Disclaimer: I do not now or 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!
Here comes Trista ready or not! Oh and Minmei lovers this is the beginning of the end of her old goody two-shoe days! But if you like Rick/Lisa relationships stick with it we're going to be headed there!
Robotech Warriors Book 1 By thunderbird with Sections From Chibi Halo
Lisa was back in her familiar place on the bridge. After the ordeal with the Zentreadi it felt good to be back at work once again. The controls on her console felt like silk beneath Lisa's fingers as she logged on for the day. Lisa had arrived at the bridge before any of the other members of the bridge crew to catch up on what she had missed during her absence. The logs from the past month and a half would be tedious to go over but it had to be done if she was to resume her duties as though nothing had happened. In the time she, Serena, Darien, and the three members of the Vermilion squad were gone there had been two attacks on the SDF1 one a few days after they were captured on the Zentreadi ship and the other on the exact day they had left the other Zentreadi ship.
As Lisa was going over the records of the first battle the other members of the bridge crew came in for their shift. As usual Claudia Grant was smiling and had a cheerful look upon her face. Sometime within the past twenty-four hours she and Lt. Commander Roy Fokker had spent some time together. Some people relied on coffee Claudia relied on kisses from Roy. Usually Michelle Kaiou was all business ready to take on the tasks ahead of her. But on this particular day Michelle's mind was someplace else and it showed. The last to come in was Mina and Rei. Mina was holding a fairly good sized cup of coffee, which told anyone who saw her that the young corporal had gotten little sleep and was woken too early for her tastes. And judging by the look on Rei's face she was the one who had to wake her, Rei was not a happy camper on this particular morning.
"So Claudia I take it you and Roy saw each other last night?" Lisa asked her friend without looking up from her console.
It was a given fact that Claudia and Roy would spend some time together each day. Doing what was always the big question the next day.
"We went into town last night and spent some time in the park. But exactly what we did is for me to know and you to find out." Claudia said with a playful grin on her face.
Mina couldn't help but laugh at the playful banter between two very close friends. It was obvious Lisa didn't mind it when Claudia played with her head but took it quite personally when anyone else tried to do the same thing. Looking to her right with sleep filled eyes Mina noticed an overly quiet Michelle.
"Why so quiet Michelle?" Mina asked her friend.
"Amara and I had a long discussion last night about Hotaru's education. Since we haven't been on Earth in over a year we feel she needs to rejoin a normal educational environment. At least that's what we decided upon after much discussion. I'm just worried how the others will treat her." Michelle said.
Mina understood Michelle's concern for her foster daughter. For a good portion of her young life Hotaru had been teased by the other kids in her class. When Amara and Michelle took Hotaru in when she mysteriously aged back to her true age during the Chaos incident they had decided on getting her a private tutor. They had kept up with their decision to have a tutor for Hotaru after they had moved to Macross City. Now after a year on the SDF1 Amara felt it was time for Hotaru to rejoin a traditional class.
The quiet friendly chitchat among the bridge crew was brought to an end when Captain Henry Gloval walked in to take his post on the bridge. Like Mina the captain had a steaming cup of coffee in his left hand. In his right hand the captain had a clipboard with the day's duties clipped to it. Now that Lisa and the others were back and sufficient time had been given for the higher ups at RDF command to calm down Henry Gloval thought it was high time the SDF1 return home.
"Good morning ladies." The captain began, "After the safe return of our missing crew members and careful consideration I have decided it is time for the SDF1 to return home. Lisa, Claudia lay in a course for Earth and home."
******
Part 12A: Homecoming Part 1: Gloval's Report
******
There was one unwritten rule on board the SDF1 anything was fair game for the rumor mill. And as one of the proprietors of the most successful rumor mill on the SDF1 Corporal Mina Aino had the juiciest piece of gossip to ever come to the SDF1. Mina was determined to get this bit of news spread throughout the SDF1 before it became official. And lunchtime was the best place to start. All she had to do was give the news to the biggest mouth in the RDF Lt. Serena Tuskino.
Mina walked into the mess hall tray in hand looking for Serena, Lita, and Darien she knew the trio would be having lunch together and wouldn't mind the extra company. Spotting her three best friends Mina walked over to their table and sat down with them. Serena was stuffing her face as usual while playing footsie with Darien and looking over her schedule for the upcoming week. Lita was looking over each portion of food before putting it in her mouth. The look on her face as she chewed each bite told Mina the culinary devotee was less than thrilled with the day's choice for lunch. Darien on the other hand just sat and ate his lunch never letting anyone know about the foot game taking place under the table.
"I could have done better than this slop." Lita said before eating her next bite.
"Well you must seem to like it enough to be eating it." Serena observed without taking her eyes off her papers.
Mina knew Lita would find some type of come back for Serena's remark and decided now was as good a time as any to tell her information.
"Okay guys you didn't hear this from me but the captain has ordered Lisa and Claudia to set a course for home. He doesn't care what the RDF big wigs will do to him he wants to get us home." She told everyone at the table.
The news Mina had just given to her friends was beginning to sink in. Lita slowly put down her fork and stopped eating and complaining. Darien ended his half of the heated under the table foot game and just looked at Mina in disbelief. Serena looked up from her schedule, swallowed her food, took her foot away from Darien's leg, and blinked all at the same time. In the back of her mind Mina began her countdown. Three, two, one she thought.
"We're going home? We're going home. We're going home!" Serena yelled.
Bingo my partner now has the news and will now make certain everyone on board knows it before dinner, Mina thought.
"You pulling our leg Mina?" Lita asked her.
"Now would I do that?" Mina replied with a sly grin.
"No I'm not going to dignify that with a response." Lita said.
Darien knew as well as anyone else on board the SDF1 that Mina had a tendency to stretch the truth when it came to gossip. He knew the more reliable sources within the Scouts were either Rei or Michelle. He would simply ask one of them if what Mina had told them was true.
"You know Lita you could always ask Rei if what Mina says is true." Darien said.
Mina shot her prince and future king a look that told him he had made a big mistake by opening his mouth to talk. Darien got nervous and began scratching the back of his head.
"Look Mina it's not that we don't believe you it's just that you tend to stretch the truth a bit." He tried to explain to her.
Mina wasn't about to pick a fight with Darien she had done what she had set out to do. Now it was Serena's job to spread the good news like wildfire.
"Wait till the others hear about this at the meeting this afternoon." Serena said with a big grin.
******
Home they were going home. For over two weeks the SDF1 had sat four days away from the planet Earth and now it was slowly making its way back home. The citizens of Macross City didn't care where the SDF1 landed all they cared about was going back to the Earth. The news of their return that had been floating around the ship was confirmed in an official written statement made by Captain Gloval to the MBS. Once the rumor started by Mina was confirmed everyone on board the SDF1 couldn't wait to return home to the Earth.
For three days the SDF1 had been traveling through space. The large battle fortress had passed the moon with no incident and was now a day away from the Earth. On the bridge of the SDF1 the crew marveled at the sight before them on the screen. The perfect blue and green sphere floated among the stars like a beacon calling a lost traveler home from a long journey.
"This is the Lunar Squad reporting in one final time. Everything is peaceful out here commander. In fact, what I see before me is a sight for sore eyes." Serena reported to Lisa over the comm. link.
"I know lieutenant it almost seems like it isn't real." Lisa said, "Make one final pass then bring your squad in."
"Aye sir." Serena replied.
Looking out at the Earth Lisa began thinking about what had taken place over the past two years. She had to admit the people of Macross City were true survivors. They had managed to take a barren hold and turn it into a thriving working city. For two years the SDF1 had become their home and now things were about to change. The SDF1 would be a different place once the citizens of Macross City had left.
******
Khyron hated to be told what to do first Breetai and now Azonia. The new commander of the Sol mission had told the members of the fleet to follow the Micronian ship but not to engage it in battle. Like Breetai Azonia wanted to capture the battle fortress but she didn't want to harm the ship in any way. Dolza wanted it in one piece. On that point he was very clear. And now Khyron and his men were playing a game of follow the leader with the ship.
"Azonia does not seem to realize the true importance of this war." Khyron stated as though it were fact, "She doesn't see the true threat the Micronian ship poses to Zentreadi Empire. That is why we must destroy their precious ship."
"But sir what about Lady Azonia's orders?" one of his subordinates questioned.
Khyron got one of his smarmy smiles upon his face and turned to face his subordinate.
"I could care less about Azonia and her orders. We are going to correct a grievous error on her part. Allowing the Micronians to be able to return to their world." Khyron said with a haughty tone.
The subordinate knew where the conversation was headed. He knew Khyron was going to order an attack on the Micronian ship with intent to destroy.
"Sir am I to assume you will be personally leading a full scale assault on the Micronians before they reach their home world?" he asked Khyron.
"You assume correctly. Have the men prepare for battle." Khyron ordered.
******
The lunar squad had returned to the SDF1 from patrol and prepared for an afternoon off. On the bridge of the SDF1 the bridge crew marveled at the sight before them. For two years the crew of the SDF1 thought they would never see the Earth again. For some it felt good to be able to see their home once more. For Rei, Mina, and Michelle it felt as though they had a future once again.
"You know it actually feels like everything will come out alright in the end now that we can see the Earth again." Mina commented.
Rei looked over at her best friend and smiled. She had to admit it did feel as though she knew everything would be alright and the crew of the SDF1 would triumph over the Zentreadi.
"Yeah now that I can see home again I know we have a future." Rei said.
Looking at the two chatting friends Commander Hayes smiled because like them she too somehow knew everything would turn out alright in the end now that they would be back on Earth soon. But the happy thoughts were soon turned to dust when she saw the color drain out of Corporal Hino's face. The look of sheer terror on the face of the radar operator told the commander she had another one of the many premonitions that preceded a Zentreadi attack on the SDF1.
"Captain I sense an evil presence." Rei began, "Scanners confirm around thirty Zentreadi pods heading straight for the SDF1."
