"To Earth," we all said as we toasted our drinks.
"You know, it's amazing," said Lieutenant Jonathan Wolfe. "We were only gonna be on the ship six months. Instead, we spent a year here and we got to meet more people than we thought."
"Hey Ichijo, who's that girl?" asked Lani.
"She was in the Miss Macross competition," said Lieutenant Ichijo. "She's gonna be a model."
"At least I got a great consolation prize," said this girl with long, flowing black hair who is sitting on the pilot's lap. "Maybe I can go to Paris to be a model."
"By next week, we'll be off this ship," said Lieutenant Landry. "I'll miss the SDF-1 crew, especially that Dixon character."
"Listen," I said. "We have a worldwide postal system, not to mention the Internet. We can still have contact. We are in a place were we can travel between the Earth and moon in minutes."
"And we should not forgot Major Colmes and the others," said Katie. "They died so we can be here."
"Another toast," I said. "To those who couldn't be with us today."
oooooooo
That night, Jenna and I were inside our apartment. It was my first night on Earth since my stay at the Macross Hyatt over a year ago. I looked around the place. I looked at the bed and the dining table and the sock drawer and the desk and the telephone and the General Electric clock radio and the Sony television and the Aiwa stereo system. Jenna helped me with the decoration. Now I will soon move back home.
"This is Minmei's debut album," said Jenna, holding a CSD. She inserts it into the stereo's CD player and presses teh play button.
"Now that I'm sure that I found the man in my life," the song begins.
"That was the song Minemi dedicated to us," said Jenna.
I looked at the song list on the inside of the CD case. Sure enough, the song was dedicated to me and Jenna.
"I'm glad I saw that enemy pod back on Mars," I said.
The song continued to play.
"So you're going back to New York," she said.
"Yeah. As soon as the transport planes arrive."
"There's seventy thousand here. It'll take few flights to move everyone out. And while you have a home in New York, what about the people whose homes were in Macross City?"
"Maybe they can be relocated somewhere on Long Island," I said. "Plenty of space there for seventy thousand people."
"We won't be seeing much of each other after you go back to New York. Even if you were staying on the ship, my squadron might be moved to a Marine air station on Earth or even on the moon."
"We'll just have to make sure we have a line of communcation with each other," I said. "And maybe you can take a vacation and come with me to New York. After a year of fighting the Zentraedi just to get us all home, I don't think UN Headquarters would deny you and your whole squadron a vacation. Let other pilots take the task of defending Earth for a while."
"You're right," said Jenna. "Give me the phine number for your home and office in New York."
"I probably don't have an apartment in New York anymore; I can give you the number for my parents' house in Queens. And I can give you my office number. I'd love to see the look on Chegwidden's face when he reads my articles."
oooooooooooo
WE'RE BACK! SDF-1 SPLASHES DOWN ON EARTH
That was the next day's headline for the Macross Gazette, with me writing the cover story. Macross City was holding a party outside on the deck of Daedalus. Jenna had the day off, so we were there. There were booths around. People were serving punch and candy and party favors. Jenna was wearing a cute coned hat on her head. I saw transport planes landing on the deck of Prometheus.
"Those are the new arrivals," said Jenna. "They're coming in to replace those who were killed."
"I wonder if SDF-1 will be returning to space," I said.
"Well, I'm sure it will aftert you and the others leave. I don't know if my squadron will still be on the ship."
"I want to spend every moment with you," I said.
I grabbed her waist and pulled her to me. I smiled as I kissed her.
"What are you doing?" someone asked.
I turned and saw three men. Two of them was holding upo a third, bigger man who had trouble standing. One of them had black hair, the other had purple hair, and the big guy had red hair.
"I'm just here with my girlfriend celebrating our return to Earth," I said.
"What is this thing girlfriend?" asked the purple-haired man.
"And why were you pressing your lips together?" asked the black-haired man.
"I'm a girl, he's a boy, and we love each other," said Jenna. "Are you gay or something?"
"Gay?" asked the purple-haired man.
"Yeah, we're gay!" said the big red-haired man.
"That's right," said the man with black hair. "Gay we are."
"Let's leave these three queers to be with each other," I said. I looked and noticed a limousine. I saw a black-haired girl come out. That was Lin Minmei!
"Don't you want to go over there to ask Minmei questions?" asked Jenna.
"I can cover the party here," I said. "With you."
I looked and saw Minmei get into a fanjet with this guy in an orange jacket. Tjhe fanjet takes off and flies over the Pacific to the west.
"If Minmei's leaving, maybe you will too," said Jenna.
I then saw another plane. It was a military plane with the UN military logo. It was launched from Prometheus. The two planes were followed by veritech fighters. After I saw the planes disappear, Jenna and I took sips of punch.
"Excuse me, ma'am," said someone. I looked and saw a UN Spacy policeman.
"What?" asked Jenna.
"Are you Lieutenant Jenna Murphy?" he asked.
"Yes, Corporal."
"Then come with me. Colonel Beckett summons you."
"But it's my day off."
"I'm sure its' very important, ma'am."
