Hopes and Dreams
A/N: Ok, well here is the next chapter, it may be long, it may not, I don't know so just read it.
Rick woke up with a start and looked around at his surroundings and tried to think about where he was and as he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes the realization came washing over him. He looked around and for Lisa, she wasn't in the room and he got up and looked for her, not panicking.
He walked out of the bedroom and saw Lisa, her eyes puffy and her face red sitting watching the TV with the volume low. She didn't look up, so he assumed that she hadn't heard him so he stood behind her silently watching the live new coverage of what was being called the Christmas Day Massacre, and for good reason.
Eighteen Zentraedi fanatics had blown themselves up in the RDF base in Macross, and thought on a normal day there wouldn't have been many higher ranking officer, but this had been an unusual circumstance and there had been almost every high ranking officer there with the exclusion of three: Lisa, a Civil Defense General and some obscure R&D man.
An as far as survivors went, of the eight thousand men and women who were to live on the RDF barracks, almost twelve hundred were dead and two thousand were wounded, and the entire command structure of the RDF, and CD had been ravaged. An it would appear that they were going to have a meeting today to figure out who were going to be promoted.
Although Admiral Gloval wasn't dead, the rumor was that his injuries were severe enough that he wouldn't be in any command positions any time soon. There was also rumor that Maistroff and Reinhart were dead and all the other officers had been killed, it would appear that the Zentraedi had received a tip from an inside source that all the top officers were in that building.
Rick heard Lisa shutter as the camera panned over the destruction. Rick looked at the bottom of the screen and looked at the time and saw that Monument City, New Detroit, and New Denver were all offering support and a few of the South American cities were offering to send some security teams to Macross.
Rick moved up to Lisa and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and put his head on her shoulder and he felt her hand go up to his head. Rick averted his gaze back to the TV and saw the numbers of dead and wounded, and missing, and the total number of casualties came to four thousand. This hit Rick hard as he thought about how much four thousand military personal was in the post holocaust Earth.
Rick closed his eyes and just looked rested his head on Lisa's shoulder and thought about their first Christmas together and thought of how good it had started an then how bad it had gotten after the Zentraedi attacked. Rick opened his eyes and kissed Lisa's head and continued to rest his head on her shoulder.
Lisa turned and looked at Rick with her sorrowful, but beautiful emerald eyes and he could see the pain and anguish on her face, "Rick, I don't know what we are going to do, if the Zentraedi are going to resort to terror tactics and blow themselves up we are going to have to do what Exedore said, and eradicate every Zentraedi on the planet."
Rick looked at her and knew that she was right, but it didn't matter that he knew she was right she would have to deal with all the remaining officers in the RDF, and god knows there were few of them left. Rick kissed Lisa lightly and told her that he was going to go back to his quarters and get into his uniform because he was sure that they'd have to go in today.
Lisa nodded her head and told him that she was going to do the same. Rick went to the door and stood there till he was sure that she was getting ready and was focused before he left and jogged to his house and jumped in the shower quickly and got his uniform on and heard a knock at his door.
Rick finished his uniform and brought the towel with him to finish drying off his hair and opened the door to see a squad of soldiers waiting for him, "Sir, we're going to have to ask you to come with us," said the sergeant. Rick gave him a puzzled look and looked and saw an SUV with a jeep in front of it and behind it and threw the towel off to the side and walked out with the sergeant.
As he walked to the SUV and opened the door he saw a few other officers and saw Lisa in the passengers seat, and got in and closed the door, "What's going on here," Rick asked to anyone in particular, and Lisa answered him in her professional voice.
"We are getting an armored escort to the SDF-1 incase there are any Zentraedi follow up attacks." Lisa was silent after that and Rick didn't say anything else as they got closer to the SDF-1 and they realized that they wouldn't be having the meeting in one of the buildings, but rather in the SDF-1.
The convoy stopped in the front of the SDF-1 and all the officers could see a large number of soldiers patrolling the area and they had to have the door's opened for them before they could get out. As the officers got out the soldiers began to fall in around them and escort them into the SDF-1 where a Captain met them.
Rick started to peel off for the hanger and the captain saw him, "Commander Hunter, where do you think you're going?" Rick looked at him and a puzzled look came over his face and the man smiled, ruefully albeit, "Your one of the few veteran high ranking pilots, so you are going to be present for this meeting too," Rick shrugged and fell back in with the rest of the officers.
