Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever owned the characters of Sailor Moon, Robotech. People I want to say something about Miss Lynn Minmei. I don't like her. I like the Rick/Lisa romance and Minmei just gets in the way. So if you like her don't read this, however, if you want to see a new bitchy side to Minmei please enjoy! At first she'll be nice until the Miss Macross pageant then watch out people Rick will leave her in the dust for Lisa don't worry I slowly bring Rick and Lisa together. Again I want to thank Chibi Halo who wrote 'Sailor Moon Macross' without this story wouldn't have existed. As always please R&R this so I know how it is coming across to people! Chibi Halo I would like to know what you think as well! Chibi Halo there might be a few scenes in my story but I pray you won't mind. One more thing for the beginning of the first few chapters I will use your chapter names, I will come up with my own after the last chapter you named. People who haven't read her story yet please do it is a great read! Please enjoy and now on with the story! This is the only Disclaimer I will write! I just wanted to thank Chibi Halo for being my beta reader!

Authors note: When ever I am talking about Kevin, Nathan, Justin and Zack as a group I will refer to them as the four earth generals as that is what they were suppose to be in the manga before Beryl brainwashed them!

Robotech Warriors Book 1 By thunderbird with Sections From Chibi Halo

Rick and Minmei had survived for two weeks on their own. It had been fourteen days since the botched space fold and what awaited the two teenagers was a whole new world they didn't know existed, inside the belly of the SDF1 stood Macross City. It may have been a bit smaller but it was still the same city Minmei called home.

Minmei couldn't wait to get home. She wanted so desperately to see her aunt and uncle and work in the small Chinese restaurant they owned. Minmei wanted to live a normal life and forget about being in the cargo hold of the SDF1. She only hoped Rick wouldn't tell anyone her dream about being a bride.

Rick on the other hand just wanted to return to Earth and leave the SDF1 behind. He wanted to forget about what happened two weeks prior. Rick didn't want to face Roy or any of his military coworkers. They would have a field day making fun of him for not being able to handle the Veritech.

******

Part 4: Changes

******

Minmei couldn't hold her excitement any longer when she saw her aunt and uncle standing outside the restaurant. Running towards them she leapt into her uncle's arms. Minmei's aunt and uncle couldn't believe their eyes when they saw Minmei. They had thought she was lost forever out in space.

"Minmei we thought we'd never see you again." Her aunt said hugging her.

"How did you ever survive the alien attack?" her uncle asked her.

"Rick saved me. If it wasn't for him I would have never have survived the past two weeks." Minmei told her aunt and uncle.

Minmei's aunt and uncle turned to face the young daredevil pilot. Their niece's savior stood before them watching the scene in front of him. Minmei's uncle came to thank the young pilot for saving Minmei's life and returning her to them.

"You must be Rick. I want to thank you for returning Minmei to us." He said.

"It was nothing sir. I only did what was needed at the time." Rick replied.

Minmei decided to make some formal introductions.

"Rick I'd like you to meet my aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Lynn. Auntie Kim, Uncle Chan this is Rick Hunter." Minmei said.

"Young man if there is anything we can do to repay you for what you have done just name it." Mrs. Lynn offered.

"Well I could use a place to stay ma'am." Rick told them.

"We have a spare room in our apartment over the restaurant we could rent you." Mr. Lynn offered.

"Thank you very much." Rick said.

Minmei noticed the line of people and wondered what was going on. She also saw the stacks of chairs piled high in the restaurant and didn't know why her aunt and uncle hadn't opened yet.

"Uncle Chan why is there a line outside the restaurant?" she asked her uncle.

"Well Minmei we're passing out rations to the people of the city." He explained.

"Wouldn't it be better if we opened the restaurant. I'm sure people would want to eat a home cooked meal than some old rations. If all of the businesses were to reopen then this city would be able to get back to normal." Minmei suggested.

"You know it just might work." Mr. Lynn commented.

Lynn Chan and Rick Hunter quickly set to work setting up the tables inside the restaurant. Rick found himself being drafted into the culinary army in the table division. In less than fifteen minutes the tables were set with every member of the Lynn's Chinese Restaurant staff pitching in. Minmei who had run upstairs to the apartment returned dressed in a red Chinese dress with her hair done up in a pair of buns with braided pigtails. Stepping outside the young woman began promoting the restaurant.