I saw Jenna taken into the ship. I looked at the partying crowd, and I figured I have enough notes for a story. I went back inside.
oooooooooo
I was in my office when Jenna burst in, dressed in her uniform. She was overexcited.
"Guess what?" she asked.
"The colonel apologized for dragging you in on your day off when he didn't need you?" I asked.
"No, you are looking at Captain Jenna Murphy! I got promoted!"
I hugged her. "Congratulations, Captain!"
"Katie and Lani got promoted too; they're first lieutenants. We're gonna celebrate at the Lins' Chinese restaurant tonight."
ooooooooo
After Jenna told me of her promotion, we decided to pay a visit to Vince, who was still in the hospital. I noticed that he was staying n the same room that Jenna was in when she was recovering.
"How are you doing, Vince?" I asked.
"I'm fine, guys," he said. "I'll probably be able to return to work tomorrow. And I'm glad, since the casino will probably be closed when we are moved off the ship."
"I got promoted to captain," said Jenna.
"So you're now equal with Captain Gloval?" asked Vince.
"No, a Spacy captain ranks higher than a Marine captain."
"Jean's really good to me," said Vince.
"Who?" I asked.
"My nurse. She was a Spacy nurse assigned to the ship when it went into space."
"You know, I'm heading back to New York," I said. "As soon as the transports arrive to pick us up."
"I'm a Macross resident. I wonder where the UN will put me."
"Take care, Vince," I said. "I hope to see you tomorrow."
I then left the room. I saw Claudia walking in my direction.
"Hi, Claudia," I said. "I guess you're coming to see Vince."
"That's right," she said.
"He has good news for you."
"I'll ask him." And then she walked into Vince's room.
ooooooooo
Knight Squadron celebrated their recent promotions at the Lins' Chinese restaurant. We all sat down there.
"To our promotions," said Katie.
"And to the new recruits we have," said Lieutenant Wolfe.
"You know we have a new XO now?" asked Lani.
"A woman XO," said Lieutenant Ichijo. "Her name is Major Hayase."
"Maybe I'll get to meet her," I said. "So what's it like being a first lieutenant?"
"Knowing you're not at the bottom of the shit heap," replied Ichijo as he grabbed chow fun noodles with his chopsticks.
"I heard we got some more meat on this hip," said Jenna. "I'm tired of being a vegan. Maybe we can have meat before we are reassigned somewhere else."
"Will all of you get a vacation?" I asked.
"I hope so," replied everyone.
"Reemember flight training," said Lani. "When we were like learning how to land the veritechs, and then Jenna accidentally went into guardian mode and she landed right in the freeway."
"They put the landing gear lever close to the mode control lever," said Jenna. "It wasn't my fault."
"You're lucky you're here with us," said Katie, "And not pushing papers in UN Headquarters."
oooooooooooo
The next morning, I went to the Prometheus to cover Minmei's return. As it turned out, she wanted to stay in Macross City, so she was being flown back in that little fanjet. The reporters were allowed on the hangar deck. I was dressed in my suit, the same one I wore when I first left Earth.
The elevator descended, and the little fanjet came down. I took a pictures. Then Minmei came out along with two people.
Why were there two people with her? I thought there was only one pilot.
The pilot I recognized, Lieutenant Rick Hunter. I did not recognize the young man with long black hair. He was dressed in blue.
"Excuse me, sir," I asked. "What is your name?"
"Lin Kyle," he said. "Call me Kyle. Minmei's my cousin."
"And where did you fly from?" I asked.
"Yokohama, Japan," said Kyle. "Minmei's parents lived there and I was living with them when I went to college over there. In my last semester, I heard Macross City was destroyed. I didn't knowe until Minmei came back."
"What is going on Earth?" I asked.
"I just want to be with my parents now," said Kyle.
"Excuse me, Minmei," I said. "Tell us what you heard about world events?"
"It's still here," she said.
ooooooooooo
Later that day, I went to thew Bright Star Casino. I was hoping Vince was on his feet already. I was surprised to see Jenna and her two friends there.
"Captain, First Lieutenants," I said to the three of them.
"Are you going to refer to me by rank, Mr. Reporter?" asked Jenna.
"Only if you were promoted within the last day," I said. "I thought you'd be in the office."
"We are all having four hour shifts only," said Lani.
"It was my idea," said Lieutenant Commander Roy Fokker, who was sitting at the bar. "I spoke with Colonel Maistroff and Captain Gloval and they agreed the crew needed a shorter workday. After all the extra hours we put last year, we deserve some rest."
"How are you doing, Vince?" I asked as I looked at him.
"I'm feeling great, thank you," he said. "I'm glad to be working here just before the casino moves to wherever the UN relocates us."
"I'm glad you're on your feet. Get me a beer please."
I looked at the television. Minmei's image appeared. She sang the song that was dedicated to me and Jenna. Then it disappeared. There was a Special Report on the Macross Broadcasting System. I hoped it wasn't a terrorist bombing.
The news was not good.
