Chapter 5

The sun was beginning to rise on Macross City. Streetlamps sensed the gradually increasing light, and began to dim with the sunrise. Michael Joons stood at Commander Hayes' door, dressed in full military regalia. He carefully held a small envelope, addressed to Hayes from the Echo command post.

He yawned, and knocked on the door quietly. It opened a moment later, and to his surprise, Rick Hunter stood in the doorway. He was wearing his uniform, but it was badly creased. Hunter's hair was tassled about, and he was in need of a shave.

"Morning, Joons!" Hunter said quickly.

Joons didn't skip a beat. "Good morning, sir!" he laughed. "I seem to have caught you at a bad time!"

"Nah," Rick waved. "I was getting up anyway."

Joons realized Hunter wasn't catching on. He gave an exaggerated glance at Lisa's address number, and then at the paper he was holding. "I would be at Commander Hayes' residence," he grinned, "wouldn't I?"

Rick stared at him for a moment. "Well, yeah...what are you getting at, here?" He suddenly slapped his face. "Ah! Right, right. Okay, this might look bad..."

"None of my business!" said Joons, throwing his hands in the air.

"No, seriously," said Rick. "The commander isn't feeling well. I just kept her company last night, that's all."

"Oh, how incredibly benevolent! Keeping a beautiful young lady company all night..."

"Shut up, Joons," Rick waved.

Lisa stepped into the doorway, still wrapped in her blankets. "Who is it, Rick?" she yawned, and rubbed her eyes. "Oh! Hello, Joons!"

"Good morning, Commander!" Joons saluted informally. "I'll make this quick, but believe it or not, I needed to see both of you."

He handed Lisa the envelope. "Commander Sever's First Lieutenant had me give this to you," he said. "I'm not sure what it's about."

"With my luck," Lisa sighed tiredly, "I've been discharged."

"Cool!" said Rick. "Joons, can I have one of those?"

Joons shook his head. "I'm afraid not, sir. You've been called to the base immediately. We're flying this morning."

Rick nodded solemnly. "Okay, can I clean up and meet you at the base?"

"No," Joons hesitated. "It'd be best if you came now. The taxi's waiting."

"All right, then. Tell him to hang on and I'll be right out."

Lisa watched from the sofa as Rick stepped quickly through the bathroom door. His uniform was neater than before, but still wrinkled.

"You still look a little messy," she said, standing up and fixing his collar. "If you don't mind my saying so."

"Yeah, I know," he replied. "But I'll be wearing a flight suit in a few minutes anyway." He smiled, and held her hand. "I'll come visit you tonight, then. Hope you feel better."

Lisa squeezed his hand, as Rick turned for the door. "I already do," she said.

Rick reached the front porch, and spun around to face her. "Love you!" he waved, and quickly ran down to the taxicab parked at the curb.

"I love you too," Lisa whispered. She watched the cab roll down the street. When it had vanished from sight, she wrapped the blankets around her, and sat back down on the sofa.

She crumpled a piece of paper under her. Reaching through the blankets, she found the envelope that Joons had presented to her. "Let's see what this is all about," she drolled, half-interested, and ripped it open.

Commander Lisa Hayes

This message is to inform you that Admiral J. Sever has requested your attention. Matters have arisen which require immediate ramifications. This request for attention is NOT a court martial, nor a court subpoena. Present this transcript at the Admiral's office as soon as possible. An appointment is not needed.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation,

The office of Admiral J. Sever

Rick and Joons walked briskly from the pre-flight room, dressed in their Veritech jumpsuits. Rick's suit was white, and striped with red on his chest and legs. Joons wore a green and gold suit that matched his cannon-fodder plane. Both pilots wore an RDF patch on one shoulder. They cradled their helmets between their hands as they navigated the busy hallway.

"Oh," said Joons, looking ahead. "By the way, sir, the entire base knows about the incident a few nights ago."

"Great," winced Rick.

Pilots Hansen and Cabe were leaning against the wall up ahead, with their eyes on Rick. They were a pair of veteran bomber pilots who had been flying since before Rick was born. Both were tall and imposing, with a gruff and careless disposition. Hansen's head and eyebrows were shaved bald, and he proudly showed off a collection of deep scars that covered his head. Cabe had long, scruffy hair and a constant five o'clock shadow, for which he was repeatedly reprimanded.

Rick and Joons tried to pass them, but Cabe stood in their way.

"Hey Hunter!" he laughed in Rick's face. "There's a rule about screwing another officer, you know!"

"Yeah, I know," said Rick coolly. "I guess you and Hansen should break it off before somebody finds out."

The crowded hallway stopped, and laughter began to spread. But Cabe and Hansen were not amused. They shoved Rick and Joons into the wall.

Hansen grabbed Joons by the collar of his jumpsuit. "You little punks think you're funny, don't you?"