"Lynn's Chinese is now open for business." Minmei said to a group of passing soldiers.

"Hey the Chinese place is open." One soldier said.

"I could go for some Chinese." Another one said.

In no time the small family run Chinese restaurant had its first set of customers. Rick could see Minmei was much happier serving the soldiers than she was being with him. Once again she was a giggling groupie falling for a man in a uniform. Rick felt left out and went to his new room.

******

"No way you've got to be kidding Bennett." Serena said to one of the other pilots.

"It's true the local Chinese place is open again. Fifteen minutes after the owners' niece returned home after being lost in the unused part the ship for two weeks they reopened." Corporal Bennett replied.

"Did she show up with some unknown guy?" Serena wanted to know.

"Yeah they say he's a pilot in an air circus." He told her.

"No way. The lieutenant commander is gonna flip when he hears about this."

"Why should he care about some girl in a restaurant?"

"It's not the girl, although he is worried about her, it's the pilot she was seen with that he was flipping out about."

Serena waved goodbye to Corporal Bennett and went to find Lt. Commander Fokker. She knew the minute he heard his friend Rick had been found he would flip. Serena found Roy sitting in the pilot's ready room reading over the latest reports he had written.

"Excuse me sir but I need to talk to you about something." Serena said to him.

"Oh hey there Corporal Tuskino." Roy replied when he saw who it was.

"Sir popular rumor floating around the ship is two construction workers found two teenagers underneath the city. That and the local Chinese place has reopened. They say it was the idea of the owners' niece to reopen the place. She showed up after being missing for two weeks and she was accompanied by an air circus pilot. I think we both know who that might be."

"They found Rick?"

"Why don't you go to the Chinese place and find out for yourself sir. You'll feel much better once you do. After all he is your friend."

******

Word had spread around the SDF1 that the Chinese restaurant in Macross City had reopened for business. This caused two events to take place on board the battlecruiser. First it helped to lift the spirits of the soldiers and second it caused all the other businesses in town to reopen as well. The words of one young woman became a rallying cry for Macross City's business district.

In the days that followed the restaurant became a popular spot for the members of the RDF. Minmei and her family were busier than ever and they loved every minute of it. It was hard work for the members of the Lynn family and their staff but it was the reason they had gone into the restaurant business in the first place. And Minmei was quickly becoming the favorite waitress of all the soldiers.

Three days after Rick and Minmei were rescued from the unused cargo space Lynn's Chinese received a visit from a certain Lt. Commander Roy Fokker. Roy had come to the restaurant partially out of curiosity and partially because he wished to visit with Rick Hunter daredevil pilot and now hero to the Lynn family. As Roy entered the restaurant Minmei greeted him.

"Welcome to Lynn's Chinese. My name is Minmei. How can I help you?" she said to Roy.

"Actually I'm looking for Rick Hunter. You wouldn't happen to know where he is do you?" Roy asked the young woman.

"Rick oh he's up in the spare bedroom. You must be Roy. Rick told me a lot about you."

"I hope it was all good."

"He looks up to you a lot. Why don't I show you to the room."

Minmei led Roy up a flight of stairs and down a short hall to the room Rick was renting from her family. Roy could see Rick sitting on the bed moping about. He could tell that without his plane Rick was a lost puppy. Rick looked as though his whole world was crashing down on him.

"Hey there stranger long time no see." Roy said as he knocked on the doorframe.

"Roy what are you doing here?" Rick wanted to know.

"I heard you were back in town so I wanted to see if the rumors were true."

"Well Roy you got what you wanted. I'm not going home anytime soon."

"All I wanted was for you and the girl to be safe and out of harm."

"Well not only am I safe but now I can't fly. My plane is a wreck Roy."

"Have you thought about what you might do while you're living in this tub?"

"No because without my plane I'm useless Roy."

"Why not give the military a try Rick. We're always looking for new pilots."

"Roy you know how I feel about the military."

"Rick I saw you in the Veritech back on Earth. You were made for it."

"But I almost got myself killed out there."