"In a press conference," said the TV reporter. "Captain Gloval has informed that permission of the suriviors to leave the battle fortress have been flatly rejected."
Next I saw, the televiion screen was shattered by a shot glass.
"This is fucked up!" yelled Vince. "How could they do this?"
I agreed. I was here on Earth, gone for a year, and I can't go back to my family in New York! What the hell was this! Will the UN tell my family I'm still here, or will they just leave them in the dark, letting them think I'm dead? I can't imagine what they have been going through the past year.
I looked at Commander Fokker. "Why are they doing this?" I asked.
"I don't know," replied the commander. "Claudia just told me as we were going here. It was an idiot decision by headquarters."
"I'm not standing for it," Jenna said to me. "I am flying you back to New York in my veritech right now, and I don't care if I get court-martialed!"
"Hey you!" yelled some casino patron. "Why the fuck can't we leave the ship."
Soon an angry crowd gathered, wanting to talk to the military officers who were sitting at the bar with me.
"We don't know," said Jenna.
Then one of them made a mistake. He pulled her blond hair. "Give me answers now you fucking bitch!"
I gave him an answer by grabbing a beer bottle and smashing it on top of his head.
It turned into a brawl. With my back heel off the ground, I used my legs to add power to my palm-heel strikes. Someone was coming after me, and Idelivered a kick.
Then someone punched me and knocked me to the floor. I then saw vince leap over the bar and then ounch some guy. Less than a minute after the fight started, the angry mob fled the casino.
"Are you all right?" Jenna asked me.
"Fine," I said.
"Good fighter," said Commander Fokker. "But you hit that guy with my beer bottle. You owe me a beer."
"Okay, then." I ordered another beer to replace the beer bottle I used to hit the guy that was attacking Jenna.
Then I heard the announcement. "ALL CREW TO BATTLE STATIONS!" a voice yelled.
"We've got to go," said Jenna.
"Go get them, Captain," I said to her.
"We'll be back," said Lani.
"You can count on that," said Katie.
They all left, as did Commander Fokker.
"You can have the beer if you want," said Vince. "No pilot who left his drink here ever asked for it."
I took the beer I bought for Commander Fokker and I left the casino to take my battle station.
ooooooooooo
I looked out and it was a clear and perfect day, with a clear blue sky over the Pacific Ocean. I saw the veritech fighters take off from Promoetheus. I saw the Knight Squadron's fighters with their black paint job and red trim take off. Then I saw the Zentraedi cruiser.
The Zentraedi cruiser deployed its own fighters. Their fighters and our fighters were shooting at each other, and the sky was filled with explosions. The enemy pressed its advantage, and I soon saw pods coming down from the cruiser to land on SDF-1. Some of the veritech fighter reinforcements were blown up before they took off from Prometheus.
I could see that the Zentraedi pods landed on the decks of Prometheus and Daedalus. The Marine destroid units started to engage the enemy pods. Veritech fighters changed into guardian and battloid modes to provide assistance. It was an all out battle. I could see dogfights in the sky between fighters, and battles on the decks between mecha.
I saw a flying mecha, shaped like a suit of armor. It was like a destroid. I seemed to remember seeing it from somewhere.
Then it blew up one of our fighters. It proceeded to destroy another UN fighter. That flying destroid was Zentraedi!
The battle on decks and in the air continued for a few minutes. Then the Zentraedi cruiser approaches closer and closer. Green shields moved about blocking the laser beams, missiles, and cannon rounds. It looked like the cruiser was going to ram us!
But the the SDF-1 raised the Daedalus. It impaled the cruiser with the Deadalus. Then the destroids inside launched their missiles. The Zentraedi ship was consumed with explosions and soon pieces of its hull were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
I looked as the veritech fighters returned to Prometheus. I saw the black Marine veritech fighters of Knight Squadron.
oooooooo
I returned to my office. There were no new messages for me. I wondered if I should go back to my apartment to see if Jenna called my home number. I called Knight Squadron over the telephone.
"Hello, Knight Squadron," said a female voice.
"Is Lieutenant Jenna Murphy available?" I asked.
"Let me see." I waited for too many tense seconds. "No, she is at a debriefing with the commander."
"Thank God," I said. I hung up the phone. I worked on my article on today's battle.
ooooooo
I was walking to my apartment after writing my articles and following up on stories. Most of the stories I was doing was based on citizens' reaction to the news of being denied permission to leave. I remembered Jenna saying she would fly me back to New York. Would she do something so reckless?
I reached for the door and it was unlocked. Did a burglar break into my apartment? I opened the door and I saw a blond-haired woman in a Marine flight uniform, sobbing loudly.
"Jenna?" I asked. "What happened?" I knew whatever she would say would be bad news.
"Lani's dead," she said as she was crying.
"How?'" I asked.
Jenna cried for a few seconds. "We...we were in the air...there was this really fast enemy mecha...Lani was trying to get away...I tried to get him off her...It was too late...I saw Lani's veritech explode...and then the enemy mecha flew away."
I sat on the bed. She then held me and buried her face in my chest, sobbing uncontrollably.