Gloval didn't waist any time formulating a defense plan. He knew exactly what was needed in a situation like this one the SDF1 was going to have to transform once again.
"Go to red alert. Lisa, call out all Veritech squads. Claudia, sound the alert in the city and prepare for transformation. Mina, inform engineering to begin transformation procedures." Gloval instructed.
"Aye sir." The three replied in unison.
Lisa's fingers raced over the console as she sent the SDF1 into red alert. Throughout the military section of the ship the call to battle was sounded.
"Red alert all Veritech pilots report for duty. Repeat all Veritech pilots report for duty." Lisa said over the shipwide communication system.
As Lisa was sounding the red alert Claudia punched in the commands that sounded the emergency sirens in Macross City. Claudia didn't need to make an announcement to the citizens of Macross for the distinctive sound of the sirens would tell them exactly what they needed to know. The ship was going to transform and all civilians needed to find their nearest shelter fast.
******
Azonia was furious with Khyron. The Zentreadi squad commander had deliberately disobeyed her orders not to attack the Micronian ship. Something had to be done about the arrogant Zentreadi battlepod pilot before he ruined everything she had worked so hard for. It was at that moment Azonia knew how Breetai must have felt every time Khyron didn't follow his orders.
"Miriya have the crew prepare to intercept Khyron and his little band of idiots immediately." Azonia ordered the female squad leader.
"Yes Azonia I'll have the crew begin pursuit measures right away." Miriya replied with a salute.
******
Not everyone onboard the SDF1 knew what the emergency siren meant. Rico, Bron, and Konda found themselves standing in the middle of the street as everything around them seemed to go dead. Every single stoplight in the city turned red and people just up and left their cars. The people inside the buildings came out in droves and began heading in the same direction. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children all seemed to know what they needed to do. Three very confused spies couldn't make heads or tails of the scene unfolding itself in front of them.
"What's happening?" Konda asked with much confusion on his face.
Rico looked at the largest of the three spies with the same amount of confusion came up with the first answer that came into his mind. And to the Zentreadi spy it dealt with the military.
"This must be how they count all their soldiers. The soldiers who live in this special housing must know they need to be counted so they go to a special place when they hear the siren." Rico explained.
Upon hearing his colleague's explanation Bron decided they would not follow the Micronians to the counting area so the Micronian military would not find them out.
"Look our job is not to get caught. If we follow them they will surely discover we're spies and do horrible things to us. We're staying here." he told his fellow spies.
With that decision made the three Zentreadi spies were about to learn how wrong they were.
******
"All civilians are safely inside the designated shelters." Claudia reported to the captain.
With the people of Macross safely inside the shelters the SDF1 could begin the process that would transform it from a battle fortress to a massive battleoid. Captain Gloval gave Claudia the go ahead to begin the transformation process.
"Claudia begin transformation procedures." Gloval instructed.
"Aye sir beginning transformation procedures now." Claudia responded.
Entering in a few commands on her console a different type of siren sounded within the military quarters of the ship. The siren told all military personnel to report to their designated places during a shipwide transformation.
******
Something was happening to the SDF1 the Zentreadi were certain of that. The street where they were standing was now opening down the center and rearranging itself. The buildings inside the SDF1 were changing their position without any damage. Then it happened. The moment the street and the buildings were finished being rearranged the interior hold of the SDF1 lost all gravity except inside the shelters. The three Zentreadi spies began floating around the ship not knowing what was going on. Their original theory had just been proven wrong.
"Maybe they count the people in the city for a different reason." Rico surmised feeling a bit stupid for making the wrong conclusion about the sirens.
"Yeah just maybe they don't want people to get caught outside when the street opens up and the gravity turns off." Konda said looking right at Bron.
"Okay so maybe we don't know everything about the Micronians just yet. At least we know what to do the next time that siren goes off." Bron replied looking quite pathetic.
******
Azonia stared at the now transformed Micronian ship. The ship went from looking like her battle cruiser to resembling one of the pods in Miriya's squad. The sight of the transformation was something the Zentreadi commander would never forget. There was no way she was going to let Khyron destroy the Micronian ship now that she knew it possessed that kind of technology. The protoculture and the other secrets of the Micronian ship would belong to the Zentreadi and she would take full credit for retrieving them. In the eyes of Dolza Azonia would become a hero.
"Get between that ship and Khyron's little band of misfits right away." Azonia ordered.
"Right away Lady Azonia." One of the bridge crew replied.
Azonia's ship made its way to an open area between Khyron's squad and the Micronian ship. Standing firm ground Azonia and her crew faced off against every cannon Khyron had trained on the Micronian ship. Azonia turned to her communications officer and ordered her to open a channel to Khyron's main ship.
"Get me through to that rat Khyron now!" Azonia ordered her.
"Yes ma'am." The officer replied.
******
Khyron was about to give the order to shoot down the Micronian ship when Azonia's command vessel appeared between him and the target. Letting out a scream of frustration Khyron took his anger towards Azonia out on the side of the battlepod's control console.
"How could she do this to me?" Khyron yelled out.
It was at that moment Azonia's voice could be heard over the comm. system.
"Khyron you insolent fool! How dare you try and destroy the Micronian ship! Disengage at once or I will have you thrown off this mission so fast your head will spin! Do I make myself clear!" she yelled.
"Crystal." Khyron replied with a smirk.
******
Captain Henry J. Gloval couldn't believe what he was seeing. One of the Zentreadi war ships had come between the SDF1 and their attackers proving to the captain just how valuable the SDF1 was to the enemy. There had to be something on the battle fortress that the Zentreadi wanted so badly they would do whatever it took to keep the SDF1 in one piece. Now we know they will not deliberately try and destroy the SDF1, he thought to himself.
"Claudia give me a report on all transformation procedures." Gloval requested.
Claudia pulled up the window showing the progress of the transformation on her console and saw that the initial transformation process had been completed, which mean the gravity inside the city would soon come back on line.
"Initial transformation complete captain. Gravity generators within Macross City limits will come back on line in three two one. Gravity has been restored full transformation complete." She reported.
Unbeknownst to the crew of the SDF1 and the citizens of Macross City three floating micronized Zentreadi spies learned the true meaning of pain when they crash landed on the street below the moment the gravity returned to Macross.
"Claudia, Lisa prepare the SDF1 for reentry to the Earth." The captain instructed them.
"Aye, aye sir." they responded.
******
If one were to look at a small chain of islands between Japan and Hawaii in the south pacific one would notice something was missing. The southernmost island in the chain was gone. Two years ago no one on Earth knew what happened when the island known as Macross mysteriously vanished along with two aircraft carriers and the crowning glory in the RDF the SDF1. Everyone on Earth assumed that the people of Macross and the crew of the SDF1 were dead. It was considered to be the saddest in the history of the United Earth Government. In the ten short years since its conception this was the first worldwide tragedy.
Macross City was once the crown jewel of the Pacific. Now it was just another part of the SDF1 but that was all about to change. For exactly two years after its disappearance the SDF1 performed splashdown near the site of the first battle with the Zentreadi, the battle that started it all. The transformed space fortress had come home.
******
"Sir we have broken the surface of the water." Lisa announced.
A big sigh of relief could be heard on the bridge of the SDF1. After being lost in space for two years the SDF1 and her crew had returned home. The first thing on the captain's mind was allowing the people of Macross and the crew of the SDF1 a sight they hadn't seen in two years a real blue sky with God given sunlight warming their skin. But his greatest task lay ahead of him. Captain Henry Gloval was going to have to report in to RDF command.
"Lisa open all exterior bay doors leading to the Prometheus and the Dadelous and inform everyone onboard of our arrival on Earth." The captain began, "I'll be in my quarters. You have the bridge."
"Aye sir." Lisa replied as the captain left the bridge.
Claudia looked over at Lisa and wondered what her first command decision would be.
"Well Lisa what will we do first?" Claudia asked her best friend.
"You open those exterior doors while I notify everyone of our arrival." Lisa told her.
"Sure thing commander." Claudia said as she began imputing the commands to open the doors.
*******
"People of Macross City members of the RDF citizens of the SDF1," the shipwide transmission began, "at approximately 1100 hours our home of the past two years the SDF1 entered into Earth's atmosphere and began planet fall. Thirty minutes later the SDF1 splashed down into the Pacific Ocean. The captain of the SDF1 has opened all exterior doors to the two aircraft carriers for those who wish to step outside and get some fresh air. On that good note I welcome you home."
The citizens of Macross City began filing out of the shelters and made their way towards the open doors of the ship. The Zentreadi spies noticed where the people of the city were going and decided to follow them. They weren't going to be left out of the loop this time.
The sunlight was a sight to behold and the fresh air felt invigorating. Husbands and wives were kissing and hugging while the children laughed and giggled as they ran around. The Zentreadi spies watched the celebration and decided to play along with the Micronians.
"Yea we're home!" Rico called out as he jumped into the air.
"Hooray we're home!" Bron added.
"Feel that warm sun on your skin. Boy does that feel good." Konda said not even faking it.
Looking around at the happy faces the Zentreadi spies were beginning to feel as though they were actually a part of Macross City and the SDF1.
******
Three hours after splash down Captain Henry J. Gloval of the SDF1 left the ship on a small transport plane with Commander Lisa Hayes to head for RDF command outside Anchorage, Alaska in America. The trip would be long but it would give the captain time to think over exactly what he was going to say to his superiors. The captain and Lisa had been told to report to RDF command after getting in touch with them to formally give a verbal account of what had happened to the SDF1 over the last two years. Lost in thought Gloval didn't even notice the Hawaiian Islands or the coast of California pass below them. It wasn't until the pilot announced their arrival that Henry Gloval knew they had arrived at RDF command headquarters.
"Sir, we're here." the pilot announced.
"What? Oh yes thank you." Gloval replied as he was brought out of his train of thought.