"With the right training you could be a pretty good Veritech pilot."

"Yeah and I could end up being the laughing stock of the entire RDF."

"Just think about it Rick. It sure beats moping around a room all day."

******

Breetai was in a foul mood. For over two weeks the Zentreadi commander led the search to find the SDF1. The battlecruiser was no were to be found on the long-range scanners. Breetai didn't take to failure very well and right now the mission to destroy the SDF1 was failing miserably.

As Breetai watched day after day go by with no real results his first mate and right hand man Exedore tried to keep his hopes up. As the pair watched the monitors each day they began to wonder where the SDF1 might have gotten off too. The Zentreadi fleet was almost to Uranus when they picked something up on the sub space scanners.

"Lord Breetai the sub space scanners have detected the ship belonging to the Micronians." One of the Zentreadi soldiers told him.

"Good we will wait here until the Micronians are within striking range and send out a full scale attack on them." Breetai announced.

The Zentreadi had begun referring to the humans as Micronians because of their small size. Whereas the average Zentreadi male was thirty-five feet in height the average human male was only five foot ten inches in height. There was indeed a sizable difference between the two races. But if one were to look past the massive height difference between the two races they would not be able to see any physical differences other than skin and hair color. The Zentreadi looked exactly like any other normal human.

"Lord Breetai our science officers have completed their analysis of the Micronian solar system." Exedore informed him.

"What have they found out?" Breetai wanted to know.

"The third planet in this system is the only planet capable of sustaining life. All the other planets in this system are void of any life. Each planet has unique characteristics that can be used to our advantage. For example the sixth planet in this system has a series of rings made up of large ice particles. We could hide within those rings and take the Micronian fleet by surprise." Exedore explained.

"Very interesting we shall have to keep our sub space scanners open so we can find any Micronian activity headed in our direction." Breetai commented.

The Zentreadi were very eager to engage the Micronians in battle once again. They knew now it was only just a matter of time before the Micronians arrived at their location. Very soon the battle between the Zentreadi and the Humans would resume once again.

******

The words Roy had spoken to Rick were floating around in his mind. Each day since Roy came and visited Rick at his rented room Rick would replay the last few words Roy said to him in his mind. Roy had been right. Rick did enjoy flying the Veritech fighter and joining the military would be better than sitting around doing nothing all day. Roy had also said Rick was made for the Veritech. Even the words Minmei had spoken to him down in the cargo hold were beginning to play out in his mind. Over and over again Rick could hear her say how cute he would look in a military uniform.

Rick didn't know if it was his constant boredom, the way Minmei admired the soldiers that came into the restaurant, or the encouraging words spoken by Roy that was the deciding factor in his decision to join the RDF. But four weeks after the space fold Rick Hunter put his own personal feelings aside and joined the military. Rick was determined to become a Veritech Fighter pilot.

Meanwhile in another part of town the four Earth generals were discussing what they would do for the time they were on board the ship. Nathan knew he wanted to be a cook, however, he also wanted to be near Lita ever chance he got. Zack wanted to be a doctor but he wanted to work near Amy. Justin for once knew what he was going to do. He figured that if he couldn't be on the bridge with Rei then he'd protect the whole damn ship if he had to just keep her safe. Kevin had the same way of thinking as Justin. So with a determined mind set on what they wanted to do the four Earth generals went to go join the RDF military force. Justin, Kevin and Nathan were going to join to be pilots and Zack was going to be a doctor.

The first day of training was brutal in Rick's mind. As he struggled to keep up with the rest of his training group Rick wasn't quite certain he would survive the four-week intensive training session. The captain had implemented the training procedures used during the UN wars. The faster the new recruits learned the ropes of the Veritechs the better in his mind. For Rick Hunter the training session was murder.

The training for the four generals was just as grueling, however, being former military men themselves they were able to take the punishment. Three of the generals were feeling right at home with the war time training. Zack, however, because he wasn't a doctor in his past life was finding it alittle hard to get through the course. He was lucky that Amy was there to help study for any test he might have had and he just enjoyed the time he had with her.