Rick rolled his eyes. "What is this, high school or something?" He stepped up to Hansen. "Let my lieutenant go."

Cabe grabbed Rick by the collar as well. "Shut up, Hunter!" he growled. "You're gonna hear us out."

"As it turns out," said Hansen, "you're calling the shots on this mission. We want to make a few things clear before we get up there."

"First off, you will not give us orders," said Cabe. "We've got our orders, and we'll take care of them without your intervention. Second, you will provide full air support for our bombing runs. And third, you will not bring us on some heroic duty once the mission's over. We've got no obligation to get in a dogfight because you want to kill a few extra pods. Understood?"

Rick thinned his eyes. "I missed everything after 'I'm calling the shots.' Now stand down, officer, and let us do our job."

The old pilots looked around at the excited crowd, and threw Rick and Joons aside. As they stormed off to the briefing room, Hansen turned back to face Rick.

"I'm not getting blown away because you decided to get cocky! Remember that!"

Rick sighed, and straightened his flight suit. Joons patted him on the shoulder as they began walking again. "Don't listen to them," he said. "You've got a handle on it."

Lieutenant Martinez ran up from behind them, and matched their stride. He was tall and lanky, with black hair in a buzz cut. His flight suit was gold and green camoflauge, identical to Joons'.

"Hey Joons, hello Commander!" he called. "What'd I miss?"

"Martinez, where have you been?" laughed Rick. "If you'd shown up a few seconds earlier, we could have schoolboyed those guys!"

Joons laughed along. Martinez shrugged, and they entered the briefing room.

"Listen up, soldiers!" said the briefing officer sternly. "I know you all weren't expecting this mission. To be honest, neither were we. It is not a routine patrol. In fact, this mission comes from Admiral Sever himself, so I want you all to pay attention and do him proud."

Rick, Joons, and Martinez sat at one end of the briefing room. Hansen and Cabe were seated at the other. The lights were dimmed, and a giant computer screen presented the mission details before them.

"What we've discovered," continued the officer, "is that our Malcontent friends are planning to ambush Echo Base. They have massed an assault force of thirty Battle Pods. It's not much of an army, but gentlemen, neither are we."

Hansen and Cabe whispered comments to each other. Rick, Joons, and Martinez sat silently, watching images of the Battle Pods come onscreen.

"The Pods are stationed in Quadrant Zero-Five-Niner, at a temporary Zentraedi base. But here's the part that's gonna save your butts. These Pods are automated, totally run by computer and an estimated crew of ten Zentraedi. Intelligence reports that the real Pod pilots are on their way via stolen TC-1 transports. They won't arrive for another day."

Rick's eyes thinned. The transports! he thought. That's what the Zentraedi wanted them for!

The computer screen switched to an image of Veritech fighters. The briefing officer pointed at each one. "Buzzard squadron, you'll be flying your VF-2B's with two shock-bombs and four missle racks each. Your target will be here."

Hansen and Cabe watched the officer point to a small building represented on the screen.

"This," said the officer, "is the Battle Pod control center. It is imperative that you destroy this control center immediately. Once it's been blown, you won't have a dogfight on your hands."

"Sounds like we could fly it ourselves," said Cabe assertively.

The briefing officer frowned. "Don't be a fool," he said. "There's enough potential firepower in that desert to make clean work of a couple Buzzards."

"Potential," Hansen interjected. "Once we blow that control center, the Pods are sitting ducks."

"Even so," said the officer. "The Admiral insists that you carry this mission out successfully. He wishes Commander Hunter's Hawk squadron to personally guide you to the target. Once there, Hunter will give the order to deploy missles. And once the control center is down, the Hawks will be ready with air support while you Buzzards carry out Phase Two."

"Phase Two, sir?" asked Joons. "What's that?"

The briefing officer grinned. "You shock-bomb the hell outta those Malcontent bastards."

Lisa stepped out of the ladies' room, after a long but unsuccessful bout with the mirror. I feel terrible, she thought. I look terrible. I want to go home. I don't know what's going on, but I'm sure I don't need it right now.

She straightened her uniform, and entered the lobby to Admiral Sever's office. It was decorated lavishly, with wood-grain mouldings, rich carpeting, and a variety of paintings on the walls. A portrait of Sever hung next to his office door, above a glass cabinet which housed his medals and awards.

Lisa stepped up to the secretary's counter, and presented the notice. "One moment, Commander," said the young lady, in a rather distasteful manner. "I'll inform the Admiral you're here."

It was not long before the Admiral summoned for her on the intercom. Lisa gathered herself one more time, for impression's sake, if nothing else. She opened the door, and slipped quietly into the office.

Sever was a proud man, indeed. The office was massive in size, and more extravagent than the lobby, with walls engraved in a cold platinum shine. Trophy cases adorned the room, filled with more decorations of war. Sever's desk was huge, and across its face hung a Zentraedi blaster crossed with a Robotech assault rifle. Behind the desk, a balcony overlooked Macross city from the twenty-fifth floor. The gargantuan SDF-1 stared directly through Sever's balcony window, from its spot miles away.

