Part IX: The Love of a Father
Cruising over the skies of the country that was once known as Canada was a large ship that looked stream lined and lethal. Numerous weapons sprouted from the hull of the ship, lasers, missiles launchers, and even some particle canons. To those on the ground it looked like a large whale swimming gracefully through the skies above them. Gliding alongside the ship was a series of small one man fighters some doing patrol duties while others where going through some training maneuvers. Inside the ship itself a man sat listening as an officer briefed him on the ship itself.
"Well sir the SDAC Class has one main turret, and two secondary main turrets, while four secondary turrets round up the main beam art meant of the ship. The main turrets fired together rivals the SDF-1's Main Gun in power. Granted we don't have the ability Main Gun, like widening the angle of attack or narrowing the beam itself, but we still have enough firepower with those three turrets to kill a Zentreadi Cruiser in one shot. Also while the ship itself has an awesome firepower on its own, the SDAC can carry two squadrons of Veritechs and supporting craft. With only one small catapult to launch shuttles and recon aircraft we can fit far more fighters in our bays then the specs say we can. So we can have the fighters that an ARMD carrier carries but with the firepower of four Oberth Destroyers, maybe even more. Now the one weakness this ship has is that if a ship attack from bellow or above us we can only bring the two Secondary Main Turrets to bear on them, and maybe a few of the missile launchers. Also if a ship sits right behind only a handful of CIWS turrets can open fire on them. That concludes my briefing sir," the other man finished breathless. The first man the commander of the ship the former Admiral Donald Hayes nodded in understanding before turning to a monitor set up in front of them, which showed a young women looking thoughtfully out at them.
"Thank god that Allie can basically run the ship by herself or we would have been in a world of hurt if try launch this ship by ourselves," he said with a frown. For his Hayes Faction didn't even have the personnel to crew the ship even with a Skelton crew. They where extremely lucky that the docking crew had started bring aboard food, water, munitions, and other niceties for live aboard a starship. In fact they where only days away from the launching the ship, they had a crew, where finishing loading the ship's support craft. The only way that the Hayes Faction managed to take the ship was that the crew happen to be on leave before launch, and that the techs where only waiting for arrival of the last patch of Veritechs before announcing the ship was fit to launch. So the ship had a squadron of Veritechs and a small squad of Spartan Destriods. So the pilots along his men immeadtily started to train themselves in piloting these craft. The only thing they where missing where qualified Veritech Engineers, but luckily they had a handful of Aircraft Techs that could learn to safely service Veritechs. Two of his pilots where also part of the Veritech Prototype program and hence had a lot of experience with Veritechs, one lead the Veritech Squadron while the other organized the tech crews.
Sighing Hayes brought himself back to the present to hear the chatter between the patrolling fighters and the communication crew and conversation between the scarce bridge crew. Just as he sighed prepared to take a break since he had been on the bridge since their escape from Alaska Base, an urgent voice broke into the comm. Chatter. Frowning Hayes turned to the sensor plot to see incoming aircraft incoming on the ship, growling he ordered the ship to battle stations and ordered Allie to warm up the guns. Within minutes his ship was ready for combat thanks in part to Allie and having a much smaller crew then normal.
"All Fighters this is Actual, stay back for cannon barrage," he ordered as the last few of his fighters launched from the ship to join the formation of Veritechs. Once he saw his fighters away from the deployment zone of the barrage he ordered the canons to open fire. Outside the ship the large main turrets turned and locked on the target then spat beams of fury and violence at the close batched enemies behind them. The smaller beam canons followed their larger cousin, the surprised fighters were taken off guard by the attack and many of them fell before they could get off a single shot. Hayes then took a closer look at the enemy and a smile of pure evil spread across of his face. For the enemy only had "Normal" Fighters not Veritechs, F-22 Rapiers, F-24 Dragon IIs and older types that where from the Global Civil War. His men saw this as well and smiled in understanding as well. Even though that these enemies where their fellow man they were all eager to pay the council back for the blood bath at Alaska Base. Following the Beam Canons bombardment was the missile barrage, but only a handful of missile of found their mark for the remaining fighters where now back on track and prepared them. Many fighters started overlap their decoys and ECM to further confuse the missiles which confused missiles much better then normal. Frowning he ordered his Veritechs to engage, then ordered the CIWS or better known as PUFF to open fire on any fighter close enough.