******

When the training session was over the new recruits were given a weekend pass before they would begin their active duty. It would be here that they would receive a crash course in how to fly the Veritech fighter or any other section of the military they entered. Rick was looking forward to this part of his training. He knew deep in his heart that he would blow the competition away. Rick was determined to be the best pilot ever in the history of the RDF. Rick was determined to be another Roy Fokker.

Kevin used his pass to spend the weekend with Mina. He was going to get Lita and Nathan to make a picnic lunch for Mina and him. Right now he decided he'd go for a walk and get all the kinks out of his muscles from the weeks long training.

Nathan had the same idea Kevin did. Only they were just going for a walk. When Lita stepped out of her room she had a beauty that Nathan would always adore. Lita was wearing a green sundress with her hair up in its usual green bow. Lita herself liked what Nathan himself was wearing. He himself was wearing a pair of dark green pants and a green shirt that said 'My Thunder Heart!' after initial shock wore off Nathan took Lita by her arm and they proceeded to walk to the City Park.

Justin decided just to have a nice quiet dinner with the love of his life Rei Hino. This night would be special because he wanted her to marry him and he was finally going to ask after dinner.

Zack was going to just do what Amy always does when she wasn't in class. He would use this time to study for anything and everything although he'd do it with Amy later on tonight as well as spend time with her.

Rick had an entire weekend to himself but instead of spending it resting up for the next phase of his training he decided to spend it with Minmei. There was something about the young waitress that he liked and he didn't know when he would see her or her family again. Rick was beginning to grow fond of the Lynns and he could see why they liked him so much. To them Rick was one of the nicest people they had ever met and he could do no wrong.

"Rick what brings you here?" Minmei asked him as he entered the restaurant.

"Well I have some time off before I begin my flight training and I though we could spend it together." He told her.

"Oh I see. I was planning on going shopping today. You wouldn't mind tagging along with me would you because if you don't I understand."

"I wouldn't mind going with you while you shopped."

"Great! Just let me get my purse and then we can go."

Rick was beginning to wish he had declined Minmei's offer. A few hours of following the teenage girl around was more tiring than an entire week of basic training. Rick didn't know where Minmei got her stamina when it came to shopping. Minmei insisted the two teens go into one more store before lunch. Rick looked up in horror when he realized which store she wanted to go into. Minmei was pulling him into the lingerie shop.

"Oh come on Rick. One more store and then we can have lunch." She told him.

"But does it have to be this store." Rick protested.

"I need some new things and this is the only store that has them."

"Oh alright." Rick said in defeat.

Inside the store Rick sat as Minmei tried on all sorts of robes, pajamas, camisoles, and bras. Minmei kept handing Rick the things she knew for certain that she would purchase. Rick just sat there hoping beyond hope that no one would recognize him.

While Minmei was trying the latest batch of satin pajamas and robes four women entered the store. Three of them were in a small group talking and chatting away and the other was by herself. The lone woman looked through the rack of pajamas while the other three were over at a table of more provocative things.

"Oh come on Michelle sometimes you have to live a little. Amara will love you in this." One of the girls said.

"I don't know Mina. I wouldn't feel right in this." Michelle replied.

"Michelle you only live once so go for it." The last girl told her.

"Oh alright you've convinced me Rei. I'll at least try it on." Michelle said.

The lone woman and one of the girls headed in the general direction Minmei was in. Both of them looked as though they were going to try something on. Rick was getting tired of waiting for Minmei and decided, lingerie and all, to see if she was finished.

"Minmei are you done in there yet?" Rick asked her.

"Just a minute Rick. Let me get back into my things and pay for what you have there and then we can go have lunch together." Minmei told him.

Rei and Mina saw Rick standing in front of the dressing rooms holding women's pajamas, a robe, and some bras. They couldn't help but laugh at him. The girls thought Rick was some poor pathetic boyfriend talked into a day of shopping by his girlfriend.

"Gee he reminds me of C H A D if you catch my drift." Mina said between giggles.

"I did not treat Chad that way Mina." Rei replied, "And anyway why the heck would I care who he looks like I'm with Justin now remember?"

"What's so funny?" Michelle asked the girls as she came out of the dressing room.

"That guy over there." Mina said as she pointed to Rick.