They followed the officer for a short ways and they got to one of the conference rooms and the Captain left them and they walked in to see a Intelligence officer with the rank of Commander and as the officers walked in they began to take their seats and the Intel officer stood up and pulled out a piece of paper from a folder.
"In light of recent events, the RDF and CD have decided to replace officers that have been killed or are otherwise going to be out of commission for a while," the Intel officer said, "An out first order of business is filling the void left by the absence of Admiral Gloval, and the bets logical choice that we have come up with is, Captain Lisa Hayes, you are being promoted to Admiral."
Lisa's eyes widened and her jaw dropped a little, she stood up and the officers in the room applauded, most in the room knew that she was the next logical choice to be made Admiral, an no one seemed surprised except Rick and Lisa. Lisa walked forward and received her new rank insignia's and was told her new uniform would be ready within the hour.
An the Intel Officer went on for another half hour talking and talking and promoting, and finally Rick heard his name, "And Commander Rick Hunter, being one of the few veteran pilot's left with leadership experience is being promoted to Captain of the RDF Veritech Wing," Rick's eye's widened and he got up to get his captain's rank and the Intel Officer get him his rank and she gave him and wink that didn't go un-noticed by Lisa.
The Intel Officer said a few more words and turned to Lisa, "Admiral Hayes, I believe that this meeting is yours from here on out, there are few issues that need to be addressed and they are there on the table where I was," an then the Intel Officer left, leaving Lisa to get to the head of the table and picked up the list.
She dreaded as she saw there were only two things on the list: Deal with the shortage of RDF personal, and what to do about Khyron. Lisa knew the second issue would be the easier one to deal with, but the first would be infinitely more difficult seeing as how the RDF already had a personal shortage and now it was even more serious seeing as how twelve hundred experienced men and women were dead and another two thousand plus were wounded or missing and presumed dead.
"Well," Lisa started still unsure on which issue she would tackle first, "we have two major issues, first is what to do about Khyron and his new tactic," Lisa stopped as she saw a few people start to talk, so she decided that this would be the first issue they would discuss.
"So since this issue seems to be of interest right now, we will discuss this now," Lisa said in a professional tone that dispelled any arguments. One of the officers who after a quick look at his name tag she remembered was Colonel Tye, so she decided to recognize him, "Yes Colonel Tye, what would you suggest?" Lisa said to him.
Colonel Tye rose and cleared his throat, "Well, seeing as how the Zentraedi have taken a serious step in the direction of terrorism and more...covert and clandestine means of attack, I think it would help the city of Macross and even the other cities if we could perhaps devote more of our resources to intelligence operations and prevent such attacks in the future," Tye said his voice wavering under the intense scrutiny of the other in the room.
A General stood, "I don't think that idea is going to work, how are we supposed to gather intelligence on a Zentraedi, if it was another human organization, but these are fifty food tall warriors who can tell about these types of things," he said and sat back down.
Rick watched with a slight amusement as a few more officers started to get involved and what had started out as a somewhat orderly meeting soon degraded into a shouting match. Rick glanced to Lisa and saw that she was clearly out of control of the situation and could she was quickly losing her grip and in a second she would run out of the room so he stood up.
"HEY!" Rick yelled and seemed to stop the arguing long enough for them to look at him and then he realized that they were waiting for him to speak, "all this arguing isn't getting us anywhere, what we really need to do it agree on something," Rick paused and say that they were actually listening to him, "Now Col. Tye what was it that you suggested, something about increased intelligence operation?" Rick asked, and Tye nodded his head.
Rick turned his attention to a Major that had suggested something about patrolling the streets, "Major..." Rick stopped and looked at the man, "Major Moore," He said and Rick nodded his head.
"I think Major Moore has made a good point by putting armed patrols in the streets to make the Zentraedi think twice before they try to do anything like they did yesterday," Rick said with a note of finality and everyone seemed to agree. An then he turned his attention to a R&D officer with a nerdy look.
"And you General Jackson, you made a mention about a detection device that could track the genetic and chemical differences in a human and Zentraedi?" Rick asked the scrawny looking man with the large rimmed glasses. He gave a nod of his head every so slightly and Rick looked at Lisa.
"Admiral, I think that we may have come to an agreement now, with your permission we would like to start patrols in the streets of Macross and step up intelligence operations and if what Gen Jackson says is correct we can install a system of these detectors around the RDF bases seeing as how most RDF personal are human we can stop and Zentraedi before they get close." Rick looked at Lisa and she just gave a sigh and nodded her head.
