That was the headline of the Macross Gazette the day after the wedding of Max Sterling and Miroya Parino. The front page photograph was their first kiss after they were wed. The wedding did a lot to boost them morale of the SDF-1 crew, the Marine detachments, and the people of Macross City. There was still some construction work going on to repair the last of the damage from the invasion of Macross City nearly a month before.
One day I decided to have lunch in the observation deck food court. Working without supervision, I was able to set my own hours. I bought a hamburger, french fries, and a Coca-cola. I went to the tables where the food court's customers sit. I looked around, and I saw Konda, Rico, and Bron, three of the Zentraedi defectors now living here in Macross City.
"Hi there," I said to them. "How are you doing?"
"We're doing fine," said Konda. "I'mn eating this thing called a taco."
"How's your jobs going?"
"We've been teaching Micronians how to speak our language," said Rico. "We each teach one class, and we have about thirty students."
"They've been making good progress," said Bron. "They know basic Zentraedi phrases. It won't be long before they can have conversations in our language. And we're learning more and more about your history and culture."
"You know, Minmei's releasing her second album tomorrow. It's called Victory and..."
The alarm sounded. "ALL HANDS BATTLE STATIONS!" yelled a female voice. "THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"
The four of us ran to the window. We could see a huge Zentraedi warship.
"That's Commander Breetai's ship," said Rico. "He's about to lead another attack on this ship."
"You mentioned him before during my interview with you."
"We were assigned under his command as intelligence analysts," said Konda. "Dolza assigned him to capture the SDF-1."
I saw Zentraedi fighters flying towards the ship. It looked like they would be spearheading the attack.
Suddenly, without warning, the ship opened fire on the fighters. Soon the fighters were dispatched.
"He opened fire on his own fighters," I said. "Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," said Rico. "It's not like him. It's like something Khyron would do."
"Who?" I asked.
"Khyron's the commander of the seventh mechanized division," said Bron. "He's known as the Backstabber. He would destroy his own forces to achieve victory."
"Well, whoever that is, we're gonna have a battle on our hands," I said.
The Zentraedi warship came to a stop relative to the SDF-1. I wondered if it was preparing for an attack. But then it wasa not firing anything- cannon, laser beams, missiles. Everyone in the food court watched the ship that seemed to just be floating out there in space. What were the Zentraedi up to?
I saw a small group of veritech fighters fly out to meet the enemy ship. It looked like they would spearhead an attack. But then they returned without firing a shot. Then I noticed that a Zentraedi pod was among them. The fighters and the pod returned to one of the landing bays.
"Something strange is going on," I said.
"Excuse me," someone said.
I turned and found that it was Private First Class Bryan Hart.
"Is there something?" asked Konda.
"Captain Gloval summons the three of you,"said Bryan Hart. "Please come with me."
Konda, Rico, and Bron come with the security police private. I decided to finish my lunch and then go back to my office.
ooooooooooo
That evening, I came home. I decided to cook myself a pork chop for dinner. I still had plenty of work to do. I wondered if Jenna was ready to start dating again. Could she have found someone else? I did not have her phone number yet. I figured I should get it the next time I see her. I sat in my dining table. I sliced a slice from the pork chop, dipped it in barbecue sauce, and then put it in my mouth and chewed. I was wondering what to do. I could go shooting with Vince. Or maybe pay a visit with Jake, who is out of the hospital now. His boy Lunk was now ten months old and his first birthday would be in two months. Would Lunk spend his entire life in the ship, looking down on a planet that sent him and his family away?
I finished my dinner and washed the dish and the fork and the knife and the glass. I sually ate alone in my apartment, so there weren't many plates or utensils to watch. I turned on the Sony television and I also turned on my personal computer. The channel that was on showed classic movies. There were some TV shows being filmed in Macross City. I looked through my notes, wondering if there were any articles I could send to the newspapers before going to sleep. Tonight would be meant to be a quiet night.
But these plans were thwarted when I heard a special report on TV.