Captain Gloval and Commander Hayes left the plane and made their way to the transport that would take them to the underground base that was the command center for the RDF.
The enclosed transport car traveled down the long tunnel towards the main section of the RDF command center. Lisa looked around and marveled at the sheer size of the tunnel.
"Captain what is this section we're traveling in now?" Lisa asked with the curiosity of a child.
Deciding to pass the time better the captain told Lisa all about the inner workings of the Grand Cannon the Earth's best weapon for defense.
"What we are traveling in Lisa happens to be the barrel for the Grand Cannon." Gloval began, "You see Lisa the Grand Cannon uses the Earth's own gravity as the main energy source for the cannon. The beam shot by the cannon can traverse the Earth's atmosphere reaching into space. Tell me Lisa have you ever been here before?"
"My father used to bring me here when I was little but he never showed me the barrel." Lisa told him.
The captain looked at his first officer and realized that even she did not know about the intricacies of the greatest project in the history of OTECH. The admiral has kept this from his own daughter, Gloval thought as he kept looking at Lisa.
"I'm surprised he didn't bring you to this part of the base Lisa. He did have the proper clearance to do so and he still does." Gloval commented.
"Are you saying my father was one of the men behind the Grand Cannon?" Lisa wanted to know.
Lisa waited for Gloval to say something in reply to her question but instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out the pipe he always had with him. She knew full well something was bothering the captain when he reached for his pipe. The only time he smoked it was to ease his troubled mind.
"Captain is something wrong?" Lisa asked quite concerned for the elder man.
"Lisa I do believe the government leaders might be too stubborn to accept a truce with the Zentreadi." The captain replied.
The remainder of the ride was spent in silence as Lisa let what the captain said sink in. If the world government didn't do something soon war would break out on Earth.
******
The leaders of the RDF sat at a tall circular desk in the darkened room. Behind them was a map of the world with electronic indicators showing the location of each base within the RDF. The light where Macross Island once existed was no longer lit indicating the base was no more. The generals and admirals looked very intimidating on the large videoconference screens. Taking his place at the podium with Lisa by his side Captain Gloval cleared his throat and began his report.
"Good afternoon gentlemen. As you all know I am Captain Henry J. Gloval of the SDF1. For the past two years the SDF1 has been making its way back to Earth. This report that I have compiled for you highlights the events that have taken place during those two years. I shall begin on the day of our alleged disappearance from Earth.
"On December 5, 2009 the crew of the SDF1 began making final preparations for our launch. The occasion was marked with a great celebration in Macross City on the island of Macross. An air show and a formal speech to be given by the mayor were to be the highlights of the day. But almost immediately after I arrived on the bridge of the SDF1 things started to go wrong.
******
"I feel a great evil approaching." Rei said.
The captain, Lisa, and Claudia looked at each other with obvious confusion. They had no idea about Rei's precognitive skills. Mina and Michelle on the other hand looked at each other with sheer terror on their faces. They knew all too well what Rei meant when she had one of her flashes.
True to Rei's ominous premonition the alarm system began to sound off in the bridge. Claudia scrambled to see what she could do to shut it off. As she tried to get things under control she found out she was locked out of her control station. Looking at the screen Claudia could see the main guns begin to go on line in preparation to fire.
"Captain the main guns are preparing to fire!" Claudia called out over the sound of the alarm.
"What?! That's impossible!" the captain yelled back to her.
"Sir, I'm locked out of my terminal." Mina told him.
"Claudia shut down the main guns now." Captain Gloval ordered.
"I can't captain. Believe me I've tried and my station's not responding." Claudia replied.
"What about communications Michelle?" the captain needed to know.
"Nothing sir the system won't respond to anything I try to do." She told him.
Why did Amy have to go into medical training, Rei thought.
"Sir I can't get any response from the radar systems either." Rei reported.
"Lisa what are you getting?" the captain asked her.
"Nothing sir. I can't get anything on my screen and like the others my station is not responding." Lisa replied with obvious fear in her voice.
Outside the SDF1 the main guns began find their target. Locking in on the target the guns powered up and prepared to fire. All at once the guns went off and an explosion could be seen in the sky over Macross City. The people gathered at the airbase began to get out of there as the government officials began scrambling for answers.
On the bridge of the SDF1 Captain Henry Gloval was none too pleased with their current situation. The ship they thought they knew everything about was actually a booby trap. As the main guns went off line the ship's systems came back under control.
"They have sent us to our deaths." The captain commented with a chuckle.
******
"We learned the SDF1 had a built in defense mechanism designed to protect it against any alien threat. This defense system was obviously built by the aliens who had originally constructed the SDF1. The explosion of the main cannons was the beginning of what we now call the Robotech War. At the time we knew very little about the aliens who were attacking us. But on that day I learned something always took place before each alien attack. Something I learned to trust and at times rely on. My radar officer comes from a strong Shinto background in Japan and has the ability to sense when an attack is about to take place. This proved time and time again to be a useful tool for us especially during that first attack.
******
Once again Rei got another premonition and stiffened. She quickly turned around to check the radar screen in time to see forty blips on the screen heading straight towards the SDF1.
"Sir, we've got forty incoming unidentified bogeys headed this way." Rei called out.
"Long range sensors indicate these things are packing a lot of fire power." Claudia reported.
"Lisa call out the Veritech squads now!" the captain ordered.
"Aye, aye sir." Lisa began, "Red alert all Veritech squads report for duty now this is not a drill repeat this is not a drill."
******
"The battle raged on for hours and we were instructed by the highest ranking official present to launch the SDF1 immediately to draw the firepower from the enemy pods away from the city. We hastily launched the SDF1 and watched the Veritech squads go up against the alien threat. In an attempt to draw the aliens away from Earth I ordered the Veritech squads to return to the SDF1 and the ship to begin a descent towards the planet. When we reached one thousand feet above the island the SDF1 was to engage its space fold engines. This proved to be our salvation and the beginning of our great journey.
******
One thousand feet above Macross Island a great sphere of light encircled the SDF1. As the light engulfed the battle cruiser it began to grow ever larger surrounding all that was in its path. The small orange experimental aircraft that was moments earlier inside a hanger on the SDF1 had no chance to escape the light of the fold. The island below was also left without a way to escape the impending doom. A few minutes after the order to begin the space fold jump was given by Captain Henry Gloval on board the SDF1 the battle cruiser, a small experimental airplane, two large aircraft carriers, and an entire island disappeared from the face of the earth.
On board the bridge of the SDF1 Corporal Rei Hino had a vision of impending doom.
******
"We quickly learned that our fold did not take us to our intended destination of the far side of the moon. Whether it was a miscalculation or a malfunction we do not know but the SDF1 soon found itself farther from home than we had intended. And we also learned we had brought something along for the ride. Once again it was my radar officer who gave us the first indication something went wrong.
******
"No it can't be." Michelle said in utter shock to her friends.
"We didn't reappear on the far side of the moon." Mina added.
"That's not the half of it guys we picked up some stragglers along for the ride." Rei told them.
The rest of the bridge crew stood there in stunned silence as they saw what lay before them. Beneath the SDF1 was not the moon of the Earth but the frozen wasteland of the ninth planet of the solar system the tiny planet of ice known as Pluto.
"Captain, I'm picking up something on the long range scanners." Rei informed him, "It appears to be a city covered in ice."
"Captain, I'm picking up a distress signal. It seems to be coming from the Prometheus." Michelle reported to the rest of the crew.
"What? The Prometheus, but how?" the captain demanded to know.
"I've established communications with the Prometheus. It looks like everyone on board is going to be all right but their captain tells me the Dadelous and the entire island of Macross is on the surface of that planet with them." Michelle informed him.
******
"After we rescued the people from the surface of the planet Pluto we began attaching the two aircraft carriers to the SDF1 in an attempt to add extra launching space to our ship. After we completed that task we began rebuilding the city inside the SDF1. In my mind it was the least we could do for the people of Macross City. After learning the fold engines were no longer useful we prepared for the long journey home. We thought our return home would only last a year but a few memorable events along the way stretched that return time out a year longer than we expected.
"During the first few months after the fold we were able to create what we call the pinpoint shield system. Also during that time we made our way past the last three planets in our solar system. It was at this time that the enemy began attacking us once more. We gave the enemy a pretty god run for the money when we used the ship's transformation capabilities. After a minor incident near Jupiter we made our way to Mars where we picked up a signal coming from Base Sara. I had decided to send down Commander Hayes and the Skull Squad to investigate the source of the signal and secure the area." Gloval reported.
"At the base I learned there were no survivors left. After reporting in to the SDF1 I started on my way to oversee the transport of usable supplies and equipment. But before I could reach the transports the enemy began attacking Base Sara."
******
Lisa knew she had to tell the captain and the crew of the SDF1 the grim news. As the tears streamed down her face Lisa began her transmission.
"This is Lisa Hayes inside Mars Base Sara calling the SDF1." She said.
"This is the SDF1 go ahead Lisa." Claudia responded.
"The search for survivors on the base has turned up negative. There are no survivors in Sara sir what do you want me to do next?" Lisa told them.
"I want you to see if there are any usable supplies left on the base so we can transport them to the SDF1." The captain replied.
"Aye sir." Lisa said as she ended the transmission.
******
For the next hour Captain Gloval continued to give the top brass at RDF command his report on the events of the past two years with several interruptions from the generals and admirals. After the Base Sara incident the captain went into the details surrounding the decision made by him to allow the people of Macross to be able to hold a beauty pageant. He even went into the details of how the mere mention of a pageant changed the morale of everyone on board the SDF1. It was one of the better decisions he and the mayor made together.
"The whole attitude of the crew and the people of Macross City changed for the better with the anticipation surrounding the upcoming pageant." The captain told them.
"Everyone had pageant fever even members of my bridge crew.