Rick sat down and Lisa rose, "Now the next issue is the serious manpower shortage we now have in the RDF and CD. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can take care of this issue?" Lisa asked hoping that someone would have a good and relevant response to this one.
And much to her surprise Colonel Tye stood up, "Yes ma'am, as you all know there is a military program that has been instituted in all high schools in Macross and at Macross University, it is the Accelerated Pilot and Training Corp, or APTC, and is open to all boys and girls interested between the ages of fifteen to eighteen, and I was under the impression that we could use these young...aspiring servicemen and women as the replacements that the RDF and CD need so badly," an as he sat down a few people had approving looks on their faces and a few people had looks of horror.
Rick was one of those who didn't like the idea of using teenagers as replacements for the badly mauled RDF an he planned on making his opinion known, "I think that is a bad idea, I wouldn't condone the use of kids barely old enough to start driving and allow them to fly a Veritech or wield a gun, that would make us as bad as the Zentraedi and make up look that much more like a war driven society to use kids," Rick sat down and a few people agreed and seconded what Rick said.
Colonel Tye stood again, "But Captain, you judge these men and women before you even give them a chance," he said, "at least let me show you the cadet commander of the high school APTC corp., at least be fair," Colonel Tye said, and Rick began to rise to argue but Lisa beat him to it.
"Why'll I wouldn't personally like to see you men and women dying, I think we are at a critical stage where we need to consider it as a possibility, and so Colonel Tye I will allow you to present the APTC corp. commander, an depending on his response I will base my decision on whether I will allow this," Lisa said as she lowered herself back down to her seat.
Tye smiled and walked to the door and said something to a figure and he pulled back and a man, no more a boy than a man walked into the room. The Cadet's uniform was white like the RDF dress uniform was and he wore it smartly as he walked in proudly and Rick saw on the boy's face much of what he had been only a few years ago.
The boy stopped three paces from Lisa and came to attention and offered her a very smart military salute and held it rigidly until she returned her salute, "Admiral ma'am Cadet Colonel Aaron Hunter," and she stopped and she gave him an at ease and he seemed to change little as he rested his body. Rick had to admit, he looked sharp and if there were more like him then maybe they should use the APTC as replacement, but one threw Rick, his last name was Hunter, but he shrugged it off as coincidence.
Lisa looked at him and thought of a question, "Cadet Hunter, what made you want to join the APTC?" Lisa asked him seriously her eyes drilling him like he was under interrogation for some horrible offense. An he didn't back down as he stared back at her with eyes that were a lot like Rick's in more ways then one.
"I joined the APTC corp. ma'am because I felt that it was my duty to defend the Earth from all enemies whether they be human or alien." His words came out clearly and concisely and the answer was direct and to the point and Lisa couldn't argue with what he said.
"How long have you been enrolled in APTC Cadet?" Lisa asked him,
Cadet Hunter looked at her, "Ma'am I was involved in reserve officer training programs long before the APTC I have been in the Youth ROTC since I was seven years old, a sort of Spartan life style ma'am."
Lisa nodded her head, he had indeed been training himself like one of the Spartans, of he had really been in the YROTC since he was that age he could quite possibly ready for a position in the RDF or CD, and be quite a good officer.
"How old are you Cadet," Lisa asked, this was the pivotal question.
Cadet Hunter had a sad look in his eye and opened his mouth to speak, "I was seventeen yesterday ma'am," he said no more and Lisa nodded in understanding.
"One more question Cadet Hunter, how much of your corp. would be ready to join the military at this point of the need arose?" Cadet Hunter smiled and pulled out a think piece of paper from his service dress and handed it to her, "This ma'am is the name of every APTC cadet in Macross who would join the military now if the call went out," and Lisa took the papers and started to look at the names and went directly to the last page and saw the numbers and barely managed to hide her shock, there were six thousand names on this list all willing to join.
She looked at Cadet Hunter and looked at the Officers and stood up, "I do believe we have found the answer to our manpower shortages, there is over six thousand names here all willing to join now if the need be, so Colonel Tye I am going to approve the use of the APTC corp. as replacements. An I believe this is enough for one meeting you all are dismissed," Everyone got up and moved except Rick and the Cadet.
