character from any series] gets the attention of the captain. "Sir we are at sufficient altitude to use the stage 2 boosters. Also, the boosters have been prep'ed and are ready for use. What are your orders sir." Rick turns once more to his group of on-lookers, "I'm sorry but I have duties to attend to. Please excuse me." Rick turns back to forward facing position, "Ignite the stage 2 booster and regulate to keep this ship stable." There is a low rumble as more smoke is seen and the water dissapears beneath them as the ship ascends up into the upper atmosphere. As every thing is seems to be working correctly...the ship stops ascending and hovers and slowly starts droping.

"What is the problem?" Rick asks angerly. "Sir, we seem to be loosing altitude..."at this Rick thinks, Well da! Tell me something I don't know. "We are not aware of the problem as of yet." Rick is very angry now, "What is our altitude?" Rick starts to sweat. "We are currently 3/4 of the way throught the 2nd stage." Rick gets an idea, "Are the final stage engiens ready?" "Umm...yes sir!". Rick smiles widely, "Fire the final stage rockets...NOW!"

The young seargent looks nervous, "But...sir...that may cause damage to the ground and we may not have enough thrust to reach orbit." Rick glances at him for a second, "I said do it." Rick quickly pulls up a screen and starts working on calculations as he is working the full instruction on how to do what he is attempting appears on his screen. Rick glances around for a second and sees Jon and Seif smiling and waving. I owe them for this. "At exactly 1 minute and 23 secods after ignition of final stage thrusters tilt the ship's nose up 45 degrees and start main engiens, with the exception of engien 9, then continue running all engiens until we get into geo-sync orbit."

There is a resounding 'Aye, sir!' from the command deck. Slowly the lumbering ship ignites all its engiens with lots of smoke comming from the bottom part of the ship. As the nose turns upward eight of the main engiens ignite but the nineth is kept off for the chance of causeing damage to the planet. As the gigantic ship lurches forward and upward it gains speed and after a few tense moments the ship finally reaches orbit and the engiens are cut.

"Close all of the planetary launch engien's doors and cool them down. Start the fold engien and program in the coordinates to our next way point." Rick glances back to Seif who gives him a thumbs up. Then a small screen pops up infront of the captain there is a man who appears to be a mechanic. He is tall and tough looking with a mostly bald head and a thick black beard. He has a blue jacket with the sleeves cut off and a red t- shirt on underneath. He also has a scar over his right eye.

"Ahh Colonel Black [I told you so.]have you discovered the problem with our second stage engiens yet?" He rubbs his head and grunts, "Yeah, apparently some idiot changed the power settings to run at 50% power instead of full. Not much damage though." The Cheif of Mechanical Upkeep of the Laviathan lights a cigarette ignoring the dangers of his action.[I would like to note that this Jet Black has both his arms for he never came in contact with his contact with his old partner from Cowboy Bebop who shot off Jet's left arm...because this is a different universe.] "Thank you Colonel. Bridge out." The screen dissapears.

A young short haired blonde Captain addresses Rick, "Sir, the fold engiens are ready for fold to specified coordinates...shall we procede." Rick glances again at Seif as he finishes a conversation with a team already at the position they are folding to. The team is supposed to make sure there is nothing going to be in the way when they get there.[just a quick little note...when a fold is commenced by the Laviathan 2 survey droids are sent ahead one during fold which gets there just quick enough to scan the area and relay info back to the computers on the ship and a second that procedes just infront of the Laviathan for a last minute measure. If the coordiates end up inside an astroid or something big the computers will adjust the coordinates to a safer place near by and if the Laviathan folds onto something rather small in comparison like...a pop can floating in space well that item will be vaporized by what is known as a 'clean sweep' made by the 2 droids. If a ship is in the way the coordinates will be changed as well...and if somehow something small gets through the 'clean sweeps' it will be vaporized by the engergy that is used in folding which not even the legendary metals can survive...in this case a team was set up ahead of time to ensure nothing goes wrong...I think that is everything]

Seif gives him a thumbs up and he turns back to the young Captain, "Commence fold to way point 2. When we arrive inform the fleet that we are ready and waiting." She snaps a quick salute while saying, "Sir, yes sir! Commence fold to way point 2." From another part of the command deck the order is echoed, "Commencing fold to way point 2." After a short whirling sound of the fold engiens the Laviathan dissapears in a flash of green light. They are flying quickly through what appears to be a green tunnel. Rick turns back to Seif, "I thought these folds were instantanious no matter the distance."