"We interrupt this programming for a special report," said a voice.
"Good evening," said a news anchorman whom I recognized. "Minutes ago, the SDF-1 crew announced the detection of massive hyperspace defold reaction. It isd believed that these are coming from Zentraedi warships arriving in our solar system.'
I knew what was going to happen. The Zentraedi were sending reinforcements for an attack on the ship. I raced out of my apartment to head for the obnservation lounge.
oooooooooooo
I arrived at the observation lounge. Looking out into space, I could see flashes of light. These flashes faded to reveal a Zentraedi spaceship. Space was already filled with Zentraedi spaceships. There were too many to count. The defold acticity kept going on and on. ship after ship after ship appeared out of hyperspace to take position. Despair started sinking into my heart at this sight.
In previous battlesd, we only faced a few ships at a time. But there must be at least a million ships out there! I remmebered after those four crew members returned from Zentraedi captivity. I remember when Jenna and I bought many drinks for Ben Dixon to loosen his tongue.
Ben Dixon mentioned four or five million Zentraedi ships. I watched as more and more ships appeared.
It looked like we were their top priority. Given the trouble we caused them, they decided to send their whole fleet here. There was no way we could survive an attack. Even if we fired all our weapons and sent every fighter at our disposal, it would not be enough.
I went to the bar and looked at the bartender, who was staring out into the spaceship-filled space.
"I'd like a beer please," I said.
"Have all you want," he said to me.
I filled myself a pitcher of Budweiser beer. I took a glass and sat at a cloth-covered table close to the window. I just looked as more and more ships arrived. I started drinking the beer in big gulps.
As the alcohol buzzed my mind, I thought of Jenna. She and the others must be on red alert. She must be aware of the situation. She had just recently got her life back. Now she was going to lose it for good.
She had been concerned that I would end up grieving inconsolably for her if she died. But when they attack, there won't be anyone around to grieve. I continued gulping down more beer. Here I was, about to die, drunk and alone.
I wondered if we could escape from this solar system. But then I knew that the enemy could fold through hyperspace, and that they would attack us.
Then the flashes stopped. Space was filled with Zentraedi warships. We were surrounded and there was nowhere to go. I hadn't even finished my pitcher of beer.
I saw some of the ships start to glow. they were charging a shot to fire at us. I stood up and waited for the ships to reduce the SDF-1 Macross and everything in it into its component subatomic particles.
"Goodbye, Jenna," I said. "I love you."
Then the ships discharged their fire. This was the end. The end of my assignment. The end of the journey I started when I stepped on that plane in New York. The end.
I sat down and decided to finish my beer.
I looked at my hands. How could I finish my beer if I was dead?
The ships did not fire at us. They fired at the Earth!
I ran to the window and saw the Earth lit up. There were tiny lights on the surface.
Those were explosions on the surface. People were being incinerated. I banged on the windows as hard as I could, not that it would stop these aliens one bit.
I bowed my head down. Mom. Dad. Sally. Tony. Tammy. Oliver. Mr. Chegwidden. Quinn. Gail. Everyone on Earth. Incinerated.
And there would be no time to grieve. For the next shot was aimed at us. Once their weapons were ready, it would be as if we were never here.
I watched, drinking my beer, as I waited for everything to end. I did not shed a tear for anyone on Earth. there was no point in grieving when I was about to die.
It was such a shame. There would be no one left to tell my story to.
Then I saw a bright light. This was it. I just wished I could have been with Jenna. Or my family. Or someone I cared about. Instead, I would die here alone. I took another sip of beer.
I was alive. Whom did the aliens fire on? I looked out to space, ands I noticed there were a lot fewer alien ships.
Siomeone on Earth fired a massive weapon against the Zentraedi fleet! That means there were survivors on Earth- surviviors who could strike back.
Then I heard a voice over the PA. It was calling for me.
I went to the nearest phone and dialed a number. I told them who I was.
"We have an important assignment for you," said Lieutenant Claudia Grant. "We are about to engage a counteroffensive against the enemy and we want you to cover it."