"Yeah Mina says he looks like my ex-boyfriend!" Rei said with a smile.

Rick could see the girls laughing and pointing at him out of the corner of his eye. The moment Minmei stepped out of the dressing room a very red faced Rick handed her purchases to her and headed out the door of the shop.

"I'll see you outside." Rick told her.

"I wonder what that was all about?" Minmei wanted to know.

******

Serena and Darien were also enjoying the quite Saturday. The couple had decided to have a nice quite lunch together so they could talk things over. Sitting in Serena's room the two began to discuss their future together. They both knew the time for sneaking around was over. The dinner with Claudia and Roy had shown them that people on the SDF1 didn't care about age differences, gender, or even skin color. If they could accept Roy and Claudia then they would be able to accept Serena and Darien.

"Serena I think the time has come to make our relationship official." Darien said.

"I'd like to do that but what are people going to say." She replied.

"They're going to say there goes another perfect couple. Some of them might even say it's about time we announced it."

"Yeah I have a pretty good feeling who would say the second comment."

"The girls will have a field day when we go public."

"Oh yeah I can just picture the look on Mina's face."

"Yeah the guys will have a laugh at what Mina does too!"

"So then it's agreed we go public with the hopes of one day getting married."

"Agreed we go public with intent to one day marry. No more secrets about that,"

******

Rick sat on a bench outside the lingerie shop waiting for Minmei. A few minutes after he left the shop the three giggling pointing girls came out of the store and began laughing at him once more. Rick's face was as red as a beet once more.

"It's mister lingerie." Mina said through giggles.

"Do you always like holding women's lingerie?" Rei questioned him trying hard not to laugh.

"She must be quite special if you'll hold her frillies." Michelle added getting into the spirit.

As the giggles continued a woman with shoulder length brown hair walked their way. She was wearing a white uniform and looked quite serious. One glance towards the girls from her and the giggles stopped immediately.

"Good afternoon ladies. I trust you aren't spending your entire day with such frivolities. You do have duties to perform so you'd best return to your posts." She told them.

Rei, Mina, and Michelle quickly snapped to attention and saluted the woman who was clearly their superior. They stood at attention for quite some time until the commanding officer began to leave.

"Commander Hayes needs to lighten up." Mina said.

"Tell me about it." Rei replied.

"She just needs to fall in love." Michelle added.

Commander Hayes may have been leaving the scene but she was still within earshot and heard every single word the girls had said. In the back of her mind Lisa Hayes felt like the loneliest woman in the entire galaxy. Nothing could make her feel better.

******

Rei, Mina, and Michelle returned to the bridge feeling quite bad about what they had said in front of Commander Hayes. The girls sat at their stations in silence not saying a word to anyone. Claudia saw the way the girls were moping about and knew something had to be wrong. She also knew something had to be done to make them feel better.

"Something wrong girls?" Claudia asked them.

"I feel lower than dirt. We said some nasty things about the commander when we ran into her on our lunch break." Mina explained.

"Oh I see. Well Commander Hayes is a big girl and can handle anything." Claudia replied.

"Yeah we know that but we still feel bad about what we said about her." Rei told her.

The current topic of conversation was forgotten when a transmission from engineering came into the bridge. Mina quickly patched the chief engineer to the captain's console.

"Sir I have an incoming transmission from engineering." Mina told the captain.

"Go ahead Chief." The captain said.

"Sir we've been working with the engine room to do something with the extra power from the space fold engines. We've found a way to boost the ship's protective shield. Although we can't use it all over the ship we've come up with a pinpoint shield system that should be able to move to any point on the SDF1 during a battle." The chief reported.

"Good. Will we be able to control it on the bridge?" the captain wanted to know.

"As a matter of fact we've been working on a way to link the shield with one of the consoles on the bridge. All we need to do is uplink the shield system with the operations console and you'll have total control over the pinpoint shield." He explained.

"When can that be done?" the captain asked.

"We can do that right now if you want." The chief said.

"Good. Claudia link into the engineering systems and upload the control system for the new pinpoint shields." Captain Gloval said.

"Aye sir." Claudia replied.

While Claudia was busy getting her control console implemented with the new controls for the pinpoint shield system Rei had another one of her premonitions. This time Rei saw an entire ambush waiting for the crew of the SDF1.