******
The pageant became the talk of the crew onboard the SDF1. All the men talked about the beautiful girls in the pageant and all the women talked about the possible prizes. One thing was for certain the mere mention of a pageant was brightening the sprits of everyone on the ship and giving them something to look forward to.
Even the bridge crew was talking about the pageant. Claudia thought it would be a good morale booster for the people of the city. But Lisa didn't see it that way. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to go into something like that. Rei and Michelle thought the pageant would be a good way for people to get their minds off their current predicament. Mina on the other hand wanted to be a part of the Miss Macross pageant. She wanted to be an idol singer.
"Hey guys I'm going into town and sign up for the Miss Macross pageant when the shift is over." Mina announced to her friends.
"Hoping to cash in on some good prizes Mina?" Claudia asked her.
"I'm hoping to get back in the spotlight lieutenant. I haven't done anything like this since I did some character modeling for the first Sailor V movie." Mina told her.
"What about the idol singer contest?" Rei reminded her.
"Oh yeah that too." Mina said.
*******
"Shortly after the Miss Macross pageant we began making attempts to contact RDF command for two weeks straight. The enemy intercepted each attempt we made to contact RDF command. It wasn't until we tried a few clever maneuvers that our transmissions finally made it through to the RDF command. But the news we were hoping to hear never came.
******
"Captain we actually made it through." Michelle said very surprised at what she had seen.
For the first time in over two weeks Captain Henry Gloval commander of the SDF1 gave a huge sigh of relief. Now all they needed to do was wait for a reply.
"All we need now is a reply from the RDF command." The captain told them.
"Sir I'm receiving a priority one transmission from RDF command." Michelle informed him.
"Put it through." He said.
"SDF1 this is Colonel Garrett at RDF command it certainly is good to hear that everyone aboard your ship is alive and well. However, we can not we can not allow you to return to Earth. The enemy has not yet attacked Earth. For our safety and yours the longer you keep the enemy away from Earth the better off we'll all be." The colonel said.
******
"After receiving less than encouraging news we debated about what we were going to do next. But before we could even get the conversation going we received a strange transmission from the enemy after almost two years of chasing after the SDF1 the aliens sent their first communication to us. It scared each and every one of us to hear the enemy speaking in a language we could all understand. And during this transmission we finally learned what the enemy call themselves.
******
Michelle was still scanning the communication channels when she noticed a strange noise on the frequency they had originally used to try and contact RDF command. As she boosted the signal the transmission came in loud and clear for all to hear. Everyone was in a state of shock when they heard the alien speaking in perfect English.
"We are the Zentreadi." The alien voice announced.
"Well at least now we know what to call them." Mina said.
"Surrender your vessel now or we will begin attacking your home world." The alien demanded.
******
"The Zentreadi had laid the cards out on the table, the SDF1 for the safety of the Earth thousands for billions. We weren't about to let that happen and we decided to do to them what they had been doing to us. We were going to listen in on their transmissions just like they had been listening in on our transmissions. And to do so I had decided to use the cat's eye plane escorted by four Veritech fighters to fly close to the Zentreadi ships and listen in on their transmissions. But something went wrong and the cat's eye plane and the entire escort unit were captured by the Zentreadi." The captain reported.
"The Zentreadi took the myself and four others for examination and questioning. They kept asking if we knew anything about the location of a substance they call protoculture. It seems protoculture is a key component to their makeup.
"When I told the Zentreadi leader we knew nothing about protoculture the Zentreadi became curious to know how human beings create a new generation to continue the race. The answer and what followed was quite interesting to both the Zentreadi and my fellow crewmembers.
******
Dolza was intrigued by what Rick and Ben had told him and wanted to know exactly what a kiss was. And the only way he would know is if someone showed him.
"You two," he said pointing to Rick and Ben, "show me what you mean by kiss."
Kissing, the Zentreadi demanded that Rick and Ben show them kissing. What happened next confused the Zentreadi further. The two pilots stared at each other like they were contaminated
"I'll do it." Lisa volunteered.
Dolza put Lisa down so she could show them kissing. Lisa looked around at the men in the room as though she was picking a piece of produce. After making her decision Lisa walked over to Rick and began talking to him.
"Alright Lt. Hunter you and I are going to kiss." She said to Rick.
"What? Have you lost your mind? What about Ben or Darien?" Rick replied trying to back out.
"I can't kiss Corporal Shields it wouldn't be right. He loves Serena. And as for Corporal Dixon no offense but I couldn't see myself kissing him." Lisa explained.
"Well then why can't Serena and Darien kiss for them?" Rick wanted to know.
"I volunteered to do it. And besides I want to get their reaction on tape." Lisa said.
"You're recording all of this?" Rick asked.
"Yes, that way we'll be able to give our findings to RDF command when return to the Earth."
"If we return at all."
"Look I don't have time to argue about this Rick so just kiss me already."
"Only if it's an order commander."
"If that's the way you want it to be then I order you to kiss me."
Rick sighed and gave in to Lisa's direct order to kiss her. Leaning in close to each other Rick and Lisa placed their lips together and began kissing. Then without even knowing it Rick pulled Lisa into his arms. Lisa instinctively placed her arms around Rick's neck.
Why does this feel so familiar to me? Rick thought.
Why does it feel like I've kissed him before? Lisa thought to herself.
As the Zentreadi watched Rick and Lisa kiss they began screaming and backing away from the table. Never in all their lives had they seen a male and a female get so close to each other. A minute later when the kiss ended the Zentreadi high commander stared at Rick and Lisa in horror.
Lisa and Rick backed away from each other with looks of dread in their eyes. The simple kiss had become much more then either had intended. What was supposed to be a way to show the Zentreadi what love looked like had turned into the beginnings of real feelings towards one another. Oh my god what just happened there, Lisa thought. I can't be having feelings for Commander Hayes I love Minmei or do I, Rick thought as he stared at Lisa.
"Get them out of here!" Dolza demanded.
******
For the next hour Lisa recounted everything in her report about the Zentreadi. She gave the top brass in the RDF all the specifics about the size of the Zentreadi fleet and their technology. The top men in the RDF didn't even look as though they cared about what the daughter of Admiral Hayes was telling them. It seemed to Gloval that all they cared about was anything that would tell them whether or not the Zentreadi wanted to attack the Earth. And like the other officials on the SDF1 they tried to find a way to discredit everything Lisa was telling them only they didn't turn it into some type of joke. In their minds the farther away from Earth the SDF1 was the better off they thought they would be. With the completion of OTECH's greatest accomplishment RDF command began to act as though they didn't need the SDF1 anymore.
"Gentlemen this concludes our report on the past two years and the Zentreadi." Captain Gloval said bringing the verbal report to a close.
The large video screens went blank as the top men in the RDF deliberated their decision on the requests made by Captain Gloval for a truce between the humans and the Zentreadi.
"I can't believe how insensitive they were being." Lisa complained.
"It seems they didn't want to believe what we were telling them." Gloval replied.
"The others I can understand but my own father?" Lisa said trying not to believe her father could be just as cruel and uncaring as the rest of the RDF leaders.
After two hours of deliberations the RDF leaders reappeared on the video screens looking just as stern and uncaring as ever. Lisa and the captain stood up from their seats and saluted their commanding officers before taking their places by the podium once again.
"After careful consideration we have no choice but to reject your request for peace talks with the Zentreadi." General Hammond told them.
The captain couldn't believe his ears and wanted to know how the top brass was going to win against such a strong opponent.
"General do you think you'll be able to win against a four million strong Zentreadi fleet?" Captain Gloval demanded to know.
"Captain Gloval it is not a question of whether or not we will win it is a question of how well the Zentreadi can be trusted to participate in truce talks in good faith." Hammond replied tersely.
Gloval knew he wouldn't be able to win the battle over the truce talks and decided to ask what he should do with the people of Macross City.
"What then are we to do with the people of Macross City?" he asked in a more civil tone.
"Captain Gloval while we truly feel for the people of Macross City we can not allow them to return to the Earth. In fact to the eyes of the world the citizens of Macross are dead. We published a report to the press stating that it was a terrorist attack that took out the island and the city along with it." Admiral Hayes began, "The people of this planet have been living out the last two years in peace. When you disappeared the Zentreadi, as you call them, left to find you and the SDF1. Since then there has not been a single alien attack upon the Earth. We have kept the knowledge of the aliens away from the public eye and we intend to keep it that way. Letting the citizens of Macross back into normal society would cause widespread panic over the entire Earth. We wish to prevent that from happening by keeping them away from our world. It is much easier to monitor any possible treasonous acts when the people of Macross are all on the SDF1. We are not afraid to sacrifice thousands of lives to save the billions here on Earth. We don't really need the SDF1 anymore to defend our world. OTECH has now seen to the safety of the Earth with the completion of the Grand Canon. So in order to keep this planet free of all alien activity we are ordering the SDF1 to return to space immediately. We need the extra time in order to prepare for an intergalactic war and you are going to buy that time for us."
Lisa was going to try and get her father to see things from their point of view. She didn't care about the other officials in the room with him.
"Father this is too much to ask of the civilians on the SDF1. They have finally returned to Earth and you want to turn them away. You have to let them return to society." Lisa pleaded.
"Commander Hayes have you forgotten that I am your commanding officer?" the admiral began, "Now I would like you to kindly remember to address me as such in the future."
"Yes sir." Lisa replied sounding quite defeated.
"Now then if there is nothing else to discuss we can consider this matter closed. Dismissed." Hammond told the two senior officers.
After saluting their superiors as the screens went blank for good Gloval turned to Lisa.
"Commander would you like to see your father to spend some family time with him before we leave." He told her.
"Captain I do not wish to see the Admiral for the remainder of our stay here." Lisa replied strongly emphasizing her father's title.
"I understand completely and I sympathize with how you are feeling Lisa." Gloval said making Lisa feel a bit better about things.
TBC in part 2 of Homecoming!