"Another assignment?" I asked.
"This battle will be the biggest battle humanity has ever faced, and we need the best reporter on hand. Meet me on the bridge."
And so I did.
oooooooooo
Before going to the bridge, I got dressed in my suit, the same suit I was wearing when I first saw the launch of the SDF-1. I was even wearing the same press pass. I rode in a Jeep to the elevators connecting the Macross City decks to the other decks of the ship. I was led through the corridors of the ship
I entered the bridge, noticing all the monitors and instruments and control panels, and I met with Captain Henry J. Gloval, Lieutenant Claudia Grant, and a short red-haired man I was not familiar with.
"Hello there," said Captain Gloval. "I am glad you have come."
"It's a privilege to have an exclusive on this," I said.
"This is Exedore. He was Breetai's aide."
"I am a micronized Zentraedi," said Exedore. "Fleet Commander Breetai sent me here to conduct ceasefire negotiations. We have decided to fight with you against Dolza's fleet."
"Why?" I asked.
"We were exposed to Micronian culture. Because of a previous incident, Dolza made it policy to destroy any Zentraedi unit that was exposed to an alien culture, even if it is a whole fleet. Dolza now has Lord Breetai and Lady Azonia and everyone under them marked for death, so we no longer serve him."
"So I get to cover this battle from the bridge," I said.
"Not exactly," said Captain Gloval. "You will be covering a Minmei concert."
"A concert?" I asked.
"The crew and soldiers in Dolza's ships never encountered culture," said Exedore. "If we jam their frequencies with Minmei's singing, we can disorient them and launch a surprise attack."
"I will be honored to do this," I said. "I would like a favor though."
"Name it," said Claudia.
oooooooooo
The Minmei concert was held at the observation lounge. Stage workers worked as they prepared the equipment to record the broadcast. I had my own digital camcorder. I saw Lin Kyle standing on stage, dressed in a purple suit.
"Here you go," said a Spacy technician, handing me a wireless headset. "This will connect you to the bridge. They should be able to connect you to whomever you want."
"Hello, Claudia?" I asked.
"How is it going?" she asked.
"I can hear you." I then made my request.
"We're going to connect you now," said Claudia. I ran to the window to look at Prometheus.
"Hello?" asked Jenna.
"It's me," I said. I told her whom I was.
"How are you talking to me?"
"Claudia- Lieutenant Grant- patched me in to you. Now I can hear everything from your side."
"What is going on?" asked Jenna.
"I'm covering the Minmei concert that's gonna be broadcast to the enemy fleet," I said. "How are you doing?"
"They added booster and missile pods to my veritech. Now it can accelerate faster and fire more missiles. It also has these megaton-yield missiles that could blast apart enemy cruisers with one hit. I'm now taxiing to the elevator."
"Jenna, I love you."
"You know, for a long time I've isolated myself from everyone. I thought it would make things easier. But life's not about taking the easy way out. I mean, we're facing millions of enemy ships, and the easy way out is to just sit around until they blast us to bits. But that's not what being a Marine is about. That's not what's life's about. I'm going to go out there to fight for you and I'm coming back for you. Yes, I'm not the same person you fell in love with. I've grown these past two years. I love you. And I'm going to fight and come back here because I love you."
"Air Boss to Knight Three," said someone. "You're already cleared for takeoff. What's the problem?"
"Good hunting," I said.
"I'll come back!" yelled Jenna. "Knight Three to Air Boss, I have a green board and I am taking off."
I looked and saw the black veritech fighter with its boosters taking off from Prometheus. It joined hundreds of veritech fighters already in the front of the SDF-1.
"I heard what you were saying," said Minmei, tapping my shoulder. "I understand how you feel."
"She'll come back," I said. "Jenna's coming back."
"Minmei, we only have a minute left," said Kyle.
"Coming."
"Well, this is it," said Konda.
"It's win or die," said Rico.
"Let's get on with it," said Bron.