Lisa turned her attention to Cadet Hunter first and for the first time saw him without his military air and saw he looked like any other seventeen year old boy, he was average height about five foot nine inches and appeared to be in shape and she looked at his face and saw that he was clean shaven but he had a wild head of hair.
"Yes Cadet Hunter, is there anything I can do for you?" She saw the smile come over his face.
"Yes Admiral Hayes I just wanted to thank you for giving me, I mean us our chance to fight for Earth, it is our planet too and I just want to let you know how grateful I am," his smile was large and she could see that he was sincere and she saw a somewhat mad Rick and she decided to keep Cadet Hunter here.
"So Cadet Hunter, what do you want to do in the RDF?" Lisa asked and she saw his face light up.
"I have always wanted to fly a Veritech, flying has been a dream of mine since before I could walk, I have always felt at home in the air soaring in the clouds," he had a somewhat lost look on his face and she could see he was day dreaming, and she couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Well Cadet Hunter, if you want to talk to someone who knows a little about flying you can talk to Commander Hunter right behind you," Lisa couldn't help but telling him to talk to Rick, it was weird having two men named Hunter right there in the same space an it didn't help that they looked a more then just a little alike.
Cadet Hunter spun around and looked at Rick and a look of a child in a candy store came over his face, his hand went into his pocket and he pulled out a sharpie and a looked at Rick, "Could I have your autograph?" The young Cadet asked Rick.
Rick was so taken back that he forgot that he was mad and took the marker and looked at him, "What do you want me to sign?" Rick asked and Aaron held out his and palm up and Rick noticed that he had on a white dress glove and Rick smiled and signed it.
"Wow," Aaron said taking it in and he looked at Rick and was about to bombard him with a million questions but Colonel Tye poked his head through the door and called for him to come along and Aaron with an awed look on his face looked from Rick to Lisa and held out his and to Rick and shook his hand and did the same for Lisa.
An with that Aaron strode out of the room with the autographed glove still on his hand and Lisa couldn't help but watch and give a smile as she watched him, she didn't know why but she liked him, she reminded her of Rick.
[Later that night]
Rick sat down next to Lisa as they watched TV and sat there together as the newsman explained now why there were armored RDF patrols and why over six thousand teenagers would be reporting to the main RDF base in Macross. Rick looked at Lisa and wrapped his arm around her, "You sure we made the right decision? I mean they are nothing but kids they seem a little young to be fighting."
Lisa sighed and lay her head down on his shoulder, "Well I agree they are young, but I think they deserve the right to defend Earth, you heard Cadet Hunter today if there are anymore like him we won't have any problems. An that reminds me, that Cadet reminds me a lot of you," Lisa said prodding him.
Rick groaned he had to admit Cadet Hunter was like him in a few ways, "Well I don't know if he is ready to fly a VT, but I am having Max look over his flight tests to see if he should be considered for a VT." Rick looked at Lisa, "I am not that much like him, I am better looking," Rick said with a touch of arrogance.
Lisa gave an exasperated sigh, "Oh come off yourself Hunter, your not that great, if anything your lucky I still even let you come into my life since that day you stood me up," Lisa said with half a smile. Rick's smile faded slowly, she was right he was lucky that she still let him into her life after he stood her up and she had no idea how many times a day he thanked god or whatever higher power there was that he was blessed with such an exceptional woman.
Lisa noticed Rick's thoughtful look and nudged him in the ribs, "What could an empty headed pilot like you be thinking about?" Lisa joked and Rick looked at her with a serious look on his face.
"I am just thinking of how exceptionally lucky I am that I got a wonderful woman like you to come into my life and then after all that bullshit I put you thought you still had enough love for me to still give me that chance to come into your life, an now that I think about it more and more I realize what I would have been if I had lost you at anytime, and everyday at least a million times I thank god or whatever higher power is up there that I got such a beautiful and smart woman to deal with me," Rick said touching Lisa's face with his hand he saw a look of extreme joy and he could tell that she was touched by what he had said.
Rick looked in Lisa's eye's for a minutes and leaned in and kissed her and he felt all his troubles slip away and felt as if he was in heaven and as far as he was concerned, if the sky fell right now he wouldn't care because he was with the woman that he loved and she loved him back with every ounce of her fiber.
A/N: Okay another chapter in the book, and what of Gloval, the Trio, the Sterling's, and what of this Cadet Hunter? Family or just a coincidence? I don't even know yet, so you couldn't so find out in the next chapter of Hopes and Dreams!!!!
