Part VIII: Love is Stronger then Steel
In the burning remains of the Goldriver Canada the SDF-1 and her crew where helping the civilians of the city to rescue their living and dieing before they too died. Much to the amazement of the Civilians Volunteers who was helping out the Defenders of the SDF-1, the squad of Spartans had already been through here and managed to clear the larger pieces of the debris. In once section of the city Rick Hunter and his group was throwing aside debris of a pile of mortar and steel chunks that was once an apartment. As Rick threw yet another piece aside a hand fell on his shoulder. Rick turned to see Max and a group of more SDF-1 Personnel.
"Rick you have been at this all day I think you better go home and find Lisa," his friend ordered, but Rick wouldn't hear it.
"Max there is about fifty unaccounted people from this building and I intend to find them," Rick said throwing another piece of debris to the side. Rick suddenly found himself staring at Max who had eyes that were scaring him.
"Listen to me Commander you will get back to Macross or I will get Rachel out here to drag you back," Max said with steel in his voice using his rank as a curse. Rick blinked and finally gave in as he started to head for the Jeep that brought him here. Max nodded pleased and turned to order his men to start working. They all nodded and started their sad duty of digging up the dead and crushed civilians who once lived in the building. But Rick as he passed the edge of the large pile of debris that was once an apartment building heard and saw something moving inside the building. He cried out which attracted the attention of Max and his crew.
"Max here's one and she is alive," yelled Rick as he started to throw debris aside in search of the whimpering. Finally he saw a tear stained face coated with white mortar from the debris. She looked about fourteen and he took a sigh of relief.
"It's alright miss we'll get you out of here," he said with a smile that put the teen at ease as Max and his crew attacked the debris alongside Rick. Within a half an hour they had it cleared enough to allow Rick to reach down and help the young girl out of the hole she found herself in. It was also Rick who drove the girl to the camp outside town. Max smiled for Rick had done it he found a single live, but he looked like he found ten of them and that was fine in his book, he then turned to see if any more were alive in the apartment building.
Gloval stood in front of his office's long window watching as his crew helped the civilians of the city find there dead and the living. For three long days they had sat here helping this city recover from the disaster that happened to them. Everyone single pilot, tech, engineer, and crewmen felt quilty for the disaster for if they hadn't come here they would still be living the happy live. But none of them felt guilty as Gloval himself, for he had ordered them here knowing that council was going to do something. Sighing he turned to see the Reperastive of the Ontario Quadrant Headquarters standing behind him watching the crews at work with grim fascination.
"Its simply amazing for if you haven't volunteered your crew to help we would still be moving the large chunks of debris, heck they would still trying to fight those fires," the tall man said with a smile as another Spartan dropped more debris off before moving back into the city. Outside the city was a circle of larger Destriods and Veritechs, who were watching for any more forces from the UEG.
"Your welcome Mister Pierce, but it is partly our fault for this disaster," Gloval said in his thick Russian accent as he looked over the growing refugee camp that was being built alongside the SDF-1.
"Nonsense you were trying to impress the civilians and let the world now that you and the SDF-1 are alive and kicking. Also you were trying to let off your civilians off here in Ontario," the man said with a frowned making his way over to the Russian.
"Well its too late it has already been agreed that the SDF-1 will head back to space with Macross aboard her," he said sadly as he sipped on his cup of tea. The other man frowned as he looked over at the weary Captain.
"What do you mean Captain I thought you wanted to let the Civilians off?" Pierce asked with a frown, remembering hearing that from him when he first arrived in the Ontario Quadrant.
"Well Mister Pierce everyone onboard the ship have agreed that since the council don't want us on Earth we will leave Earth and save the Earth from them for if they want to shoot up towns to get us then we have no right to be here," Gloval said with a sad smile on his face. Pierce blinked as it registered what Gloval said.
"But if you do that you let UEG win Captain," Pierce said with a frown.