-
Further from the fight a small group of fighters where on patrol searching for any interlopers in their sector. This was the first team or flight group of the famed Skull Squadron, their skull and crossbones glinted deadly in the sun. The lead fighter was the single remaining VF-1S that had been built before the war. Commander Rick Hunter yawned ready to bring his group back to the base and get some rest, for he hadn't sleep much thanks to combination of nightmares about the Gold River Attack, and having a reagent woman for a wife. Lisa was nearing her fifth month of pregnancy and was getting frequently cranky from the mood swings she was experiencing. Also he had the luck of being the god father and uncle for the baby of his "Older Brother" Roy Fokker and Claudia Grant. Smiling as he remembered the little Roy Junior playing with a Veritech model that he had got off from his desk. At first Rick thought the almost two month old baby was going to break it but the little one just stared at it and hugged it close. Claudia had remarked that the kid was seriously going to take after his father and Uncle. Suddenly his sensors started to scream bringing him back to reality. Cursing he smack his face shield down and brought his fighter around on a course to intercept the enemy that his sensors were telling him where there. His two wingman followed close behind him, to experience to question his move.
"Yeah boss looks like about four dozen contacts and a much larger contact on a bearing of Two-Niner-Alpha," reported his friend Max Sterling. Rick nodded translating the position to Twenty-Nine Degrees Angel High which meant that the enemy was twenty-nine degrees above them. Nodding he brought the Skull One through the limited cloud cover to find a fledge battle between a ship, and its escorting fighters and even more fighters. Frowning confused that humans where fighting each other, then finally it suddenly became clear to him, one group was most likely another group that where against the council. While the others where most likely loyal to the council.
"Yeah bro one of those attacking squadrons looks like 323rd Air Squadron," his other wingmate reported, this wingmate which happened to be his sister Rachael Hunter flew a white and red Veritech to his right, while Max flew a blue and white Veritech to his left. Rick nodded for the 323rd was one of the squadrons that had attacked Gold River. Nodding Rick made his decision and brought his the group to intercept the enemy.
"Alright people time for some payback for Gold River," he said in his bored drawl that aces and veterans where famous for. The two others clicked their COMM that they understood,
"Alright Skull Squadron attack!" he ordered with a snarl throwing Skull One into the furball around the larger mystery ship that was heading away from the battle with CIWS reaching out now and again to claim a enemy fighter.
-
Hayes nodded in satisfaction as yet another enemy fell to the CIWS guns of the ship. However his Veritechs where not so lucky, for he had already lost a few. Just then as he was going to order his fighters back for another Cannon Barrage a trio of Veritechs threw themselves into the battle. He watched slack jawed as the new fighters tore through the enemy changing modes when they needed to. His own Veritechs watched in awe as the fight ended in only in a few minutes. Blinking he saw that the remaining fighters where retreating in face of the new fighters. Even though they where only three fighters but he could tell that these new arrivals where very experienced and the enemy fighters where not even up to their level. Just then his lead pilot in an older VF-1D Veritech pulled alongside the bridge.
"Sir these guys are from Skull Squadron, the lead squad aboard the SDF-1," the man reported with excitement in his voice. Hayes blinked yet again for he had heard of them, but he didn't know why they helped.
"How do you know that Lieutenant?" he asked with a frown trying to find some marks on the planes which where painted in different colors.
"Sir take a look at their tail fins," the other man said with a smile in his words. Hayes then switched his attention to the tail fins and saw the familiar Skull and Crossbones. Sighing he nodded in amazement as he wondered why the pilot could know this.
"Also sir I was a VT test pilot alongside the Commander Roy Fokker who put together the Skull Squadron from some War Vets and former test pilots like himself. I would have been with them if I hadn't been assigned to Alaska Base sir," the other man reported with truth in his words. His COMM unit popped and whistled as another COMM unit intruded on the connection.
"Attention Unknown Vessel identify yourselves," ordered a young voice on the COMM. The commander of the Dragoons at the entrance to the bridge looked up wide-eyed as the voice registered.
"Commander Fokker I presume?" Hayes asked in return but just got silence for an answer.