Seif smirks a little, "It is instant we are moving through a rip in space and time to us the most distant fold operation will take about a half hour, in other words moving from one end of the 'known universe' to the opposite side. But outside time is frozen so it appears instant. Don't wory the time we spend in fold doesn't effect the body. We will still be the exact minute, hour, second, day,...ect...when we come out of fold as we were when we went in." The captain looks a little lost because all the folds he had ever done had not been instant. "Captain this is your first time in a 'true fold' all other folds attempt to do the same thing but have their problems such as...using black holes well...black holes, even artificial ones, can be very erratic in destination so you could end up on the other side of the universe from where you were going...using worm holes are the same way and they produce harmful radiation...some times fold is confused with hyper space or sub space...and the folds that all of your old ships used were very consuming of energy and definately not instant plus they were very inaccurate if you didn't know what you were doing to the exact degree. The Universal Council is one of the extreme few who know how to use and build 'perfect fold' technology all others have either died off, left to another distant part of the universe, or have joined the council."

The captain still looks a little lost but Seif decides to save the rest for another day. "Sir, 10 seconds 'till we come out of fold...10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...coming out of fold now." The ship appears in a brilliant flash of green light. They are in the shadow of Mars. Out on the edges of the planet the main fleet can be seen setting up for the battle wich will be held in the astroid belt just beyond Mars. Seif grabs the Captain shoulder and wispers to him, "When you are done here come to the 'War Room' and the stratagy will be told there...bring only those that need to hear it." The captain nods, "I'll be done shortly." With this Seif shuttles the group off to the 'War Room'. The captain gives his last commands before leaving, "Lock us in position and stay in Mar's shadow. The enemy cannot be allowed to see us, yet. Stratigists come with me we are going to learn of the battle plan." Rick is accompanied by 2 young officers with clip boards in hand out of the command deck.

-------------------------

After a few minutes a large group of people are gathered in the 'War Room'. The room is dark and is only being lit by holo screens and 3D maps. It is the cliche war room look with much more advanced technology. Seif steps forward to speak.

"Okay, now that we are all here I will begin.."Seif wave his hand a large 3D real-time map pops up with a picture of Mars on one side and Jupiter on the other with the astroids in the middle[it is a top down perspective if there was such a thing as top down in space] Suddenly green arrows appear on the Mars' side faceing inward and red ones appear the same way only on Jupiter's side. Then a larger green arrow appears behind Mars. "Exactly 20 hours from now at 0700 tommarow it is estimated that they will attack us. (the red arrows move into the astroids and are shown fireing) We let them take the first shot. We don't want to look like the bad guys. Our fleet will return fire and launch half of all their fighters to intercept the enemy fighters. (little red dots come from the red arrows as the green arrows return fire and launch their little green dots) It is thought that they will launch half of their fighters in the begining but we are going on the data that they will do what we do. If our forces get pushed back they will launch the rest of their fighters and if it happens again we will launce our '1st wave fighters' and shortly after our '2nd wave fighters'. (the little green dots are loosing and the green arrows are moving back slightly. Both red and green arrows launch more little dots after a short period the big green arrow launches lots of little green dots in 2 waves) Analists say they have a weapon that we havent seen yet. Problely a giant cannon or ship. We make them think that they have the advantage and they will pull it out to test it out. When we do the Laviathan will open the main cannon and charge it. Once it is done charging they will commence an immediate fold to just behind their new weapon and fire the main cannon...trust me a direct from the cannon will destroy it. Then they will fold to the right flank of the line and fire straight down the line destroying as many of the enemy ships as possible. Then it will patrol down the line helping where needed. That is the basic stratagy...any questions?"

One of the strategists who came with the captain stands up, "Yes, what about the Universal Council. Are they or Aren't they going to help us." Seif smiles, "Great question. The answer is maybe. The thing is we really don't know so instead of devise a stratagy where we would get help some time in the battle and suffering when the help doesn't come we decided it would be wiser to devise a stratagy without that help and incorperate them if they do come. Good question. Any others?"

A slightly older officer stands up, "Why don't we just out right attack them with this ship in the beginning?" Seif thinks of the right words, "Because a basic stratagy of war is that you never show your enemy your full capability at the begining of a fight but rather near the end. We want them to think we have no special weapon so they will show theirs and let their gaurd down and when they do we will show ours gaining the advantage of surprise. And also if you can don't show your capabilities at all. So if they don't have a secret weapon we might and I repeat might not use the Laviathan in battle at all. Any others?" The group is silent. "Well then lets get ready for this battle." The crowd slowly drains from the room muttering about not seeing any action.

-----------------------

19 hours later all of the pilots are gathered in a large hangar for a speach by Seif. The tension in the air, from the impending battle, is so thick you could touch it. Seif is up on a high platform above the crowd. with a microphone in front of him. After a few minutes of talking amungst the crowd they settle down Seif smiles and starts.