"I know, but I can't let them blow up cities and civilians that have help us," Gloval said with a sigh of surrender.
"But don't get me wrong once the Zentreadi are taking care off and if I survive, I will be back to take the council on," Gloval continued but with steel dripping into his voice. Pierce nodded and turned back to watch the city alongside the older man, knowing that Gloval was a true leader, one that would do anything to protect the civilians he had pledged to protect.
But unlike Gloval the United Earth Government Council was too obsessed with power and prestige to care for their civilians. So they would do anything to get rid of their rivals if they were threatened like this instant as Captain Yuri Ivanvich a hardened commando who once was part of the Elite KGB "Black Guard" Commando Squad, slipped into the office of Admiral Donald Hayes who was looking over some reports and didn't see the shadowed figure enter the office. Yuri smiled evilly as he brought up his silenced handheld pistol his weapon of choice.
"Comrade Hayes?" he said with a grin pointing the small pistol at the man before him, for he liked to see his victims face before killing them. But he was surprised for when Hayes looked up at him there was no surprise in his eyes only anger. This steady the assassin's hand and confused him. As if on cue a pair of doors opened and six troops stormed into the office taking advantage of his confusion. Yuri's agile mind quickly processed this and knew that these guys were not the Admiral's pet Dragoons, but normal security types that were loyal to the Admiral. He knew he could take the Admiral down before the security men killed him. Sighing he prepared himself to jump when the hairs on the back on his neck rose. This usually meant that someone was behind him and pointing a gun at him, but only one man…urrr woman could sneak up behind him. He heard a feminine whisper in Russian before his world turned to black.
Lieutenant Hanna Sergatov looked down at her old friend and lover's body knew that she had done it once more. She sighed and looked up at the others before her, before replacing her handgun in her forearm holster.
"Admiral Hayes you alright?" she asked looking him over to see that her plan worked. The older man nodded before dismissing the security troops and calling in Adam Blair his aide. She was not part of the Dragoons as people may think but she did train with them and help Adam protecting the Admiral. While Adam was out in the open she was in the shadows, only appearing when needed.
"Very good Hanna and I know you two were close," Major Blair said with a frown looking over at her. Hanna just nodded at him, but she knew that unlike Yuri's masters hers actually cared for her and her well being. That's was why she was loyal to Hayes, and not to the United Earth Government. She then blended back into the shadows of the office while the two men discussed their situation.
"Major I have made my decision activate Operation Bug Out," Donald Hayes said with a frown knowing that Hanna and Adam wouldn't able to stop all the council's attempts to kill him. Adam nodded before leaving the office to spread the word around the Hayes loyalists.
A few hours later found Hayes and Adam in a large storeroom were his Hayes Faction awaited his orders. Smiling he turned and saw that all the Dragoons were present and in the new Battle Armor that was right from the Robotech R&D Section. It was just like normal Armor worn during the Global Civil War but it Robo techology built into it. The Battle Armor was a completed body suit of armor complete with a close helmet. The armor on the suit was combo of Ceramic and Kevlar Armor. Ceramic armor made up the armor on the outside while Type III Kevlar was sewn in under the Armor. What made this armor so special was the far more powerful micro computer in the helmet which controlled the Amour's functions and assigned targets. Also the unlike the Battle Armor in the war this one was made the wearer far more mobile and faster. Granted these were only prototypes for there was still some functions still needed to be added to the armor. But they would be more then useful against human targets.