Please R&R!
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!
Here comes Trista ready or not! Oh and Minmei lovers this is the beginning of the end of her old goody two-shoe days! But if you like Rick/Lisa relationships stick with it we're going to be headed there!
Robotech Warriors Book 1 By thunderbird with Sections From Chibi Halo
Lisa was back in her familiar place on the bridge. After the ordeal with the Zentreadi it felt good to be back at work once again. The controls on her console felt like silk beneath Lisa's fingers as she logged on for the day. Lisa had arrived at the bridge before any of the other members of the bridge crew to catch up on what she had missed during her absence. The logs from the past month and a half would be tedious to go over but it had to be done if she was to resume her duties as though nothing had happened. In the time she, Serena, Darien, and the three members of the Vermilion squad were gone there had been two attacks on the SDF1 one a few days after they were captured on the Zentreadi ship and the other on the exact day they had left the other Zentreadi ship.
As Lisa was going over the records of the first battle the other members of the bridge crew came in for their shift. As usual Claudia Grant was smiling and had a cheerful look upon her face. Sometime within the past twenty-four hours she and Lt. Commander Roy Fokker had spent some time together. Some people relied on coffee Claudia relied on kisses from Roy. Usually Michelle Kaiou was all business ready to take on the tasks ahead of her. But on this particular day Michelle's mind was someplace else and it showed. The last to come in was Mina and Rei. Mina was holding a fairly good sized cup of coffee, which told anyone who saw her that the young corporal had gotten little sleep and was woken too early for her tastes. And judging by the look on Rei's face she was the one who had to wake her, Rei was not a happy camper on this particular morning.
"So Claudia I take it you and Roy saw each other last night?" Lisa asked her friend without looking up from her console.
It was a given fact that Claudia and Roy would spend some time together each day. Doing what was always the big question the next day.
"We went into town last night and spent some time in the park. But exactly what we did is for me to know and you to find out." Claudia said with a playful grin on her face.
Mina couldn't help but laugh at the playful banter between two very close friends. It was obvious Lisa didn't mind it when Claudia played with her head but took it quite personally when anyone else tried to do the same thing. Looking to her right with sleep filled eyes Mina noticed an overly quiet Michelle.
"Why so quiet Michelle?" Mina asked her friend.
"Amara and I had a long discussion last night about Hotaru's education. Since we haven't been on Earth in over a year we feel she needs to rejoin a normal educational environment. At least that's what we decided upon after much discussion. I'm just worried how the others will treat her." Michelle said.
Mina understood Michelle's concern for her foster daughter. For a good portion of her young life Hotaru had been teased by the other kids in her class. When Amara and Michelle took Hotaru in when she mysteriously aged back to her true age during the Chaos incident they had decided on getting her a private tutor. They had kept up with their decision to have a tutor for Hotaru after they had moved to Macross City. Now after a year on the SDF1 Amara felt it was time for Hotaru to rejoin a traditional class.
The quiet friendly chitchat among the bridge crew was brought to an end when Captain Henry Gloval walked in to take his post on the bridge. Like Mina the captain had a steaming cup of coffee in his left hand. In his right hand the captain had a clipboard with the day's duties clipped to it. Now that Lisa and the others were back and sufficient time had been given for the higher ups at RDF command to calm down Henry Gloval thought it was high time the SDF1 return home.
"Good morning ladies." The captain began, "After the safe return of our missing crew members and careful consideration I have decided it is time for the SDF1 to return home. Lisa, Claudia lay in a course for Earth and home."
******
Part 12A: Homecoming Part 1: Gloval's Report
******
There was one unwritten rule on board the SDF1 anything was fair game for the rumor mill. And as one of the proprietors of the most successful rumor mill on the SDF1 Corporal Mina Aino had the juiciest piece of gossip to ever come to the SDF1. Mina was determined to get this bit of news spread throughout the SDF1 before it became official. And lunchtime was the best place to start. All she had to do was give the news to the biggest mouth in the RDF Lt. Serena Tuskino.
Mina walked into the mess hall tray in hand looking for Serena, Lita, and Darien she knew the trio would be having lunch together and wouldn't mind the extra company. Spotting her three best friends Mina walked over to their table and sat down with them. Serena was stuffing her face as usual while playing footsie with Darien and looking over her schedule for the upcoming week. Lita was looking over each portion of food before putting it in her mouth. The look on her face as she chewed each bite told Mina the culinary devotee was less than thrilled with the day's choice for lunch. Darien on the other hand just sat and ate his lunch never letting anyone know about the foot game taking place under the table.
"I could have done better than this slop." Lita said before eating her next bite.
"Well you must seem to like it enough to be eating it." Serena observed without taking her eyes off her papers.
Mina knew Lita would find some type of come back for Serena's remark and decided now was as good a time as any to tell her information.
"Okay guys you didn't hear this from me but the captain has ordered Lisa and Claudia to set a course for home. He doesn't care what the RDF big wigs will do to him he wants to get us home." She told everyone at the table.
The news Mina had just given to her friends was beginning to sink in. Lita slowly put down her fork and stopped eating and complaining. Darien ended his half of the heated under the table foot game and just looked at Mina in disbelief. Serena looked up from her schedule, swallowed her food, took her foot away from Darien's leg, and blinked all at the same time. In the back of her mind Mina began her countdown. Three, two, one she thought.
"We're going home? We're going home. We're going home!" Serena yelled.
Bingo my partner now has the news and will now make certain everyone on board knows it before dinner, Mina thought.
"You pulling our leg Mina?" Lita asked her.
"Now would I do that?" Mina replied with a sly grin.
"No I'm not going to dignify that with a response." Lita said.
Darien knew as well as anyone else on board the SDF1 that Mina had a tendency to stretch the truth when it came to gossip. He knew the more reliable sources within the Scouts were either Rei or Michelle. He would simply ask one of them if what Mina had told them was true.
"You know Lita you could always ask Rei if what Mina says is true." Darien said.
Mina shot her prince and future king a look that told him he had made a big mistake by opening his mouth to talk. Darien got nervous and began scratching the back of his head.
"Look Mina it's not that we don't believe you it's just that you tend to stretch the truth a bit." He tried to explain to her.
Mina wasn't about to pick a fight with Darien she had done what she had set out to do. Now it was Serena's job to spread the good news like wildfire.
"Wait till the others hear about this at the meeting this afternoon." Serena said with a big grin.
******
Home they were going home. For over two weeks the SDF1 had sat four days away from the planet Earth and now it was slowly making its way back home. The citizens of Macross City didn't care where the SDF1 landed all they cared about was going back to the Earth. The news of their return that had been floating around the ship was confirmed in an official written statement made by Captain Gloval to the MBS. Once the rumor started by Mina was confirmed everyone on board the SDF1 couldn't wait to return home to the Earth.
For three days the SDF1 had been traveling through space. The large battle fortress had passed the moon with no incident and was now a day away from the Earth. On the bridge of the SDF1 the crew marveled at the sight before them on the screen. The perfect blue and green sphere floated among the stars like a beacon calling a lost traveler home from a long journey.
"This is the Lunar Squad reporting in one final time. Everything is peaceful out here commander. In fact, what I see before me is a sight for sore eyes." Serena reported to Lisa over the comm. link.
"I know lieutenant it almost seems like it isn't real." Lisa said, "Make one final pass then bring your squad in."
"Aye sir." Serena replied.
Looking out at the Earth Lisa began thinking about what had taken place over the past two years. She had to admit the people of Macross City were true survivors. They had managed to take a barren hold and turn it into a thriving working city. For two years the SDF1 had become their home and now things were about to change. The SDF1 would be a different place once the citizens of Macross City had left.
******
Khyron hated to be told what to do first Breetai and now Azonia. The new commander of the Sol mission had told the members of the fleet to follow the Micronian ship but not to engage it in battle. Like Breetai Azonia wanted to capture the battle fortress but she didn't want to harm the ship in any way. Dolza wanted it in one piece. On that point he was very clear. And now Khyron and his men were playing a game of follow the leader with the ship.
"Azonia does not seem to realize the true importance of this war." Khyron stated as though it were fact, "She doesn't see the true threat the Micronian ship poses to Zentreadi Empire. That is why we must destroy their precious ship."
"But sir what about Lady Azonia's orders?" one of his subordinates questioned.
Khyron got one of his smarmy smiles upon his face and turned to face his subordinate.
"I could care less about Azonia and her orders. We are going to correct a grievous error on her part. Allowing the Micronians to be able to return to their world." Khyron said with a haughty tone.
The subordinate knew where the conversation was headed. He knew Khyron was going to order an attack on the Micronian ship with intent to destroy.
"Sir am I to assume you will be personally leading a full scale assault on the Micronians before they reach their home world?" he asked Khyron.
"You assume correctly. Have the men prepare for battle." Khyron ordered.
******
The lunar squad had returned to the SDF1 from patrol and prepared for an afternoon off. On the bridge of the SDF1 the bridge crew marveled at the sight before them. For two years the crew of the SDF1 thought they would never see the Earth again. For some it felt good to be able to see their home once more. For Rei, Mina, and Michelle it felt as though they had a future once again.
"You know it actually feels like everything will come out alright in the end now that we can see the Earth again." Mina commented.
Rei looked over at her best friend and smiled. She had to admit it did feel as though she knew everything would be alright and the crew of the SDF1 would triumph over the Zentreadi.
"Yeah now that I can see home again I know we have a future." Rei said.
Looking at the two chatting friends Commander Hayes smiled because like them she too somehow knew everything would turn out alright in the end now that they would be back on Earth soon. But the happy thoughts were soon turned to dust when she saw the color drain out of Corporal Hino's face. The look of sheer terror on the face of the radar operator told the commander she had another one of the many premonitions that preceded a Zentreadi attack on the SDF1.
"Captain I sense an evil presence." Rei began, "Scanners confirm around thirty Zentreadi pods heading straight for the SDF1."