A/N: Ok, well here is the next chapter, it may be long, it may not, I don't know so just read it.
Rick woke up with a start and looked around at his surroundings and tried to think about where he was and as he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes the realization came washing over him. He looked around and for Lisa, she wasn't in the room and he got up and looked for her, not panicking.
He walked out of the bedroom and saw Lisa, her eyes puffy and her face red sitting watching the TV with the volume low. She didn't look up, so he assumed that she hadn't heard him so he stood behind her silently watching the live new coverage of what was being called the Christmas Day Massacre, and for good reason.
Eighteen Zentraedi fanatics had blown themselves up in the RDF base in Macross, and thought on a normal day there wouldn't have been many higher ranking officer, but this had been an unusual circumstance and there had been almost every high ranking officer there with the exclusion of three: Lisa, a Civil Defense General and some obscure R&D man.
An as far as survivors went, of the eight thousand men and women who were to live on the RDF barracks, almost twelve hundred were dead and two thousand were wounded, and the entire command structure of the RDF, and CD had been ravaged. An it would appear that they were going to have a meeting today to figure out who were going to be promoted.
Although Admiral Gloval wasn't dead, the rumor was that his injuries were severe enough that he wouldn't be in any command positions any time soon. There was also rumor that Maistroff and Reinhart were dead and all the other officers had been killed, it would appear that the Zentraedi had received a tip from an inside source that all the top officers were in that building.
Rick heard Lisa shutter as the camera panned over the destruction. Rick looked at the bottom of the screen and looked at the time and saw that Monument City, New Detroit, and New Denver were all offering support and a few of the South American cities were offering to send some security teams to Macross.
Rick moved up to Lisa and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and put his head on her shoulder and he felt her hand go up to his head. Rick averted his gaze back to the TV and saw the numbers of dead and wounded, and missing, and the total number of casualties came to four thousand. This hit Rick hard as he thought about how much four thousand military personal was in the post holocaust Earth.
Rick closed his eyes and just looked rested his head on Lisa's shoulder and thought about their first Christmas together and thought of how good it had started an then how bad it had gotten after the Zentraedi attacked. Rick opened his eyes and kissed Lisa's head and continued to rest his head on her shoulder.
Lisa turned and looked at Rick with her sorrowful, but beautiful emerald eyes and he could see the pain and anguish on her face, "Rick, I don't know what we are going to do, if the Zentraedi are going to resort to terror tactics and blow themselves up we are going to have to do what Exedore said, and eradicate every Zentraedi on the planet."
Rick looked at her and knew that she was right, but it didn't matter that he knew she was right she would have to deal with all the remaining officers in the RDF, and god knows there were few of them left. Rick kissed Lisa lightly and told her that he was going to go back to his quarters and get into his uniform because he was sure that they'd have to go in today.
Lisa nodded her head and told him that she was going to do the same. Rick went to the door and stood there till he was sure that she was getting ready and was focused before he left and jogged to his house and jumped in the shower quickly and got his uniform on and heard a knock at his door.
Rick finished his uniform and brought the towel with him to finish drying off his hair and opened the door to see a squad of soldiers waiting for him, "Sir, we're going to have to ask you to come with us," said the sergeant. Rick gave him a puzzled look and looked and saw an SUV with a jeep in front of it and behind it and threw the towel off to the side and walked out with the sergeant.
As he walked to the SUV and opened the door he saw a few other officers and saw Lisa in the passengers seat, and got in and closed the door, "What's going on here," Rick asked to anyone in particular, and Lisa answered him in her professional voice.
"We are getting an armored escort to the SDF-1 incase there are any Zentraedi follow up attacks." Lisa was silent after that and Rick didn't say anything else as they got closer to the SDF-1 and they realized that they wouldn't be having the meeting in one of the buildings, but rather in the SDF-1.
The convoy stopped in the front of the SDF-1 and all the officers could see a large number of soldiers patrolling the area and they had to have the door's opened for them before they could get out. As the officers got out the soldiers began to fall in around them and escort them into the SDF-1 where a Captain met them.
Rick started to peel off for the hanger and the captain saw him, "Commander Hunter, where do you think you're going?" Rick looked at him and a puzzled look came over his face and the man smiled, ruefully albeit, "Your one of the few veteran high ranking pilots, so you are going to be present for this meeting too," Rick shrugged and fell back in with the rest of the officers.