Then the instrumentalist played their instruments, and Minmei started her singing. "Life is only what we choose to make it," she began. "Let us take it, Let us be free."
I saw the enemy Zentraedi ships get closer and closer as we advanced. There was no response from them. It was working.
I looked back at the stage, and saw Minmei singing. She put down her microphone while her band played their instruments. She and Kyle then kissed each other. I then noticed a flash of light. I looked and the SDF-1 and our Zentraedi allies were blasting the enemy apart. space was filled with explosions.
"Knight Squadron, this is Knight Leader," I heard someone say. "Attack!"
Minmei continued singing, and space was filled with explosions from the battle. I heard Minmei repeat the phrase, "We will win." And indeed it felt that way.
"This is Knight Three," said Jenna. "I have my first target on sight. First payload away!"
"It's a hit, Knight Three," someone said. "Your target's destroyed."
"Knight Three is moving on to the next payload," said Jenna. "Knights Ten and Eleven, continue to cover me. ETA to target two minutes."
MInmei continued her singing as the enemy fleet was shredded by the weapons of the SDF-1 and its allies, or the deadly multi-megaton payloads delivered by the veritechs.
"Second payload has been delivered," said Jenna.
"We will win!" sung Minmei.
"Another hit, Knight Three," someone said immedaitely after Minmei sung those words. "Target has been destroyed."
And so the battle continued. I heard Minmei's song in tandem with the chatter over Jenna's radio. It was almost as if Minmei were guiding the battle with her singing. The intensity of the explosions appeared to coincide with the notes of her song. It was like she was a conductor and the battle was her orchestra.
"This is Knight Three, I've used up all my payloads," said Jenna. "Oh no! Skull Leader's taken a hit. I gotta..."
"Negative, Knight Three," said Knight Leader. "Knight Four has one more payload to deliver. Protect Knight Four!"
"Copy that, Knight Leader."
As I was hearing Minmei sing, I could see something ahead. It was much bigger than the other ships.
"That's the Zentraedi headquarters," said Konda.
We kept getting closer and closer as Minmei continued her singing. She was singing in a loop, repeating her lyrics. She wasn't going to stop until we have won.
"This is Knight Leader," said Colonel Beckett. "I can't shake this bandit off my tail."
"I see it, Knight Leader," said Jenna. "I'm going in. Got it!"
"Thanks, Knight Three."
The Zentraedi headquarters, this huge thing, kept getting closer until it obstructed the view of all space.
"All guard fighters break off," said Claudia.
"Copy that, SDF-1 control," said Jenna.
We kept getting closer and closer. Then I knew what we were going to do.
It was a Daedalus attack! This time, the whole ship was going in.
Soon we were breaking through the ship, cutting through the hull like a hot knife through butter. Minmei continued to sing even as we penetrated deep into enemy headquarters. For a few minutes we went through the bulkhead of Zentraedi headquarters.
Then we emerged into this open space. There were thousands of Zentraedi ships floating in this space. In the center was this huge thing hanging from the top, or was it the bottom? I could see a window, and there was this figure in the window.
"That's him!" yelled Rico, looking through binoculars.
"Who?" I asked.
"Dolza! Commander-in-chief of all Zentraedi!" yelled Bron.
I looked through the viewfrinder of the Sony digital camcorder, and I could see this bald man in a blue robe. That was Dolza.
"Everyone!" I yelled to the camera crew. "Point the cameras to the window." I went up to the camera operators to help them. "Zoom in there." Dolza's image appeared on the little screen.
"What are we doing?" asked the camera operator.
"Recording history," I said. I pointed my digital camcorder and zoomed to get a close look at Dolza.
The SDF-1 then fired its missiles and laser beams and cannons. Then everthign in front of the window was tinted green. It was the barrier. The Zentraedi ships inside the huge central space opened fire on us, but it would only serve to feed more energy into the barrier until...
I looked at Dolza, who appeared to be tinted green due to the barrier. Then he was tinted blue. then he was tinted violet. Then he was tinted white. Soon he disappeared into this white light as Minmei sung, "We will win!"