"No I am Commander Rick Hunter, Fokker's replacement, but I want to know who the heck you are," the young man replied with some sadness in his voice. Frowning Hayes nodded and knew that this Commander Hunter had been very close to the late Commander Fokker by his tone when mentioning the name.
"Well Mister Hunter this is Admiral… excuse me former Admiral Donald Hayes leader of the Hayes Faction," Donald said and got a line of curses for a response, frowning he leaned forward wondering what this pilot's deal was.
-
Rick cursed up a storm as his shock and awe flew out the window as it finally registered that this man happened to be his Father-in-law. Gulping Rick stopped cursing, both Max and Rachael who hadn't heard that but knowing something was up by his body language.
"Yeah Rick you alright?" Max asked first with a frown from one of the two Video screens on either side of his main screen. While his sister just nodded from the other screen.
"Well Max it appears that Admiral Hayes is in command of that ship," Rick answered harshly. He heard both of his piloting cursing as well. Licking his lips he switched his main screen over to video commutations and answered the admiral.
"Well here I go guys wish me luck," he said to the two other pilots, who just nodded.
"Well Admiral you kinda caught us by surprise there for a minute," Rick said and was pleased that he sounded so calm but when the Video screen came on the other man would see his nervous face.
-
Hayes nodded confused at the other man's delayed reaction, but knew that it mostly would have been a bombshell for the pilots. He frowned and switched on his monitor for the pilot had only talked to him via voice communications and he was in turn was pleased when the pilot's image sprang onto his monitor. The other man was looking down at his instruments, and wore the RDF Flight Suit with a Skull Patch on the chest. Also his name and rank was on the rim of his helmet.
"By the way I need ask if my daughter is all right and everything?" Hayes asked the man who looked he was a lot older then he really was.
"Commander Hayes is doing fine sir, still the sourpuss she is sir," the pilot said with a smile. Hayes grinned knowing that it was true.
"Oh…" he started to say but Adam's urgent wave caught his attention. Frowning he excuse himself from the conversation, to head over to his grinning aide.
"What is it Adam?" he asked wondering why the Major wanted him. Adam then sighed to prepare himself for bomb he was about to drop.
"Well sir that man is your daughter's husband," Adam said flinching as he waited for the storm. Hayes blinked at first then he went through denial, and then finally it came crashing down. His eyes narrowed and his lips turned into a thin line.
"Oh really so that is why he is so nervous," he said quietly and Adam knew that he was beyond yelling he was now pissed.
"Sir Wait, that man took Commander Hayes to his hometown for a honeymoon and care to guess which city which they went too," Adam said with a frown. Hayes mind suddenly put all the pieces together; Adam's knowledge of this, the Dragoon's mood after they returned from New Carter, the SDF-1s arrival at New Carter a little fast, and finally Hunter's nervousness all came together in one picture in his mind. Hayes nodded and let the anger bleed off from him as he understood. Frowning he made his way back to the captain's chair with Adam's and the rest of the bridge crew eyes on him. Finally he sat down with a sigh, and flipped on the Monitor showing his new son-in-law's nervous face on its surface.
"Commander Hunter I appreciate if you tell me exactly why my daughter happens to be married to you," he said calmly but with an edge to it. Hunter's face suddenly drained of color and he started to sputter in response.
"Sir…ummmm…ummmm," the younger man managed to stutter out in response. Hayes shook his head at the man's antics wondering how in the world this kid got the role of CAG and won over his Ice Queen for a daughter.
-
Rick couldn't believe that the Admiral had somehow found out that he had married Lisa. Managing to stutter out a reply to the older man, which he cursed himself over. Here he was a warrior that had fought Zentreadi with no or little fear and here he was stuttering over something to say to his Father-in-law. He turned to look out the plane to see his two wing mates hovering obediently next to him, waiting for the verdict. Suddenly his COMM beeped which made him looked over to see that the ship was trying get in contact with him.
"Hold on a minute Admiral," he said pleased that he had didn't stutter at all, before flicking over to the Command Channel. Hayes's face blinked out to be replaced with the face of his loving wife Lisa Hunter. They had finally decided on what she was going to go by instead of the duel last names some ladies had, Lisa had chose to just have Hunter to make it simpler. Granted now people where confused when someone mention Commander Hunter which was the both of them. So the two agree while her name was Lisa Hunter on the Marriage Certificate, in their military life she went by Commander Hayes-Hunter to avoid confinement.