They followed the officer for a short ways and they got to one of the conference rooms and the Captain left them and they walked in to see a Intelligence officer with the rank of Commander and as the officers walked in they began to take their seats and the Intel officer stood up and pulled out a piece of paper from a folder.
"In light of recent events, the RDF and CD have decided to replace officers that have been killed or are otherwise going to be out of commission for a while," the Intel officer said, "An out first order of business is filling the void left by the absence of Admiral Gloval, and the bets logical choice that we have come up with is, Captain Lisa Hayes, you are being promoted to Admiral."
Lisa's eyes widened and her jaw dropped a little, she stood up and the officers in the room applauded, most in the room knew that she was the next logical choice to be made Admiral, an no one seemed surprised except Rick and Lisa. Lisa walked forward and received her new rank insignia's and was told her new uniform would be ready within the hour.
An the Intel Officer went on for another half hour talking and talking and promoting, and finally Rick heard his name, "And Commander Rick Hunter, being one of the few veteran pilot's left with leadership experience is being promoted to Captain of the RDF Veritech Wing," Rick's eye's widened and he got up to get his captain's rank and the Intel Officer get him his rank and she gave him and wink that didn't go un-noticed by Lisa.
The Intel Officer said a few more words and turned to Lisa, "Admiral Hayes, I believe that this meeting is yours from here on out, there are few issues that need to be addressed and they are there on the table where I was," an then the Intel Officer left, leaving Lisa to get to the head of the table and picked up the list.
She dreaded as she saw there were only two things on the list: Deal with the shortage of RDF personal, and what to do about Khyron. Lisa knew the second issue would be the easier one to deal with, but the first would be infinitely more difficult seeing as how the RDF already had a personal shortage and now it was even more serious seeing as how twelve hundred experienced men and women were dead and another two thousand plus were wounded or missing and presumed dead.
"Well," Lisa started still unsure on which issue she would tackle first, "we have two major issues, first is what to do about Khyron and his new tactic," Lisa stopped as she saw a few people start to talk, so she decided that this would be the first issue they would discuss.
"So since this issue seems to be of interest right now, we will discuss this now," Lisa said in a professional tone that dispelled any arguments. One of the officers who after a quick look at his name tag she remembered was Colonel Tye, so she decided to recognize him, "Yes Colonel Tye, what would you suggest?" Lisa said to him.
Colonel Tye rose and cleared his throat, "Well, seeing as how the Zentraedi have taken a serious step in the direction of terrorism and more...covert and clandestine means of attack, I think it would help the city of Macross and even the other cities if we could perhaps devote more of our resources to intelligence operations and prevent such attacks in the future," Tye said his voice wavering under the intense scrutiny of the other in the room.
A General stood, "I don't think that idea is going to work, how are we supposed to gather intelligence on a Zentraedi, if it was another human organization, but these are fifty food tall warriors who can tell about these types of things," he said and sat back down.
Rick watched with a slight amusement as a few more officers started to get involved and what had started out as a somewhat orderly meeting soon degraded into a shouting match. Rick glanced to Lisa and saw that she was clearly out of control of the situation and could she was quickly losing her grip and in a second she would run out of the room so he stood up.
"HEY!" Rick yelled and seemed to stop the arguing long enough for them to look at him and then he realized that they were waiting for him to speak, "all this arguing isn't getting us anywhere, what we really need to do it agree on something," Rick paused and say that they were actually listening to him, "Now Col. Tye what was it that you suggested, something about increased intelligence operation?" Rick asked, and Tye nodded his head.
Rick turned his attention to a Major that had suggested something about patrolling the streets, "Major..." Rick stopped and looked at the man, "Major Moore," He said and Rick nodded his head.
"I think Major Moore has made a good point by putting armed patrols in the streets to make the Zentraedi think twice before they try to do anything like they did yesterday," Rick said with a note of finality and everyone seemed to agree. An then he turned his attention to a R&D officer with a nerdy look.
"And you General Jackson, you made a mention about a detection device that could track the genetic and chemical differences in a human and Zentraedi?" Rick asked the scrawny looking man with the large rimmed glasses. He gave a nod of his head every so slightly and Rick looked at Lisa.
"Admiral, I think that we may have come to an agreement now, with your permission we would like to start patrols in the streets of Macross and step up intelligence operations and if what Gen Jackson says is correct we can install a system of these detectors around the RDF bases seeing as how most RDF personal are human we can stop and Zentraedi before they get close." Rick looked at Lisa and she just gave a sigh and nodded her head.