Gloval didn't waist any time formulating a defense plan. He knew exactly what was needed in a situation like this one the SDF1 was going to have to transform once again.
"Go to red alert. Lisa, call out all Veritech squads. Claudia, sound the alert in the city and prepare for transformation. Mina, inform engineering to begin transformation procedures." Gloval instructed.
"Aye sir." The three replied in unison.
Lisa's fingers raced over the console as she sent the SDF1 into red alert. Throughout the military section of the ship the call to battle was sounded.
"Red alert all Veritech pilots report for duty. Repeat all Veritech pilots report for duty." Lisa said over the shipwide communication system.
As Lisa was sounding the red alert Claudia punched in the commands that sounded the emergency sirens in Macross City. Claudia didn't need to make an announcement to the citizens of Macross for the distinctive sound of the sirens would tell them exactly what they needed to know. The ship was going to transform and all civilians needed to find their nearest shelter fast.
******
Azonia was furious with Khyron. The Zentreadi squad commander had deliberately disobeyed her orders not to attack the Micronian ship. Something had to be done about the arrogant Zentreadi battlepod pilot before he ruined everything she had worked so hard for. It was at that moment Azonia knew how Breetai must have felt every time Khyron didn't follow his orders.
"Miriya have the crew prepare to intercept Khyron and his little band of idiots immediately." Azonia ordered the female squad leader.
"Yes Azonia I'll have the crew begin pursuit measures right away." Miriya replied with a salute.
******
Not everyone onboard the SDF1 knew what the emergency siren meant. Rico, Bron, and Konda found themselves standing in the middle of the street as everything around them seemed to go dead. Every single stoplight in the city turned red and people just up and left their cars. The people inside the buildings came out in droves and began heading in the same direction. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children all seemed to know what they needed to do. Three very confused spies couldn't make heads or tails of the scene unfolding itself in front of them.
"What's happening?" Konda asked with much confusion on his face.
Rico looked at the largest of the three spies with the same amount of confusion came up with the first answer that came into his mind. And to the Zentreadi spy it dealt with the military.
"This must be how they count all their soldiers. The soldiers who live in this special housing must know they need to be counted so they go to a special place when they hear the siren." Rico explained.
Upon hearing his colleague's explanation Bron decided they would not follow the Micronians to the counting area so the Micronian military would not find them out.
"Look our job is not to get caught. If we follow them they will surely discover we're spies and do horrible things to us. We're staying here." he told his fellow spies.
With that decision made the three Zentreadi spies were about to learn how wrong they were.
******
"All civilians are safely inside the designated shelters." Claudia reported to the captain.
With the people of Macross safely inside the shelters the SDF1 could begin the process that would transform it from a battle fortress to a massive battleoid. Captain Gloval gave Claudia the go ahead to begin the transformation process.
"Claudia begin transformation procedures." Gloval instructed.
"Aye sir beginning transformation procedures now." Claudia responded.
Entering in a few commands on her console a different type of siren sounded within the military quarters of the ship. The siren told all military personnel to report to their designated places during a shipwide transformation.
******
Something was happening to the SDF1 the Zentreadi were certain of that. The street where they were standing was now opening down the center and rearranging itself. The buildings inside the SDF1 were changing their position without any damage. Then it happened. The moment the street and the buildings were finished being rearranged the interior hold of the SDF1 lost all gravity except inside the shelters. The three Zentreadi spies began floating around the ship not knowing what was going on. Their original theory had just been proven wrong.
"Maybe they count the people in the city for a different reason." Rico surmised feeling a bit stupid for making the wrong conclusion about the sirens.
"Yeah just maybe they don't want people to get caught outside when the street opens up and the gravity turns off." Konda said looking right at Bron.
"Okay so maybe we don't know everything about the Micronians just yet. At least we know what to do the next time that siren goes off." Bron replied looking quite pathetic.
******
Azonia stared at the now transformed Micronian ship. The ship went from looking like her battle cruiser to resembling one of the pods in Miriya's squad. The sight of the transformation was something the Zentreadi commander would never forget. There was no way she was going to let Khyron destroy the Micronian ship now that she knew it possessed that kind of technology. The protoculture and the other secrets of the Micronian ship would belong to the Zentreadi and she would take full credit for retrieving them. In the eyes of Dolza Azonia would become a hero.
"Get between that ship and Khyron's little band of misfits right away." Azonia ordered.
"Right away Lady Azonia." One of the bridge crew replied.
Azonia's ship made its way to an open area between Khyron's squad and the Micronian ship. Standing firm ground Azonia and her crew faced off against every cannon Khyron had trained on the Micronian ship. Azonia turned to her communications officer and ordered her to open a channel to Khyron's main ship.
"Get me through to that rat Khyron now!" Azonia ordered her.
"Yes ma'am." The officer replied.
******
Khyron was about to give the order to shoot down the Micronian ship when Azonia's command vessel appeared between him and the target. Letting out a scream of frustration Khyron took his anger towards Azonia out on the side of the battlepod's control console.
"How could she do this to me?" Khyron yelled out.
It was at that moment Azonia's voice could be heard over the comm. system.
"Khyron you insolent fool! How dare you try and destroy the Micronian ship! Disengage at once or I will have you thrown off this mission so fast your head will spin! Do I make myself clear!" she yelled.
"Crystal." Khyron replied with a smirk.
******
Captain Henry J. Gloval couldn't believe what he was seeing. One of the Zentreadi war ships had come between the SDF1 and their attackers proving to the captain just how valuable the SDF1 was to the enemy. There had to be something on the battle fortress that the Zentreadi wanted so badly they would do whatever it took to keep the SDF1 in one piece. Now we know they will not deliberately try and destroy the SDF1, he thought to himself.
"Claudia give me a report on all transformation procedures." Gloval requested.
Claudia pulled up the window showing the progress of the transformation on her console and saw that the initial transformation process had been completed, which mean the gravity inside the city would soon come back on line.
"Initial transformation complete captain. Gravity generators within Macross City limits will come back on line in three two one. Gravity has been restored full transformation complete." She reported.
Unbeknownst to the crew of the SDF1 and the citizens of Macross City three floating micronized Zentreadi spies learned the true meaning of pain when they crash landed on the street below the moment the gravity returned to Macross.
"Claudia, Lisa prepare the SDF1 for reentry to the Earth." The captain instructed them.
"Aye, aye sir." they responded.
******
If one were to look at a small chain of islands between Japan and Hawaii in the south pacific one would notice something was missing. The southernmost island in the chain was gone. Two years ago no one on Earth knew what happened when the island known as Macross mysteriously vanished along with two aircraft carriers and the crowning glory in the RDF the SDF1. Everyone on Earth assumed that the people of Macross and the crew of the SDF1 were dead. It was considered to be the saddest in the history of the United Earth Government. In the ten short years since its conception this was the first worldwide tragedy.
Macross City was once the crown jewel of the Pacific. Now it was just another part of the SDF1 but that was all about to change. For exactly two years after its disappearance the SDF1 performed splashdown near the site of the first battle with the Zentreadi, the battle that started it all. The transformed space fortress had come home.
******
"Sir we have broken the surface of the water." Lisa announced.
A big sigh of relief could be heard on the bridge of the SDF1. After being lost in space for two years the SDF1 and her crew had returned home. The first thing on the captain's mind was allowing the people of Macross and the crew of the SDF1 a sight they hadn't seen in two years a real blue sky with God given sunlight warming their skin. But his greatest task lay ahead of him. Captain Henry Gloval was going to have to report in to RDF command.
"Lisa open all exterior bay doors leading to the Prometheus and the Dadelous and inform everyone onboard of our arrival on Earth." The captain began, "I'll be in my quarters. You have the bridge."
"Aye sir." Lisa replied as the captain left the bridge.
Claudia looked over at Lisa and wondered what her first command decision would be.
"Well Lisa what will we do first?" Claudia asked her best friend.
"You open those exterior doors while I notify everyone of our arrival." Lisa told her.
"Sure thing commander." Claudia said as she began imputing the commands to open the doors.
*******
"People of Macross City members of the RDF citizens of the SDF1," the shipwide transmission began, "at approximately 1100 hours our home of the past two years the SDF1 entered into Earth's atmosphere and began planet fall. Thirty minutes later the SDF1 splashed down into the Pacific Ocean. The captain of the SDF1 has opened all exterior doors to the two aircraft carriers for those who wish to step outside and get some fresh air. On that good note I welcome you home."
The citizens of Macross City began filing out of the shelters and made their way towards the open doors of the ship. The Zentreadi spies noticed where the people of the city were going and decided to follow them. They weren't going to be left out of the loop this time.
The sunlight was a sight to behold and the fresh air felt invigorating. Husbands and wives were kissing and hugging while the children laughed and giggled as they ran around. The Zentreadi spies watched the celebration and decided to play along with the Micronians.
"Yea we're home!" Rico called out as he jumped into the air.
"Hooray we're home!" Bron added.
"Feel that warm sun on your skin. Boy does that feel good." Konda said not even faking it.
Looking around at the happy faces the Zentreadi spies were beginning to feel as though they were actually a part of Macross City and the SDF1.
******
Three hours after splash down Captain Henry J. Gloval of the SDF1 left the ship on a small transport plane with Commander Lisa Hayes to head for RDF command outside Anchorage, Alaska in America. The trip would be long but it would give the captain time to think over exactly what he was going to say to his superiors. The captain and Lisa had been told to report to RDF command after getting in touch with them to formally give a verbal account of what had happened to the SDF1 over the last two years. Lost in thought Gloval didn't even notice the Hawaiian Islands or the coast of California pass below them. It wasn't until the pilot announced their arrival that Henry Gloval knew they had arrived at RDF command headquarters.
"Sir, we're here." the pilot announced.
"What? Oh yes thank you." Gloval replied as he was brought out of his train of thought.