"Rick thank god, why haven't you reported in?" Lisa asked relieved breaking him out of his thoughts. Rick looked at her and started to feel a lot better.
"Sorry Lisa, but I ran into a problem," he said scratching his head. Lisa's eyes narrowed in concern and suspension at his remark.
"Is it the Zentreadi Rick or is that god damn council being stupid again?" she asked trying to find the answer in his face.
"Neither how about a pissed off father-in-law," Rick said a little irrigated both himself and his so called father-in-law for actually being mad at him. Sighing he looked down to see Lisa white faced and blinking, he also heard some mumbling from off screen. Most likely the Trio and Claudia talking about it.
"Did you say Father-in-law Rick?" Lisa asked most likely decided she didn't hear Rick right.
"Yes my patrol ran into a running battle between forces still loyal to the council and forces loyal to your father, along with this force is a ship that I haven't even seen before but look very similar to those proposed Carriers that the Luna Yards are building now. Your father is in command of this ship and after a small discussion with me he signed for a few minutes and returned with theknowledge of our marriage. Me being the son-in-law I am I managed to stutter out a reply to him," he finished with a sigh please he got it off his chest finally. Lisa blinked and nodded in understanding, but before she could speak laughter erupted around Lisa. Rolling her eyes Lisa turned to glare at the rest of the bridge crew behind her, including the Terrible Trio, Claudia, and even Captain Gloval. Rick covered his mouth trying hard not to laugh. The laughter then started to die down and Lisa turned back to him. However she turned again as someone addressed her; she nodded and finally turned back.
"The Captain wants to talk to you," she said with a smile trying to offer her own support. Rick nodded and watched as his screen changed from the face of his wife to the face of his commander.
"Rick I will deal with him, so just transfer me to him," Gloval said with an evil smile of his. Rick nodded pleased that the captain had started to feel better for he had been recently down since the attack on both New Carter, and Gold River. Rick then switch over back to his father-in-law who still was not happy at him.
"Sorry about that but I had to deal with something and someone wants to talk to you… stand by," Rick said with a smile as he gladly switched Gloval over.
-
Hayes frowned as his so called son-in-law disappeared from his screen once more. Sighing he waited for him to return, but when his COMM unit blinked on once more instead of the face of his son-in-law, the face of his old friend Henry Gloval snapped to live on the screen. Hayes paused shocked that his friend wanted to talk to him.
"Well hello Henry," Hayes said trying to cover his shock of his friend wiliness to talk to him.
"Don first I am telling you that you have not been with us during our two years journey to get back here," Gloval said with a slight irradiated tone. Hayes blinked and was about to answer, but his old friend was not done yet.
"So Don you have no right to judge Rick and Lisa for the two are in love for gods sakes, you also have no clue what they have been through since our jump to Pluto Don," Gloval continued now getting harsher in tone as he spoke. Hayes narrowed his eyes in anger at Gloval, seeing the other man rose his hands up.
"Hold on before you go on and say something you may regret later, I have one last thing to say: You shouldn't judge Rick for you do not know him, so get to know him before you go down his throat. Also if I remember correctly you always wanted to have Lisa marry a military man, well Rick is one," Gloval finally finished reaching for his pipe in his jacket but a cough off screen interrupted him mid-motion. Gloval turned his head to glare at the person off screen and said a few soft words that the COMM unit didn't pick up.
"Alright Sammie, I get it," Gloval grumbled a reply to the other person as he pull his hand out of jacket pipe-free. Meanwhile this pause gave Hayes some time to reflect on his friend's words. For they where true, since they had been on their own for over two years fighting for their life and that was bound to have a effect on the people on the SDF-1. So it could be true that Lisa gathered her own small family around her during this crisis to have people to lean on during trouble, to love her when she was down, and take care of her when she need help. Hayes nodded for he now understood this fact; he turned to look at Adam who was nodding in answer to Hayes's silent question. Adam understood long before he ever did understood. Nodding Hayes made a note to apologize to his son-in-law. Flinching he added Lisa to that note for he knew she would be more mad about it then her husband. He also knew that Lisa had her mother's temper and he had always feared that temper. Sighing he turned back to his friend who was staring back at him amused through the communication system. Rolling his eyes Hayes dropped back into a conversation with his old friend mainly about the relationship between Rick Hunter and his daughter Lisa. Meanwhile the ship turned onto a course for a date with the SDF-1, for Hayes had ordered it moments before. Also the Faction's fighter came in for landing while the three fighters from the SDF-1 fell into an escort formation alongside the ship on its journey to help with the war against the Zentreadi.