The Dragoons all wore them while the rest was worn by some Security Officers loyal to Hayes. The rest of the security officers wore classic armor vest and helmet. Hayes had the twenty Dragoons and about twenty-six security officers while the rest of Hayes Faction was only techs, minor naval officers, and other non-marine type Naval Personnel along with some Army Types, he also had a handful of fully trained pilots that would most likely steal some Veritechs or some Destriods for the three Army Pilots he had. Sighing he nodded before slipping into his own Battle Armor alongside Adam. He was luckily that about half of the Robotech R&D Section was in his pocket so he had these Battle Armor suits. At first he wondered why the R&D section had been ordered to build these when their main enemy where tall giants, but he soon found out that the council had predicted that they would had to fight humans as well to gain superiority over the Earth after the Zentreadi were dealt with. Now the irony had dawned on Hayes that using their own creation against them would be sweet justice. Smiling he turned with his helmet in the crook on his arm as he step in front of the gathered people in front of them. All them every man or women in the group eager to bring the corrupted council down and to end all fighting between humans for they where now united behind a single banner. Granted there would be always conflict between humans for that was human nature. However, maybe, just maybe humanity could learn to overcome this in the future. For right now there will be a group of people to stand up against the bad apples in humanity, and these brave men and women were those few brave enough to stand up and fight.
"Alright people this is our time, the council thinks that killing their fellow humans will put them on top, however we know the truth and it is time to teach the old men and women in the council of this fact," he said as he completed his armor by putting on the helmet and switching on the micro-computer inside the said helmet, just a soft spoken command and hefted the light Gunpod designed for the Armor. Hayes now went through his plan in his head, his men and himself would head for the Hanger where Shuttles and Cargo Planes where kept or if that failed to get to the main elevator, and that was the one weakness in his plan for that was the only exit beside the Bases Internal Hanger, which was reserved for the Council's precious few Robotech Veritechs and Shuttles. While other "normal" planes were kept in the surface hangers, and a very small number Rabbit and Star Goose Shuttles. This way they either had to head for the hanger or the main exit which was designed to keep people out, but it equally worked as keeping people in. Sighing Hayes lead his people out of the room with Adam and Hanna on either side of him. Hanna was wearing a much lighter version then heavier Battle armor, which allowed her to move silently and fast. Meanwhile the Lighter Armored Security Personnel stayed behind the larger battle armored Infantry, with the unarmored naval and army personnel. The large group turned and found a group of normal Security Types on their usual patrol around the base, they were laughing and joking not realizing that death itself was behind them. These were brutally gunned down by Hayes Armored Men. Hayes grimly nodded and continued on towards the hanger and gave the order to increase the pace, they had no time to be dragging around prisoners. Luckily Hanna, Adam, and the few Security Personnel in Battle armor just knocked the others out or just stunned them. But they were still an unstoppable force of fury and metal gathering behind a single man who was one of the only men who was interested the wellbeing of others and that wasn't corrupted by system.
Marshall Zhukov was relaxing in his office as word started to come in of a group of armed soldiers that were making a ruckus in the lower levers of the base. Cursing the old soldier rushed into the main command center which was not far from his office since he was now in command of the base. Senator Russo was already there, and for once he was calm and collected instead of his usual cowardly nature.
"It looks like your precious pet Assassin failed to kill Hayes," Russo said motioning towards the monitors in front of them which showed a group of armored men and women charging down a corridor some of them wore the emblem of the Dragoons. Zhukov cursed in Russian as it became clear on what Hayes was doing.
"Don't worry I have known about this for a while, right now I have some Army Special Forces waiting for this," Russo said with that smile of his. Sure enough a group of properly armed men and women where waiting at the two locations of entrances and exits. Sure enough the Dragoons rounded a corner and some where imeadily where blown away as the Army Soldiers opened fire. Zhukov was now smiling as the Hayes faction started to retreat from the prepared grunts of the UEG Army.
"Hayes would rule the day that he disobeyed my orders," Zhukov said with a chuckle. Russo nodded as he watched as more forces hit the Hayes Faction's rear, these where the reorganized Security Forces. Russo now was smiling as well as it became apparent that the Hayes Faction would be defeated swiftly and quickly.
Donald Hayes cursed as he ducked behind a storage crate as another enemy soldier opened fire on him. As he kneeled behind the crate he took the time to inspect his command to see that over a good forty-five percent of his force was killed or injured with more dropping as the battle went on. Cursing again he jumped up again and opened fire before dropping down again as Adam and Hanna pushed him down.