Rick sat down and Lisa rose, "Now the next issue is the serious manpower shortage we now have in the RDF and CD. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can take care of this issue?" Lisa asked hoping that someone would have a good and relevant response to this one.
And much to her surprise Colonel Tye stood up, "Yes ma'am, as you all know there is a military program that has been instituted in all high schools in Macross and at Macross University, it is the Accelerated Pilot and Training Corp, or APTC, and is open to all boys and girls interested between the ages of fifteen to eighteen, and I was under the impression that we could use these young...aspiring servicemen and women as the replacements that the RDF and CD need so badly," an as he sat down a few people had approving looks on their faces and a few people had looks of horror.
Rick was one of those who didn't like the idea of using teenagers as replacements for the badly mauled RDF an he planned on making his opinion known, "I think that is a bad idea, I wouldn't condone the use of kids barely old enough to start driving and allow them to fly a Veritech or wield a gun, that would make us as bad as the Zentraedi and make up look that much more like a war driven society to use kids," Rick sat down and a few people agreed and seconded what Rick said.
Colonel Tye stood again, "But Captain, you judge these men and women before you even give them a chance," he said, "at least let me show you the cadet commander of the high school APTC corp., at least be fair," Colonel Tye said, and Rick began to rise to argue but Lisa beat him to it.
"Why'll I wouldn't personally like to see you men and women dying, I think we are at a critical stage where we need to consider it as a possibility, and so Colonel Tye I will allow you to present the APTC corp. commander, an depending on his response I will base my decision on whether I will allow this," Lisa said as she lowered herself back down to her seat.
Tye smiled and walked to the door and said something to a figure and he pulled back and a man, no more a boy than a man walked into the room. The Cadet's uniform was white like the RDF dress uniform was and he wore it smartly as he walked in proudly and Rick saw on the boy's face much of what he had been only a few years ago.
The boy stopped three paces from Lisa and came to attention and offered her a very smart military salute and held it rigidly until she returned her salute, "Admiral ma'am Cadet Colonel Aaron Hunter," and she stopped and she gave him an at ease and he seemed to change little as he rested his body. Rick had to admit, he looked sharp and if there were more like him then maybe they should use the APTC as replacement, but one threw Rick, his last name was Hunter, but he shrugged it off as coincidence.
Lisa looked at him and thought of a question, "Cadet Hunter, what made you want to join the APTC?" Lisa asked him seriously her eyes drilling him like he was under interrogation for some horrible offense. An he didn't back down as he stared back at her with eyes that were a lot like Rick's in more ways then one.
"I joined the APTC corp. ma'am because I felt that it was my duty to defend the Earth from all enemies whether they be human or alien." His words came out clearly and concisely and the answer was direct and to the point and Lisa couldn't argue with what he said.
"How long have you been enrolled in APTC Cadet?" Lisa asked him,
Cadet Hunter looked at her, "Ma'am I was involved in reserve officer training programs long before the APTC I have been in the Youth ROTC since I was seven years old, a sort of Spartan life style ma'am."
Lisa nodded her head, he had indeed been training himself like one of the Spartans, of he had really been in the YROTC since he was that age he could quite possibly ready for a position in the RDF or CD, and be quite a good officer.
"How old are you Cadet," Lisa asked, this was the pivotal question.
Cadet Hunter had a sad look in his eye and opened his mouth to speak, "I was seventeen yesterday ma'am," he said no more and Lisa nodded in understanding.
"One more question Cadet Hunter, how much of your corp. would be ready to join the military at this point of the need arose?" Cadet Hunter smiled and pulled out a think piece of paper from his service dress and handed it to her, "This ma'am is the name of every APTC cadet in Macross who would join the military now if the call went out," and Lisa took the papers and started to look at the names and went directly to the last page and saw the numbers and barely managed to hide her shock, there were six thousand names on this list all willing to join.
She looked at Cadet Hunter and looked at the Officers and stood up, "I do believe we have found the answer to our manpower shortages, there is over six thousand names here all willing to join now if the need be, so Colonel Tye I am going to approve the use of the APTC corp. as replacements. An I believe this is enough for one meeting you all are dismissed," Everyone got up and moved except Rick and the Cadet.