-
Deep inside the ship known as the SDF-1 the A.I known as EVE stirred as she detected the one she called her daughter approaching. She then senses an open communication line between the SDF-1 and the ship her daughter was on. If she had been human she would have nodded and smiled please that her plans where coming together. She silently slipped into the communication link and into her daughter's domain. After a brief nausea EVE found herself face to face with her daughter the A.I ALLIE. EVE smiled at the shocked look of her daughter's chosen avatar. While EVE was made to look like a Tirolean, Zor's dead daughter in fact, Allie on the other hand looks like a normal Earth Human. The two A. Is smiled as Allie's shock wore off and the two started an interesting chat. Outside in the real world the conversation between Hayes and Gloval continued not aware of the presence of the hijacker on their communication link.
-
Hanging not far from the dead city of Gold River, the two ships meet and the two long time friends meet aboard the SDF-1.
"So this is the famous SDF-1," Hayes said impressed as he was lead through a tour of the SDF-1 and Macross City. He was in awe at what the Macross Residents managed to build inside the core of a space ship. As the tour came to end he was brought to a house outside the boundaries of the military base so to see his son-in-law standing waiting for him with another blue haired pilot standing next to him.
"Sir this is the Hunter's residence so I will be leaving now," the bright face lieutenant that had conducted the tour said after Hayes stepped out of the military jeep but motioned for Adam and Hana to remain in the jeep. They nodded in understanding, and Adam mentioned for the Lieutenant to drive back to the base. Hayes nodded and started to walk towards his future and his son-in-law.
"Well hello son I do apologize for being an ass earlier but…" he said but was cut off by Rick.
"Its okay what Father-in-law wouldn't when his daughter just disappears and returns with a husband wouldn't," Rick said with a smile shaking the older man's hand. Behind Rick the door opened to admit Lisa outside, Hayes's eyes traveled from his new son-in-law to his daughter and his eyes widened to see her pregnant. His eyes got angry and traveled back to Rick.
"You have a lot of explaining to do young man," he said with a growl ushering the three people inside. Rick face faulted and whimpered while the other man just chuckled as he took the rear.
-
Hours later and a few tearful reunions later the two ships pulled away from the planet and into the cold darkness of space. Even though the Zentreadi where out their hiding waiting for their chance moral was at an all time high. For the SDF-1 now had a companion that could in theory stand toe-to-toe with a Zentreadi Battle cruiser. As the two ships of war broke away from Earth Lang and his team where busy aboard the SDAC which was now named the Liberty, to modify it with Pin-Point Barrier System. Lang also looked over the ship's A.I and was not surprised that it was so advanced for he was the one that EVE chose to carry the knowledge of Robotech that had been aboard the SDF-1. Also a pair of Veritech Squadrons where placed aboard the Liberty with a regiment of Destriods as well. Also spare crewmen where taken off the SDF-1 to crew the Liberty.
Now as the ships broke the planet's atmosphere groups of ships that had been forewarned about their arrival fell into position. Three brand new Advanced Oberths Destroyer, eight Regular Oberths and the refitted ARMD Carrier Enterprise. This new battle group pulled away from Earth's orbit on a course for deep space trying to take the fight away from the planet and a new existence without the corrupted Earth Council ordering them around. They where about to make themselves a new destiny along the stars above, however they had unknown alien eyes watching them and their movements. Not far from their position in the orbit of Mars which was now a Zentreadi Advance Base a trio of ships left orbit on a intercept course for the Battle group, the fight was about to begin once more and Humanity was going to be shaken to its core as the fight begun once more along the stars in what later going to be called the 1st Robotech War…
Fin
or
The End
it will also be To Be Contiuned...
Author Notes:
There we go the final chapter in my fanfiction and boy does it feel good. But don't worry this story stills needs some fixing in some areas so I may repost some chapters to watch out for those. Okay now only the Afterword and I am officially done with this fic…. Yeah!