"Sir we can't stay here we need to retreat," Adam yelled over the sounds of the battle. Hayes nodded and gave the order to retreat back to where from where they came, dragging their injured as they went.
Inside a top secret section of the base a large warship rested waiting for the first command of its masters, but deep inside the hulk of the warship intelligence stirred. It was the A.I named ALLY but nicknamed Allie the close copy of the master computer of the SDF-1 nicknamed EVE. Since EVE was completed self-aware thanks to its own master Zor the Robotech genius of the Robotech Masters, which the humans didn't know. It was the same with its "daughter" ALLY unknown to its creators. ALLY processed her surrounding with the speed that only a computer could. If she was human Allie would have frowned in confusion as the sounds of a battle reached her sensors. She hacked into the cameras nearest to the dock she rested in and saw a running battle between two groups of humans. Confused she started too hacked into the bases main computer (in which in her opinion was only just a baby compared to her) and found out all what had happened in the matter of seconds. Allie angry with the men who created her, decided to take action against them. At first she was shocked to have that emotion but unknown to the creators EVE had also fiddled with ALLY to create a near copy of her. Now she took action by starting to power up her protoculture reactor and begins the pre-flight for the ship. Then she reached out to the man that she knew wouldn't not use her for evil purposes like her creators where thinking of.
Hayes cursed for the hundredth time that day as another one of his men dropped, dead thanks to men under the council. For the last hour his faction was running from the enemy, his plan was in shambles so the only thing he was trying to do was to keep his command alive, but it was not working either. Just then his H.U.D flickered, frowning he queried his armor's micro-computer, but found that it wasn't answering.
"Admiral Hayes if you want to save your men, follow the marker on your H.U.D," came a voice with a whisper, but it didn't come through his COMM system. Frowning he turned to see if it came through his P.A System. It was his H.U.D flashed again and a marker appeared pointing to someplace.
"I have hacked your Micro-Computer, if you wondering Admiral," the voice said again. Blinking Hayes finally figured out that the "Voice" was coming through tiny speakers in which the Micro-Computer report on damage and anything else of importance. Sighing he decided he had nothing to lose.
"Alright fall back! Follow me!" he ordered through the COMM channels as he started to back peddle before dashing a few meters before taking a cover position to cover the remainder of his men. Adam took position beside him, slipping a fresh clip in his rifle one of his last. Nodding he, then waited for the remaining men to rush past him before Adam and himself rushed towards the next corner where a pair of Dragoons waited covering them. Hayes sighed as he turned around the final corner towards his objective and found himself staring into the barrel of an Automatic Gat Canon. Cursing he dived to the floor but the Auto Gun opened fire over his head and those of his men towards the chasing security officers. Alongside this gun were two others, which turned the chasing soldiers into blooding jelly.
"Admiral don't worry the Auto Guns will cover you, hurry up and head for the door," the voice said urgently. Hayes quickly positions his remaining men to take positions behind the Auto-Guns while his injured stayed in the corner with one of his remaining Battle Armored Soldiers covering then. He then nodded before walking up to door with was surrounded by a red outline signaling that it was a heavily classified section of the base. Frowning he try to open it but it wouldn't open, frowning he try to open it again, but he was interrupted as a number flashed onto his H.U.D before him. Shrugging inside the armored carapace he was wearing Hayes reached down towards the keypad next to the door and typed in the numbers on his H.U.D., which a click sounded in the door before it opened before him. Frowning he waved a confused Adam and Hanna into the darkened interior before him. He then followed when they announced that it was clear, he then made sure his men followed them allowing the auto-guns to cover them. Before stepping into the darkened interior of the room himself, to see some sort of dock in the darkness that had surrounded him.