Admiral Sever was seated behind the desk. "Come in, Miss Hayes," he said coldly. His thin, nasal voice was less than intimidating.

Lisa approached the desk. The Admiral did not offer her to take a seat. In fact, after glancing around the room, she realized that Sever's leather chair was the only seat present in the office. Lisa saluted sharply and stood at attention.

"Sir, you wished to see me, sir!" she reported.

"That I did, Miss Hayes," replied Sever. Lisa waited for him to call "at-ease," but he did not. She continued to stand at full attention.

The Admiral rested his skinny arm on the desk. "Miss Hayes, the RDF has laws regarding fraternization with a fellow officer."

Her heart jumped to her throat. "Yes, sir."

"And I, as well as most of Echo Base, am fully aware that you're in some sort of relationship with Commander Rick Hunter. Am I correct?"

Lisa hesitatd. "I...well, I suppose so, sir. Yes, we are."

Sever peered up at her with stern eyes. "I am not concerned with the details of said relationship," he said. "But I do become concerned when your performance is drastically affected. Your position is one of great importance, Miss Hayes. Many lives depend on your role as a bridge commander, including those of our pilots. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, I do."

"And do you also understand that you are an example to the junior officers in your command?"

"Yes sir."

The Admiral leaned back in his chair, and folded his arms. "You're too young, Hayes. It takes a man decades to become an effective commander. He must train through the best years of his life to reach such a position."

He clenched his fist. "And here you are...a woman...and still a child, nothing but a girl. You've not proven yourself as an effective leader, Miss Hayes. You've got a lot to learn about the military."

Lisa blinked in astonishment. "...Sir?"

"I'm reassigning you to the Parts and Salvage division of Echo Base. If you show some promise, we'll see about getting you a bridge position in a few years."

She gasped, and brought her hand to her mouth. "But...but sir! I don't..."

Sever growled, and stood over her. "You will address me with the respect a commanding officer deserves!"

"Sir...y-yes sir." Lisa choked, and returned to attention.

"Now," Sever continued. "Let's talk about the little scene you made with Commander Hunter a few days ago. Shall we?"

"But...sir!" she attempted, her head still spinning. "I...I wasn't fraternizing, sir! Rick...I mean, the Commander...he was wounded! In danger! I was the first to arrive!"

He stepped away from his desk, and approached her, trying to muster more authority than his small frame would allow. "You know what you did was a mistake, Miss Hayes. You deliberately disobeyed orders, and displayed personal affection for the poor sap right on the landing strip. Therefore, I've seen fit to punish you in a like manner."

"But...if I may, sir!..."

"Don't argue with me, Miss Hayes!" yelled Sever. "We haven't got the time. You know why? Because the Commander is flying Strike Mission 0047 at this very moment, and unbeknownst to our hero, he's terribly outmatched. He's flying right into a trap. And it's all your fault."

Lisa panicked. "Sir! You...you can't!"

"Oh, I certainly can, and only I. You see, I ordered this mission personally. And only I can call Hunter's squadron back, and out of a Zentraedi ambush. Don't believe me? You're welcome to call your former control tower."

"Do it!" she cried, lunging in his face. "Call them back! You can't let them die!"

Sever did not stand down. He grew closer, and smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Time is short, Miss Hayes. See where disobeying orders can get you? Now, I can call them back in a second, if I wish. But I think I'll need a little persuasion. A little fraternization, if you prefer."

Lisa's eyes widened, and she gasped in terror.

"What are you going to do," Sever grinned, and squeezed her close. "Slap me?"

She pulled back her arm, and punched him square in the face.

The admiral toppled over his own desk, landing in his chair and spinning into the balcony windows. The glass cracked behind him, as he shook away dizziness.

"You filthy, hypocritical rat!" screamed Lisa, panting angrily.

Sever nursed a bloody face. "I'll have you court-martialed!" he shouted.

"I'll have you hanged for murder!" Lisa yelled.

"Ah, but will you?" he sneered, trying to get his footing. "I highly doubt it. Because, as it turns out, you suffer from schizophrenia, and I'm the valiant hero who survived your violent attack! All I have to do is say the word, and it becomes law!"

He approached her again, and wiped his bloody mouth. "So, I suggest you cooperate, or I may have to..."

Lisa kicked him powerfully in the stomach. Sever fell back again, and crashed through the glass. He rolled onto the balcony wailing in pain.

Lisa panted and cried as she sprinted out of his office, and through the lobby. She ran down Echo Base's empty hallways at random, until she was exhausted, and sure no one was following her. She stopped and leaned against the steel wall.

With her hands pressed firmly against her face, she slid down to the grated metal floor. Oh...oh god...what am I going to do?