Captain Gloval and Commander Hayes left the plane and made their way to the transport that would take them to the underground base that was the command center for the RDF.
The enclosed transport car traveled down the long tunnel towards the main section of the RDF command center. Lisa looked around and marveled at the sheer size of the tunnel.
"Captain what is this section we're traveling in now?" Lisa asked with the curiosity of a child.
Deciding to pass the time better the captain told Lisa all about the inner workings of the Grand Cannon the Earth's best weapon for defense.
"What we are traveling in Lisa happens to be the barrel for the Grand Cannon." Gloval began, "You see Lisa the Grand Cannon uses the Earth's own gravity as the main energy source for the cannon. The beam shot by the cannon can traverse the Earth's atmosphere reaching into space. Tell me Lisa have you ever been here before?"
"My father used to bring me here when I was little but he never showed me the barrel." Lisa told him.
The captain looked at his first officer and realized that even she did not know about the intricacies of the greatest project in the history of OTECH. The admiral has kept this from his own daughter, Gloval thought as he kept looking at Lisa.
"I'm surprised he didn't bring you to this part of the base Lisa. He did have the proper clearance to do so and he still does." Gloval commented.
"Are you saying my father was one of the men behind the Grand Cannon?" Lisa wanted to know.
Lisa waited for Gloval to say something in reply to her question but instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out the pipe he always had with him. She knew full well something was bothering the captain when he reached for his pipe. The only time he smoked it was to ease his troubled mind.
"Captain is something wrong?" Lisa asked quite concerned for the elder man.
"Lisa I do believe the government leaders might be too stubborn to accept a truce with the Zentreadi." The captain replied.
The remainder of the ride was spent in silence as Lisa let what the captain said sink in. If the world government didn't do something soon war would break out on Earth.
******
The leaders of the RDF sat at a tall circular desk in the darkened room. Behind them was a map of the world with electronic indicators showing the location of each base within the RDF. The light where Macross Island once existed was no longer lit indicating the base was no more. The generals and admirals looked very intimidating on the large videoconference screens. Taking his place at the podium with Lisa by his side Captain Gloval cleared his throat and began his report.
"Good afternoon gentlemen. As you all know I am Captain Henry J. Gloval of the SDF1. For the past two years the SDF1 has been making its way back to Earth. This report that I have compiled for you highlights the events that have taken place during those two years. I shall begin on the day of our alleged disappearance from Earth.
"On December 5, 2009 the crew of the SDF1 began making final preparations for our launch. The occasion was marked with a great celebration in Macross City on the island of Macross. An air show and a formal speech to be given by the mayor were to be the highlights of the day. But almost immediately after I arrived on the bridge of the SDF1 things started to go wrong.
******
"I feel a great evil approaching." Rei said.
The captain, Lisa, and Claudia looked at each other with obvious confusion. They had no idea about Rei's precognitive skills. Mina and Michelle on the other hand looked at each other with sheer terror on their faces. They knew all too well what Rei meant when she had one of her flashes.
True to Rei's ominous premonition the alarm system began to sound off in the bridge. Claudia scrambled to see what she could do to shut it off. As she tried to get things under control she found out she was locked out of her control station. Looking at the screen Claudia could see the main guns begin to go on line in preparation to fire.
"Captain the main guns are preparing to fire!" Claudia called out over the sound of the alarm.
"What?! That's impossible!" the captain yelled back to her.
"Sir, I'm locked out of my terminal." Mina told him.
"Claudia shut down the main guns now." Captain Gloval ordered.
"I can't captain. Believe me I've tried and my station's not responding." Claudia replied.
"What about communications Michelle?" the captain needed to know.
"Nothing sir the system won't respond to anything I try to do." She told him.
Why did Amy have to go into medical training, Rei thought.
"Sir I can't get any response from the radar systems either." Rei reported.
"Lisa what are you getting?" the captain asked her.
"Nothing sir. I can't get anything on my screen and like the others my station is not responding." Lisa replied with obvious fear in her voice.
Outside the SDF1 the main guns began find their target. Locking in on the target the guns powered up and prepared to fire. All at once the guns went off and an explosion could be seen in the sky over Macross City. The people gathered at the airbase began to get out of there as the government officials began scrambling for answers.
On the bridge of the SDF1 Captain Henry Gloval was none too pleased with their current situation. The ship they thought they knew everything about was actually a booby trap. As the main guns went off line the ship's systems came back under control.
"They have sent us to our deaths." The captain commented with a chuckle.
******
"We learned the SDF1 had a built in defense mechanism designed to protect it against any alien threat. This defense system was obviously built by the aliens who had originally constructed the SDF1. The explosion of the main cannons was the beginning of what we now call the Robotech War. At the time we knew very little about the aliens who were attacking us. But on that day I learned something always took place before each alien attack. Something I learned to trust and at times rely on. My radar officer comes from a strong Shinto background in Japan and has the ability to sense when an attack is about to take place. This proved time and time again to be a useful tool for us especially during that first attack.
******
Once again Rei got another premonition and stiffened. She quickly turned around to check the radar screen in time to see forty blips on the screen heading straight towards the SDF1.
"Sir, we've got forty incoming unidentified bogeys headed this way." Rei called out.
"Long range sensors indicate these things are packing a lot of fire power." Claudia reported.
"Lisa call out the Veritech squads now!" the captain ordered.
"Aye, aye sir." Lisa began, "Red alert all Veritech squads report for duty now this is not a drill repeat this is not a drill."
******
"The battle raged on for hours and we were instructed by the highest ranking official present to launch the SDF1 immediately to draw the firepower from the enemy pods away from the city. We hastily launched the SDF1 and watched the Veritech squads go up against the alien threat. In an attempt to draw the aliens away from Earth I ordered the Veritech squads to return to the SDF1 and the ship to begin a descent towards the planet. When we reached one thousand feet above the island the SDF1 was to engage its space fold engines. This proved to be our salvation and the beginning of our great journey.
******
One thousand feet above Macross Island a great sphere of light encircled the SDF1. As the light engulfed the battle cruiser it began to grow ever larger surrounding all that was in its path. The small orange experimental aircraft that was moments earlier inside a hanger on the SDF1 had no chance to escape the light of the fold. The island below was also left without a way to escape the impending doom. A few minutes after the order to begin the space fold jump was given by Captain Henry Gloval on board the SDF1 the battle cruiser, a small experimental airplane, two large aircraft carriers, and an entire island disappeared from the face of the earth.
On board the bridge of the SDF1 Corporal Rei Hino had a vision of impending doom.
******
"We quickly learned that our fold did not take us to our intended destination of the far side of the moon. Whether it was a miscalculation or a malfunction we do not know but the SDF1 soon found itself farther from home than we had intended. And we also learned we had brought something along for the ride. Once again it was my radar officer who gave us the first indication something went wrong.
******
"No it can't be." Michelle said in utter shock to her friends.
"We didn't reappear on the far side of the moon." Mina added.
"That's not the half of it guys we picked up some stragglers along for the ride." Rei told them.
The rest of the bridge crew stood there in stunned silence as they saw what lay before them. Beneath the SDF1 was not the moon of the Earth but the frozen wasteland of the ninth planet of the solar system the tiny planet of ice known as Pluto.
"Captain, I'm picking up something on the long range scanners." Rei informed him, "It appears to be a city covered in ice."
"Captain, I'm picking up a distress signal. It seems to be coming from the Prometheus." Michelle reported to the rest of the crew.
"What? The Prometheus, but how?" the captain demanded to know.
"I've established communications with the Prometheus. It looks like everyone on board is going to be all right but their captain tells me the Dadelous and the entire island of Macross is on the surface of that planet with them." Michelle informed him.
******
"After we rescued the people from the surface of the planet Pluto we began attaching the two aircraft carriers to the SDF1 in an attempt to add extra launching space to our ship. After we completed that task we began rebuilding the city inside the SDF1. In my mind it was the least we could do for the people of Macross City. After learning the fold engines were no longer useful we prepared for the long journey home. We thought our return home would only last a year but a few memorable events along the way stretched that return time out a year longer than we expected.
"During the first few months after the fold we were able to create what we call the pinpoint shield system. Also during that time we made our way past the last three planets in our solar system. It was at this time that the enemy began attacking us once more. We gave the enemy a pretty god run for the money when we used the ship's transformation capabilities. After a minor incident near Jupiter we made our way to Mars where we picked up a signal coming from Base Sara. I had decided to send down Commander Hayes and the Skull Squad to investigate the source of the signal and secure the area." Gloval reported.
"At the base I learned there were no survivors left. After reporting in to the SDF1 I started on my way to oversee the transport of usable supplies and equipment. But before I could reach the transports the enemy began attacking Base Sara."
******
Lisa knew she had to tell the captain and the crew of the SDF1 the grim news. As the tears streamed down her face Lisa began her transmission.
"This is Lisa Hayes inside Mars Base Sara calling the SDF1." She said.
"This is the SDF1 go ahead Lisa." Claudia responded.
"The search for survivors on the base has turned up negative. There are no survivors in Sara sir what do you want me to do next?" Lisa told them.
"I want you to see if there are any usable supplies left on the base so we can transport them to the SDF1." The captain replied.
"Aye sir." Lisa said as she ended the transmission.
******
For the next hour Captain Gloval continued to give the top brass at RDF command his report on the events of the past two years with several interruptions from the generals and admirals. After the Base Sara incident the captain went into the details surrounding the decision made by him to allow the people of Macross to be able to hold a beauty pageant. He even went into the details of how the mere mention of a pageant changed the morale of everyone on board the SDF1. It was one of the better decisions he and the mayor made together.
"The whole attitude of the crew and the people of Macross City changed for the better with the anticipation surrounding the upcoming pageant." The captain told them.
"Everyone had pageant fever even members of my bridge crew.