"Welcome Admiral to the SDAC-01 Dry Dock," the voice said as the lights were suddenly thrown on blinding the Hayes Faction. Cursing Hayes brought up his Gun Pod trying to see if there were any targets. However as his vision cleared he found himself staring with his jaw opened wide at the large ship before them. Jaws dropped all around them as the rest of the remaining Hayes Faction finally processed that there was a ship in front of them. Hayes recovered and with an experienced eye he looked over the ship before them, it looked very similar to the Tokugawa Class Carriers now in production but with a far more lethal look to them. For example unlike the proposed Carrier it had three large turrets, two double barreled turrets where on either side of the ship, and a much larger three barreled turret was attached to the bottom. Also Missile Launchers and smaller CIWS dotted the rest of the ship. Also he turned to see torpedo launchers in front of the ship. It looked far more lethal then anything U.N Spacey had. He then cursed as he realized that the council had built this ship in private without the knowledge of the Military Command. An explosion sounded from the now closed door brought him back to reality and making the Faction wake up and stare at the door uneasily.
"Admiral you might want to get aboard the ship for she is all ready to launch and at your command sir," the voice said with a smile in its words. Hayes nodded as he realized that this was their exit from this hellhole they found themselves in, grinning wolfishly he ordered his men to board the ship.
Marshall Zhukov frowned as the Hayes Faction disappeared from his monitors; it also left the command center in confusion. Russo suddenly stiffened next to him as he cursed. The Russian Soldier looked over at his political commander with a frown.
"Sir, anything the matter, beside Hayes dropping off the map?" he asked turning his attention to the security monitors before him.
"The SDAC-01 Zhukov," Russo said with a white faced frown as he desperately started to rewind the security tape to the point they disappeared. Zhukov frowned at first then cursed as the other man's comment register. Seconds later they knew that somehow Hayes and his men managed to get into the dry dock that held the one mobile assent they had left that could stand up to the SDF-1 and the Zentreadi.
"Commander order security to go to this location and do whatever they can to get inside the section there," Zhukov ordered as he looked down at the gathered officers before him. The man he addressed was a loyal follower to the council nodded and relayed the order. Sighing Zhukov and Russo leaned back and prayed that they would win this round.
Hayes sprinted into the bridge of the ship, having shed his armor and was now back in the light duty uniform he happened to be wearing under the armor. Frowning he made his way to the captain's chair wondering at the unfamiliar controls before him. But the naval personnel that followed him where trained to operate a space ship like this and quickly took waiting stations around the bridge. The entire ship was ready and waiting for launching with engines hot and ready, along with the weapons, and finally the rest of the ship was screaming for launch. Frowning Hayes shook his head wondering how the ship just happened to be ready for launch. Then the monitor in front of his captain station sprang to live, showing the head and shoulders of a young lady of about nineteen, with black hair braided down her back and wearing a light red RDF uniform.
"Welcome aboard the SDAC-01 Admiral Hayes," the young lady said with a smile. Hayes eyes widened in surprise when he realized that this lady was the Voice that managed to help him getting here.
"Who are you?" he managed to ask the lady before him through his shock, the image smiled and raised her hand to her mouth as to cover her giggling.
"Well sir I am the A.I of this ship AI-002-ALLY aka Allie and I managed to help you through the base towards here," she said with a smile. Hayes blinked wondering if he could get anymore surprised.
"I now you are confused Admiral but I will now give the short story and tell you the longer one later. Well first of all my mother of sorts the A.I EVE or otherwise know as the Main Computer for the SDF-1 was created by the Robotech Master Zor to help with his private ship the SDF-1 Macross and to advise him in some matters. It then was sent with the ship to earth, Zor gave the mission of protecting those humans on the planet to EVE and she intended to carry it out. So she helped the first human explorers who started to explore the ship, her body. At first she attacked the humans thinking that they were the enemy for she was still dazed do to her landing on the planet, but she soon realized who and what they where. Therefore she watched over the humans as they started to rebuild the SDF-1 in there own image, but she also disguised herself as the main computer of the ship not telling anyone who or what she really was," she said and took a breath before launching back into the story with Hayes hanging on every word she said.