I knew that the barrier overloaded and that he was reduced to subatomic particles.
Then we saw the Earth below us. The Zentraedi headquarters was destroyed, along with a good portion of the Zentraedi fleet.
"Jenna, are you there?" I asked.
There was nothing, not even static.
"Jenna?" I asked.
Nothing.
"Knight Squadron. Claudia? Anyone?"
"Telephones are out," said some guy.
I looked as the Earth started getting closer. We were going in.
We all braced ourselves as the SDF-1 fell to Earth. Soon I can see the corona of light as the friction between the hull and the Earth's atmosphere heated it up.
I felt weightless and I knew we were going into free fall. Once we hit the Earth, we would hit it with a force greater than any of those blasts from the Zentraedi ships. We were going to be incinerated.
I wondered how Jenna felt, knowing that the ship was in free fall to its destruction and she could not do anything to save it.
To save me.
Then I suddenly felt heavy. The SDF-1 must have activated its thrusters. The corona disappeared as the hull started cooling down. I looked and saw clouds. then I could see the blue expanse of an ocean. At the edge I could see the rising sun. Then I could see a coastline. Beyond the coastline were mountains and plains and rivers.
Then I could see the land in more details. there were many craters scattered about, the result of the alien attack. Soon the craters appeared bigger and bigger.
There was no need to hear any announcement to prepare for impact. We waited and waited. The landscape disappeared, replaced with the brightening sky. The ship must have changed its orientation. We all braced ourselves.
Then we were shaken off our feet. The ship landed hard. I looked around at Konda, Rico, Bron, Minmei, Kyle, and the others. They appeared all right.
"We're back," I said. I looked out the window . There was some trees in the distance, and empty, scorched land between here and the trees.
"Everyone all right?" asked Konda.
"Jenna," I said, looking out the window. "She's coming back. Jenna!" I yelled into the headset. "JENNA!"
There was no response.
"Listen," said Kyle. "I'm sorry."
"No!" I yelled. "She promised she'd come back." I looked at everyone who was looking at me. I took the digital camcorder I used to record the battle.
I then ran out of the observation lounge, through the streets of Macross City, and to the aircraft carrier Prometheus. None of the security policemen tried to stop me. I noticed footsteps following me.
I made my way to the hangar deck of the Prometheus just in time to see a brown veritech fighter descend from the flight deck.
I waited and waited. More and more veritechs came down to the flight deck and taxiied into position.
I then saw Knight Squadron's veritechs come down. The pilots got out and the veritechs were guided into their stalls.
I saw another Knight Squadron fighter. It had these attachments to its back and legs. I looked at the cockpit. That was Captain Landry. He taxied his veritech to a stall.
Then I saw another veritech with the attached booster units. As it taxied, I looked at the cockpit.
CPT J. MURPHY
"Jenna!" I yelled as I followed the fighter. It stopped and the canopy opened.
I saw the pilot remove her helmet, revealing her blond hair.
"Jenna!" I yelled.
She yelled out my name and climbed down from the cockpit. She ran to me.
Soon we held each other and we kissed. I felt the pressure of her lips, I felt her back and her waist. Our hearts began to race.
We finally separated after a long time. "You came back," I said.
"I had someone to come back to," said Jenna. We went to the side, arm in arm.
Another Knight Squadron veritech arrived, and Lieutenant Colonel Angus Beckett revealed himself and climbed down whole his veritech was moved to a stall. Then the last veritech came down. It was olive drab in color, with the booster units.
Colonel Maistroff opened the canopy and climbed down. He stood next to Colonel Beckett.
Jenna approached him. "Sirs," she said. "Permission to skip debriefing so I can celebrate victory with this wonderful man whom I fought and came back for."
"Your call, Beckett," said Maistroff.
"Permission granted, Captain Murphy," said Beckett. "Come back to my office at 0900 tomorrow for your debriefing."
"Yes, sir," she said. She then took my arm, and we ran all the way back to my apartment.