Lisa turned her attention to Cadet Hunter first and for the first time saw him without his military air and saw he looked like any other seventeen year old boy, he was average height about five foot nine inches and appeared to be in shape and she looked at his face and saw that he was clean shaven but he had a wild head of hair.
"Yes Cadet Hunter, is there anything I can do for you?" She saw the smile come over his face.
"Yes Admiral Hayes I just wanted to thank you for giving me, I mean us our chance to fight for Earth, it is our planet too and I just want to let you know how grateful I am," his smile was large and she could see that he was sincere and she saw a somewhat mad Rick and she decided to keep Cadet Hunter here.
"So Cadet Hunter, what do you want to do in the RDF?" Lisa asked and she saw his face light up.
"I have always wanted to fly a Veritech, flying has been a dream of mine since before I could walk, I have always felt at home in the air soaring in the clouds," he had a somewhat lost look on his face and she could see he was day dreaming, and she couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Well Cadet Hunter, if you want to talk to someone who knows a little about flying you can talk to Commander Hunter right behind you," Lisa couldn't help but telling him to talk to Rick, it was weird having two men named Hunter right there in the same space an it didn't help that they looked a more then just a little alike.
Cadet Hunter spun around and looked at Rick and a look of a child in a candy store came over his face, his hand went into his pocket and he pulled out a sharpie and a looked at Rick, "Could I have your autograph?" The young Cadet asked Rick.
Rick was so taken back that he forgot that he was mad and took the marker and looked at him, "What do you want me to sign?" Rick asked and Aaron held out his and palm up and Rick noticed that he had on a white dress glove and Rick smiled and signed it.
"Wow," Aaron said taking it in and he looked at Rick and was about to bombard him with a million questions but Colonel Tye poked his head through the door and called for him to come along and Aaron with an awed look on his face looked from Rick to Lisa and held out his and to Rick and shook his hand and did the same for Lisa.
An with that Aaron strode out of the room with the autographed glove still on his hand and Lisa couldn't help but watch and give a smile as she watched him, she didn't know why but she liked him, she reminded her of Rick.
[Later that night]
Rick sat down next to Lisa as they watched TV and sat there together as the newsman explained now why there were armored RDF patrols and why over six thousand teenagers would be reporting to the main RDF base in Macross. Rick looked at Lisa and wrapped his arm around her, "You sure we made the right decision? I mean they are nothing but kids they seem a little young to be fighting."
Lisa sighed and lay her head down on his shoulder, "Well I agree they are young, but I think they deserve the right to defend Earth, you heard Cadet Hunter today if there are anymore like him we won't have any problems. An that reminds me, that Cadet reminds me a lot of you," Lisa said prodding him.
Rick groaned he had to admit Cadet Hunter was like him in a few ways, "Well I don't know if he is ready to fly a VT, but I am having Max look over his flight tests to see if he should be considered for a VT." Rick looked at Lisa, "I am not that much like him, I am better looking," Rick said with a touch of arrogance.
Lisa gave an exasperated sigh, "Oh come off yourself Hunter, your not that great, if anything your lucky I still even let you come into my life since that day you stood me up," Lisa said with half a smile. Rick's smile faded slowly, she was right he was lucky that she still let him into her life after he stood her up and she had no idea how many times a day he thanked god or whatever higher power there was that he was blessed with such an exceptional woman.
Lisa noticed Rick's thoughtful look and nudged him in the ribs, "What could an empty headed pilot like you be thinking about?" Lisa joked and Rick looked at her with a serious look on his face.
"I am just thinking of how exceptionally lucky I am that I got a wonderful woman like you to come into my life and then after all that bullshit I put you thought you still had enough love for me to still give me that chance to come into your life, an now that I think about it more and more I realize what I would have been if I had lost you at anytime, and everyday at least a million times I thank god or whatever higher power is up there that I got such a beautiful and smart woman to deal with me," Rick said touching Lisa's face with his hand he saw a look of extreme joy and he could tell that she was touched by what he had said.
Rick looked in Lisa's eye's for a minutes and leaned in and kissed her and he felt all his troubles slip away and felt as if he was in heaven and as far as he was concerned, if the sky fell right now he wouldn't care because he was with the woman that he loved and she loved him back with every ounce of her fiber.
A/N: Okay another chapter in the book, and what of Gloval, the Trio, the Sterling's, and what of this Cadet Hunter? Family or just a coincidence? I don't even know yet, so you couldn't so find out in the next chapter of Hopes and Dreams!!!!