"I would like to start off by saying that I am not that great at speachs and since I don't have a personal writer this might not be that great...anyway...I will problely make 3 speaches like this while on this ship once on our first battle(this one), once on our hardest battle, and finally once on the last battle this ship will take part in." Seif takes a deep breath, "I problely should say that we are all gonna kick ass and come back alive...but that would be lying because I really have no idea how this battle will turn out. We may lose but we may also win. Even if we win we all problely wont come back alive. I ask one thing of this battle do your best and no heroics. Heroics in a battle like this will kill you. Don't go into this battle thinking "I'm gonna kill every bad guy I see" because I would bet you will be one of the first killed but to think "I'm gonna die so why try" is even more useless. It is those people who are thinking "I may die but if I do I will not die in vaine because I will do all that I can to help and I'm definately not going to give up." who will most likely make it through this battle. If there is one vote of confidence I can give is that they are way too over confident and have sent some of their worst pilots...but even their worst are pretty good. The last thing I would like to say is that...remember...you aren't just fighting for your life...you are fighting for the future of all humanity...this is much bigger than just you...so one moto I have always lived my life by...Never give up and never surrender...I don't care if Adolf Hitler has an AK-47 to your head. If there is an opening snatch the gun from his hands and put a clip into him...Dismissed!"

An officer takes command of the group.."Attention! Fall out and Dismissed!" the whole hangar spins on their heels and files out of the hangar at the same time.

---------------------

Jon is puttig on his gloves that go with his flight suit and is about to get into the cockpit when Elly runs up. Jon is quite happy to see her. She is in full uniform and was about to head over to her work station.

"Jon wait! One last thing before you leave." She takes off the necklace she is wearing. It is a small gold chain with a heart shaped pendent that Elly opens and shows that there is a picture of Rick, Lisa(her mother), and her as a child. "I have wore this almost every day since the day my mother died. It is very precious to me. I want you to hang on to it so you can't die because you have to get this back to me." Jon takes the necklace and places it in the pocket closes to his heart. "I knew a guy once who used to do something like this. He would wash his own socks and every time he would go on a mission he would get his socks ready to be washed so he couldn't die because he had to come back and wash his socks. Sad thing is one day after a mission...those socks never got washed. He saved his platoon by destracting the enemy enough for them to get away. What was left of his body was buried with his socks. Don't worry Elly you will get your necklace back." He smiles as she gives him a quick hug before running off to her post.

Jon slowly climbs into his cockpit and as he sits down he sees Isamu break from a long kiss with Myung and her giving a big hug to Guld. She then runs after Elly. The others climb into their aircraft. "Good luck guys." Jon says and they reply, "Good luck." The three close the cockpits simotaneaously. After a few minutes the engiens of the 99's start up and they taxi out onto 3 squares in front of the hangar. The airplanes easily fit inside the squares and then the squares decends into the ground and a pair of doors close above them. It is very dark inside of the tunnel and the computer even asks if Jon wants to move to night vision mode. Jon confirms just after the platform comes to a stop in what looks like a giant underground hangar that is not pressurized plus the lights are off so this is a very dangerous place. Jon follows the hand and voice instructions of the man in front of him with a pair of orange batons. After a short taxi the 99 is enclosed in a small tunnel leading straight out. There a closed doors about 100 meters in front of him. Jon puts the break on and powers up the engien to 30% power(a lot for the 99 especially in space). A red light starts flashing indicating that artificial gravity has been released and Jon receives a go ahead from the control tower to launch and instantly hundreds of solid and energy barriers are lifter in front of him with only the one energy barrier that is the second door in from the end that is left closed and will only allow him to leave and nothing to come in throught that opening. Jon releases the break and rockets down the tunnel and out the front of the Laviathan toward Mars.

Jon looks around and sees Isamu and Guld forming up on his wing. Then there is a comunication window that pops up with Elly's face in it and shortly afterward one with Seif. "Jon I am giving you the attack command of the Laviathan's forces but only order it when I tell you for now form a V formation with '1st wave fighter groups' and stop at the position I am sending you now. I will join you in the second wave. When you attack attack hard and fast. Seif out." Seif window dissapears and Jon gives the orders and the thousands of fighter turn into a huge V and Jon stops them sucessfully at the position Seif sent.

After a short wait the battle begins with a communication to all ships from the command ship on the front line, "They have fired on us. All ships hold your fire it is a warning shot wait for a hit. They have fired again. It is a direct hit all ships commence attack!" Then another communication is routed through Elly and to Jon from Seif. "Wait for it...we are pushing them back...they have launched their second wave and so have we...they are pushing back our lines...Ready the men..." Jon transforms into Battleroid mode and whips out both sabers putting them together and forming a twin saber. He raises it to a vertical position telling the other pilots to be ready. After a long and silent pause, "Attack." Jon brings down the engergy saber to a horizontal position pointing toward the battle somewhere behind the red planet...

--------------------

To be continued...