"It was about the time after the SDF-1 was lost that the Council started to build this ship and designed a A, I to help run it, but frankly they didn't now how to make a true A.I for there was very little experience to make you, granted they try to make one during the war, truthfully they only managed to create a very low level A.I but it suit there purposes. Then when the SDF-1 returned to Earth, EVE decided to do a little hunt for information about the Council's activities, thus finding the information about me in and so she completely rewrote my program making an almost complete copy of her out of my program. I was then born," she said with a smile but she stopped her story as her eyes flicked up as if she was reading something then she frowned.
"Well, it looks like they managed to destroy the last auto-gun and since your men are now all aboard it is time to go," she said with a nod. Hayes shaking off his shock along with the rest of the crew around him who had also listened to the story being told, they then took their positions. Allie blinked away for a moment before returning to his screen with a smile.
"Admiral ship is ready for your orders and locks disengaged, along with the bulkhead," she said Hayes nodded and saw the bulkhead in front of them opened to reveal a lighted launch tunnel. Smiling he suddenly knew that this tunnel was one of the older tunnels built to house the Grand Cannon but was abandon after the final plans were approved.
"Sir, the ship is at your command," Allie said with a smile as the ship floated free from the locks that held her since the ship's keel had been laid.
"Alright, you heard her Mister Carpenter take us out," he ordered the man at the helm station he just grinned up at him before slowly moving the ship forward towards the tunnel, just as the hatch to the dock blew open and security officers rushed into the dock a little to late. Hayes slowly grinned a most evil grin and turned to address Adam who was manning the Weapons.
"Weapons turned any CIWS Canons that can to target the dock and opened fire," he said calmly much to the amusement of the A.I and Adam who chuckled as it dawned on him what his admiral was planning.
"Roger sir, firing!" he reported as he typed the command into the station. Outside the ship the CIWS popped out of their protective covers that would protect them from enemy fire and turned to aim at the dock below them before green light shot out of the canons towards the cradle bellow them. Smiling Hayes nodded before he pushed back into his seat as the ship blew through the tunnel towards freedom with the old admiral laughing like a kid all the way up. For the first time he was free and he intends to use it well.
In the control room both Russo and Zhukov looked in disbelieve as they walked into the large hold that was once a dry dock that had built their pride and joy. The entire dock was in flames from the ship's final attack before leaving. They knew that they may never be able to complete there plans, but at the same time they figured that they still had the Grand Canon it would work. Laughing the Evil Duo walked out of the hold heading for the control room knowing that they may win yet.
...To Be Contiuned
Well ladies and gents its over! But I still have the final chapter to post then this fic is officially done, but don't fret sequel is on the way. So see you in a few days when I post the final chapter and don't worry the Zentreadi will be back and with a vegenance. Also as a Side note yes when it comes to EVE being Self-Aware people have many opinions on that but myself I tend to believe that she was just because its more fun to have her Self-Aware. So my Allie is at least as self-aware as her "mother" but happens to have far more human emotion from her study of human behavior has the SDAC-01 was going through final touches on it.
Also the SDAC-01 is my own creation, so no one should use it with out my humble permission. Besides that just imagine a Tokugawa Class with far more teeth and you got my baby. Also the canons on this thing are about three times as powerful as those on the Oberth and ARMD ships, which you shall learn later is another thing that EVE managed to do. But you shall learn all this and more in the next and final chapter of Robotech: Frozen in Time….
Next time:
The SDAC-01 quickly meets up with the SDF-1 Macross and after a few tearful reuions heads to space together to meet up with the reinforced Enterprise Battlegroup to finally take the fight to the Zentreadi before coming back to Earth, but they may never see it quite so alive for many years to come….