******
The pageant became the talk of the crew onboard the SDF1. All the men talked about the beautiful girls in the pageant and all the women talked about the possible prizes. One thing was for certain the mere mention of a pageant was brightening the sprits of everyone on the ship and giving them something to look forward to.
Even the bridge crew was talking about the pageant. Claudia thought it would be a good morale booster for the people of the city. But Lisa didn't see it that way. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to go into something like that. Rei and Michelle thought the pageant would be a good way for people to get their minds off their current predicament. Mina on the other hand wanted to be a part of the Miss Macross pageant. She wanted to be an idol singer.
"Hey guys I'm going into town and sign up for the Miss Macross pageant when the shift is over." Mina announced to her friends.
"Hoping to cash in on some good prizes Mina?" Claudia asked her.
"I'm hoping to get back in the spotlight lieutenant. I haven't done anything like this since I did some character modeling for the first Sailor V movie." Mina told her.
"What about the idol singer contest?" Rei reminded her.
"Oh yeah that too." Mina said.
*******
"Shortly after the Miss Macross pageant we began making attempts to contact RDF command for two weeks straight. The enemy intercepted each attempt we made to contact RDF command. It wasn't until we tried a few clever maneuvers that our transmissions finally made it through to the RDF command. But the news we were hoping to hear never came.
******
"Captain we actually made it through." Michelle said very surprised at what she had seen.
For the first time in over two weeks Captain Henry Gloval commander of the SDF1 gave a huge sigh of relief. Now all they needed to do was wait for a reply.
"All we need now is a reply from the RDF command." The captain told them.
"Sir I'm receiving a priority one transmission from RDF command." Michelle informed him.
"Put it through." He said.
"SDF1 this is Colonel Garrett at RDF command it certainly is good to hear that everyone aboard your ship is alive and well. However, we can not we can not allow you to return to Earth. The enemy has not yet attacked Earth. For our safety and yours the longer you keep the enemy away from Earth the better off we'll all be." The colonel said.
******
"After receiving less than encouraging news we debated about what we were going to do next. But before we could even get the conversation going we received a strange transmission from the enemy after almost two years of chasing after the SDF1 the aliens sent their first communication to us. It scared each and every one of us to hear the enemy speaking in a language we could all understand. And during this transmission we finally learned what the enemy call themselves.
******
Michelle was still scanning the communication channels when she noticed a strange noise on the frequency they had originally used to try and contact RDF command. As she boosted the signal the transmission came in loud and clear for all to hear. Everyone was in a state of shock when they heard the alien speaking in perfect English.
"We are the Zentreadi." The alien voice announced.
"Well at least now we know what to call them." Mina said.
"Surrender your vessel now or we will begin attacking your home world." The alien demanded.
******
"The Zentreadi had laid the cards out on the table, the SDF1 for the safety of the Earth thousands for billions. We weren't about to let that happen and we decided to do to them what they had been doing to us. We were going to listen in on their transmissions just like they had been listening in on our transmissions. And to do so I had decided to use the cat's eye plane escorted by four Veritech fighters to fly close to the Zentreadi ships and listen in on their transmissions. But something went wrong and the cat's eye plane and the entire escort unit were captured by the Zentreadi." The captain reported.
"The Zentreadi took the myself and four others for examination and questioning. They kept asking if we knew anything about the location of a substance they call protoculture. It seems protoculture is a key component to their makeup.
"When I told the Zentreadi leader we knew nothing about protoculture the Zentreadi became curious to know how human beings create a new generation to continue the race. The answer and what followed was quite interesting to both the Zentreadi and my fellow crewmembers.
******
Dolza was intrigued by what Rick and Ben had told him and wanted to know exactly what a kiss was. And the only way he would know is if someone showed him.
"You two," he said pointing to Rick and Ben, "show me what you mean by kiss."
Kissing, the Zentreadi demanded that Rick and Ben show them kissing. What happened next confused the Zentreadi further. The two pilots stared at each other like they were contaminated
"I'll do it." Lisa volunteered.
Dolza put Lisa down so she could show them kissing. Lisa looked around at the men in the room as though she was picking a piece of produce. After making her decision Lisa walked over to Rick and began talking to him.
"Alright Lt. Hunter you and I are going to kiss." She said to Rick.
"What? Have you lost your mind? What about Ben or Darien?" Rick replied trying to back out.
"I can't kiss Corporal Shields it wouldn't be right. He loves Serena. And as for Corporal Dixon no offense but I couldn't see myself kissing him." Lisa explained.
"Well then why can't Serena and Darien kiss for them?" Rick wanted to know.
"I volunteered to do it. And besides I want to get their reaction on tape." Lisa said.
"You're recording all of this?" Rick asked.
"Yes, that way we'll be able to give our findings to RDF command when return to the Earth."
"If we return at all."
"Look I don't have time to argue about this Rick so just kiss me already."
"Only if it's an order commander."
"If that's the way you want it to be then I order you to kiss me."
Rick sighed and gave in to Lisa's direct order to kiss her. Leaning in close to each other Rick and Lisa placed their lips together and began kissing. Then without even knowing it Rick pulled Lisa into his arms. Lisa instinctively placed her arms around Rick's neck.
Why does this feel so familiar to me? Rick thought.
Why does it feel like I've kissed him before? Lisa thought to herself.
As the Zentreadi watched Rick and Lisa kiss they began screaming and backing away from the table. Never in all their lives had they seen a male and a female get so close to each other. A minute later when the kiss ended the Zentreadi high commander stared at Rick and Lisa in horror.
Lisa and Rick backed away from each other with looks of dread in their eyes. The simple kiss had become much more then either had intended. What was supposed to be a way to show the Zentreadi what love looked like had turned into the beginnings of real feelings towards one another. Oh my god what just happened there, Lisa thought. I can't be having feelings for Commander Hayes I love Minmei or do I, Rick thought as he stared at Lisa.
"Get them out of here!" Dolza demanded.
******
For the next hour Lisa recounted everything in her report about the Zentreadi. She gave the top brass in the RDF all the specifics about the size of the Zentreadi fleet and their technology. The top men in the RDF didn't even look as though they cared about what the daughter of Admiral Hayes was telling them. It seemed to Gloval that all they cared about was anything that would tell them whether or not the Zentreadi wanted to attack the Earth. And like the other officials on the SDF1 they tried to find a way to discredit everything Lisa was telling them only they didn't turn it into some type of joke. In their minds the farther away from Earth the SDF1 was the better off they thought they would be. With the completion of OTECH's greatest accomplishment RDF command began to act as though they didn't need the SDF1 anymore.
"Gentlemen this concludes our report on the past two years and the Zentreadi." Captain Gloval said bringing the verbal report to a close.
The large video screens went blank as the top men in the RDF deliberated their decision on the requests made by Captain Gloval for a truce between the humans and the Zentreadi.
"I can't believe how insensitive they were being." Lisa complained.
"It seems they didn't want to believe what we were telling them." Gloval replied.
"The others I can understand but my own father?" Lisa said trying not to believe her father could be just as cruel and uncaring as the rest of the RDF leaders.
After two hours of deliberations the RDF leaders reappeared on the video screens looking just as stern and uncaring as ever. Lisa and the captain stood up from their seats and saluted their commanding officers before taking their places by the podium once again.
"After careful consideration we have no choice but to reject your request for peace talks with the Zentreadi." General Hammond told them.
The captain couldn't believe his ears and wanted to know how the top brass was going to win against such a strong opponent.
"General do you think you'll be able to win against a four million strong Zentreadi fleet?" Captain Gloval demanded to know.
"Captain Gloval it is not a question of whether or not we will win it is a question of how well the Zentreadi can be trusted to participate in truce talks in good faith." Hammond replied tersely.
Gloval knew he wouldn't be able to win the battle over the truce talks and decided to ask what he should do with the people of Macross City.
"What then are we to do with the people of Macross City?" he asked in a more civil tone.
"Captain Gloval while we truly feel for the people of Macross City we can not allow them to return to the Earth. In fact to the eyes of the world the citizens of Macross are dead. We published a report to the press stating that it was a terrorist attack that took out the island and the city along with it." Admiral Hayes began, "The people of this planet have been living out the last two years in peace. When you disappeared the Zentreadi, as you call them, left to find you and the SDF1. Since then there has not been a single alien attack upon the Earth. We have kept the knowledge of the aliens away from the public eye and we intend to keep it that way. Letting the citizens of Macross back into normal society would cause widespread panic over the entire Earth. We wish to prevent that from happening by keeping them away from our world. It is much easier to monitor any possible treasonous acts when the people of Macross are all on the SDF1. We are not afraid to sacrifice thousands of lives to save the billions here on Earth. We don't really need the SDF1 anymore to defend our world. OTECH has now seen to the safety of the Earth with the completion of the Grand Canon. So in order to keep this planet free of all alien activity we are ordering the SDF1 to return to space immediately. We need the extra time in order to prepare for an intergalactic war and you are going to buy that time for us."
Lisa was going to try and get her father to see things from their point of view. She didn't care about the other officials in the room with him.
"Father this is too much to ask of the civilians on the SDF1. They have finally returned to Earth and you want to turn them away. You have to let them return to society." Lisa pleaded.
"Commander Hayes have you forgotten that I am your commanding officer?" the admiral began, "Now I would like you to kindly remember to address me as such in the future."
"Yes sir." Lisa replied sounding quite defeated.
"Now then if there is nothing else to discuss we can consider this matter closed. Dismissed." Hammond told the two senior officers.
After saluting their superiors as the screens went blank for good Gloval turned to Lisa.
"Commander would you like to see your father to spend some family time with him before we leave." He told her.
"Captain I do not wish to see the Admiral for the remainder of our stay here." Lisa replied strongly emphasizing her father's title.
"I understand completely and I sympathize with how you are feeling Lisa." Gloval said making Lisa feel a bit better about things.
TBC in part 2 of Homecoming!
Please R&R!