"Guys I see danger ahead." Rei began, "Captain there are at least fifty ships heading our way."

The captain couldn't believe what he was hearing. Waiting for the SDF1 was an entire fleet of Zentreadi war ships. Captain Gloval knew Rei was pretty dead on when it came to her premonitions. He had seen the way she had gotten just before the main guns fired. And he saw how she knew the alien attack was about to take place before the radar had picked it up. This time she was right once more.

"Claudia scramble the fighters and get the remaining personnel back to their posts. Also prepare for transformation. We're going to give the enemy quite a surprise." Captain Gloval ordered.

"Aye sir. Do you want me to order the civilians into the shelters?" Claudia replied.

"There's no time." The captain told her.

"All personnel report to your stations. Repeat all personnel report to your stations. Captain Gloval we are now ready to begin the transformation procedures."

"Good."

******

The Skull Squadron had heard the call to battle and made their way to the Prometheus to launch the Veritechs. Lita and Amara were looking forward to going back into battle while Serena just wanted to have another peaceful week on the SDF1. But there was no time for peace now. The aliens were ambushing the battlecruiser and the crew of the SDF1 was going to fight back.

"Alright boys and girls looks like we have another date with the enemy." Roy told them.

"I hope they don't kiss like my sister." Bennett joked.

"If your sister is a good kisser then I'd like a crack at her." Amara joked back.

"Hey no fair." Bennett yelled.

"Amara I don't think Michelle would like to hear what you're saying!" Serena said.

"Yeah Amara you already have a girl so why don't you save some for us." Harris said.

"Okay troops that's enough. Now let's get out there kick those aliens into next Tuesday." Roy told the squad.

******

The entire city of Macross was in a blind panic when they heard the sirens begin to blare. In a matter of moments after the sirens began sounding the streets of Macross began to shake and literally come apart at the seams. Commander Hayes, who was on her lunch break, was caught in the middle of all the commotion. As she tried desperately to return to the bridge of the SDF1 she was knocked over by a young man with dark hair. Lisa was none too pleased with him at the moment.

"Watch were you're going buddy." Lisa yelled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to run into you. It's just this darn street is breaking apart making it difficult to walk." Rick tried to explain.

Lisa didn't have time to listen to Rick's explanations at the moment. She was desperate to get back to the bridge and nothing was going to stop her not even a broken street.

******

The SDF1 had completely transformed from a huge battlecruiser into a gigantic battleoid. The two carriers had been added to the ship in such a way that when transformed they made the perfect pair of arms. As the enemy engaged the now transformed SDF1 they were met head on by the new pinpoint shield system. The three disks of light deflected ninety-five percent of the shots fired on the SDF1.

******

The Captain was pleased that the new shield system was working well. Even though the SDF1 was getting hit the damage was minor and could be repaired in no time. The Veritech squads were doing a pretty good job of laying to waste some of the battlepods that were being launched against the SDF1. But the captain didn't want to drag the battle out any longer than necessary. He knew it was risky but the main guns would put an end to this battle.

"Claudia prepare to fire the main guns." The captain ordered.

"But sir you do remember what happened the last time don't you?" Claudia wanted to know.

"Yes I am well aware of the risks but this has to be done."

"Aye sir I was just checking. I'll prepare the main guns immediately."

******

The Skull Squad was doing a bang up job against the aliens. Each member of the squad had taken out at least three battlepods. They were about to execute another run and gun when Lt. Commander Fokker came over the radio.

"I hate to spoil your fun guys but a pretty little lady back on the bridge says it's time to pack it up. The SDF1 is gonna try and use her big boy guns on these aliens." Roy told his squad.

"Aw man and just when I was about to waste another pod." Lita complained.

"You heard the man Lita. We better move it or else we're gonna be a bunch of fried Scouts." Serena said to her best friend.

When the Skull Squad and the rest of the squads in the RDF were safely on board the SDF1 the massive battleoid aimed its huge cannons at the oncoming battlepods. With the target in sight the SDF1 let loose every single ounce of firepower it had vaporizing the remaining pods. The rest of the alien fleet retreated to a safe distance.

On board the bridge of the SDF1 Lt. Claudia Grant sounded the all clear signaling the end of the latest battle. Claudia had done pretty well covering Lisa's duties as well as performing her own. Claudia hoped Lisa was safe in one of the shelters in town.

******

The day was a complete and total wash. Once again the citizens of Macross City had to rebuild the city. When the day shifts on the SDF1 had ended seven very happy individuals made their way towards one of the crew's quarters. They didn't know why they were being asked to the room but ten minutes after the latest battle with the aliens had ended they received a call from one of their friends on their communicators.

When they got to the room the individuals were surprised to see one of their friends heading towards the room. The girls hadn't seen this particular friend in almost six weeks while one of the guys had.

"Amy I thought you'd be burning the midnight oil in the infirmary." The blonde asked her.

"Well Mina when I got Serena's call I knew it would be very important so I came." Amy replied.

"Yeah besides the longer she 'burns the midnight oil' as you put it the longer I get to spend with her!" Zack told Mina.

"I wonder why Serena called this meeting?" the dark haired woman wondered.

"Beats me Rei." Mina said.

"Yeah really what would she want now?" Kevin asked.

"Should we find out?" Justin asked.

"Well whatever the reason we should show our support." The aqua haired woman told them.

"You're right Michelle." Rei said as she knocked on the door.

Serena opened the door to greet her friends and let them into her room. Sitting in the room already at the meeting were Darien, Nathan, Lita, Amara, and Hotaru. The two cats Luna and Artemis were sitting in Hotaru's lap getting scratches behind the ear. Amy, Zack, Rei, Justin, Mina, Kevin, and Michelle knew it must be very important if everyone had shown up.

"So Serena what's up?" Mina asked her.

"Yeah Serena why the air of mystery?" Lita wanted to know.

"Well, it looks like everyone is here so now you can tell us why you wanted to see us." Luna said.

"Yes your highness do tell!" Kevin asked looking towards Darien.

"Yeah what is all this hush, hush stuff for?" Justin asked.

"Oh no don't tell us your breaking up?" Zack asked.

"It's not that is it?" Nathan asked hoping against hope that it wasn't.

"No we're not breaking up!" Serena and Darien said in unison.

"Okay are you ready Darien?" Serena asked him with a smile.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Darien said with his own grin.

"We have some good news." Serena announced.

"We're making it official everyone." Darien told them.

"What does that mean?" Hotaru wondered.

"It means no more sneaking around." Darien said.

"And it means no more lying to anyone." Serena added.

"Well it's about time you two made it official." Mina said.

"Really Darien it really is about time!" Kevin said.

"See I told you Mina would say that." Serena said to Darien.

"What do you mean by I would say that?" Mina asked.

"Darien and I were discussing what you guys would say when we told you guys and you said just that!" Serena told her.

The guys laughed at the comical faces that Serena and Mina were making.

"Come on my love goddess she was only making an observation!" Kevin tried to sway the scout if Venus.

"Serena he is right she's not angry at you!" Darien said.

The others just sweat dropped.

******

Once again Rick and the three Earth generals were back in training. The flight portion wasn't as tough as basic training but it was just as intense. The RDF was going to cram four months worth of flight time into just two weeks of training. Every time Rick began to doubt his decision he would think of Minmei and the way she fawned over the soldiers that came into the restaurant. Rick was determined to see this through.

"Welcome to the RDF intensive flight program." The instructor began, "Over the next two weeks you will learn how to fly the Veritech fighter. By the time you finish this program you will know the Veritech like you know the back of your own hand."

The days passed by slowly for the new recruits. To cram an entire flight program into two weeks the RDF worked the would be pilots fourteen hours a day. By the time the day was over Rick would be too exhausted to complain about the beating his body was taking. And by the time the day was over Rick wished the RDF wasn't in the middle of a war so the instructors could take it easy on them.

Much to Rick's surprise and the surprise of everyone else in Rick's flight class Rick was pretty good at piloting the Veritech. Rick had learned from the mistakes he had made during the fateful day the SDF1 was first attacked by the Zentreadi. For Rick the chance to actually fly again made him feel ten times better than he had been feeling when he moped about the Lynns' spare bedroom. The feel of the controls between his fingers made Rick feel alive once more. Roy was right Rick was made for the Veritech and the Veritech purred like a cat when Rick flew it.

Everyone agreed when the time came to assign the new pilots to their squads that newly commissioned Corporal Rick Hunter should be a member of the Skull Squadron. It was obvious that Rick and Roy knew each other and Roy would be able to keep Rick out of any serious trouble. Rick Hunter was now that which he used to despise he was a member of the military.

Meanwhile the Four Earth generals were also pleased that they too had passed the intense training. Zack was now where Amy first started when she first became a military doctor, however, he didn't care because she was his superior officer, which he liked a lot. Kevin, Nathan and Justin like Rick Hunter also became members of the Skull Squadron. All four Earth generals were very happy men know that they could help protect the solar system.

******

Two weeks had come and gone since the last attack on the SDF1 by the Zentreadi. The members of the Skull Squadron were gathered in the ready room to greet their newest members. There were a lot of rumors and speculation floating around about their new squad members. Serena knew all the juicy details about one of the new recruits and much to her surprise and disliking she was becoming as bad as Melvin was.

"So guys did you hear about the new guys? They say one of them used to be a pilot in an air circus." Bennett told everyone.

"Well I heard he's the same guy who messed up the flight show at the launching of the SDF1." Anderson added.

"That's nothing. I know for a fact he and the lieutenant commander go way back." Amara said.

"Well if my sources are correct then he was the guy seen in the lingerie store holding women's frilly things. His new nickname is Mr. Lingerie." Serena told them.

"Serena knowing your sources they probably gave him that name." Lita reminded her.

"Not my Michelle. She wouldn't do something like that." Amara replied.

"No but her fellow bridge Scouts would." Darien told her.

"So who are the other new guys anyway?" Lita asked.

"I'm not sure on that one!" Serena told them.

"All I know is their suppose to be good! They are suppose to have passed training as high as that Rick guy!" Darien told them.

The moment the words left Darien's mouth the door to the ready room opened to reveal Lt. Commander Roy Fokker with Corporal's Kevin Fukada, Justin Tanaka, Nathan Sanada, and Rick Hunter. Roy had a big smile on his face because for the first time he was going to be working side by side with his little buddy.

"Boys and girls I'd like you to meet our newest members Corporal's Kevin Fukada, Justin Tanaka, Nathan Sanada, and Rick Hunter. I don't know much about three of them; however, Rick and I go way back. I knew this flyboy back in my barnstorming days. I do think all four of them are pretty darn good pilots and will make great additions to our squad so I want you guys to treat them like you would any other member of our squad." Roy said.

"I was right about him." Bennett whispered to the others.

"Looks like Amara was right too." Serena whispered back.

"I can't believe Nathan and the others are on our squad!" Lita told them.

"Well at least we can protect the solar system like we use to!" Darien whispered to Lita.

Serena's empathic side kicked in and she could tell Rick was feeling a bit uneasy about meeting a new group of people. Putting on her famous smile Serena went to introduce herself to her new crewmates.

"Hey guys good to see you made it to the team! Hi there your Rick right? I'm Serena Tuskino. Welcome to the squad guys." Serena said holding out her hand in greeting.

"Boys you're gonna love it here. Tuskino here will see to that I'm sure of it. After a while she sort of grows on you." Roy told his protégé along with the other three men.

"I am sure she does sir!" Kevin said smiling.

"Yeah being that she already has!" Justin smirked.

"Justin cut that out already!" Nathan said slapping the back of his head.

"I take it you three know Serena and her friends then?" Roy asked.

"Know them I'm dating that one!" Nathan said pointing towards Lita, which caused the amazon to blush.

"Oh my god get a camera Nathan made Lita blush!" Justin cracked.

"Um Justin would you like to keep your teeth?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah!" Justin said a little dumbfounded.

"Than shut the heck up before that Amazon whips you butt good!" Kevin said smiling.

"Boy you guys must be like family you act like brothers and sisters!" Roy said.

The group of people broke down in laughter at that remark.

TBC

Please R&R! Chapter 5 will be coming soon!