"Who's there?" I asked.
"It's me, Jenna," said the voice.
I looked through the peephole. Jenna was alone, wearing a heavy coat. I opened the door and she came in.
"Hi," she said. "Are you all right?"
"I made it out alive," I said, sitting on the couch. "Listen, I have beer and soda in the fridge if your thirsty."
"No thanks. I'm not particularly thirsty."
It was the weekend after my escape from the Blood Martyrs' Brigade. Jenna had decided to come over and visit for the weekend. The hostage crisis was big news. I did not give any interviews though.
I had done some research on the Blood Martyrs from my office. They were a terrorist faction founded in the West Bank. They did not have as much influence as other terrorist groups. They went into hiding during the Robotech War, and only resurfaced recently.
Samir Atta Nidal was an imam who was wanted for several terrorist bombings. The Interpol and the Mossad was trying to track him down right up until the Rain of Death. Now he has surfaced and allied himself and his people with renegade Zentraedi.
Of course, this little fact did not make it to the news. Apparently, the military kept quiet Samir's connection with the Zentraedi rebels.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Jenna, sitting close to me.
"Sure," I said. "I guess if there's anyone to talk to, it's you. I remember seeing their leader. He had this crazed look in his eyes, like he was mad. He had us watch this woman hostage get raped and murdered. I remember what they were shouting- Allahu Akbar!"
"Amazing that anyone would follow that creep."
"His followers are unsociable loners who are taken in by this man. They follow his cause because they derive meaning into their lives and because of false promises to paradise. How much do you know about the history of the region?"
"Not much."
"Well, people like Samir Atta Nidal raised an entire generation for the Devil and Hell, teaching them to hate Jews and that blowing thmselves up in a crowd of people would get them into paradise. It was n't hard for him to recruit followers, esepcially after the Rain of Death. They were raised to hate. It's hard to imagine how many people entered Hell following those teachings. These guys are worse than the Inquisition."
"You sure know history. Maybe you should be a history teacher or something."
"You know, sometimes I wonder if I have a sniper trained on me. Macross City looks a lot less safe. There are so many places for a sniper to hide. And this building is vulnerable to a fuel-oil-feritlizer bomb. I wonder if I'll ever seem tomorrow."
"I remember feeling like that. Whenever I launched out of the Prometheus, I wondered if I would ever return, if it would be my last flight. Or even if there would be ship to return to. I mean, Lani's first combat mission as a first lieutenant was also her last."
"This is different. The Zentraedi wanted to capture the battle fortress and you and I were just people in the way. The Blood Martyrs may be coming after me, specifically."
"Then we're gonna have to take the battle to them!"
"I doubt it. The UN is still dealing with Zentraedi holdouts who are still fighting their war with us. I don't have a destroid battalion or a veritech squadron at my disposal."
"I heard of that Zentraedi Khyron."
"He's working with the Blood Martyrs."
"Are you kidding?" asked Jenna.
"No. I saw Samir Atta Nidal speaking to Khyron. The news wasn't made public."
ooooooooooooooooo
Later that day, Jenna and I paid a visit to the wall as the sun was setting. She wanted to pay respects to Lani, and had puchased white carnations from a florist. she also thought it would do me good.The wall was a popular place which received many visitors, since so many in Macross City had lost loved ones in the Robotech War. I looked at the names etched in stone, some of them which I recognized. Flowers decorated the bottom.
I looked around. I could see bushes- places where a Blood Martyr sniper could hide.
"Hi there," someone said.
"Yaaah," I said. I looked and saw the three Zentraedi defectors- Konda, Rico, and Bron.
"Sorry," said Rico.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"We just wanted to visit the wall," said Bron.
"We wanted to pay respects to our former enemies who didn't make it," said Konda. "They were valiant warriors, just like those we lost."
"What's going on?"
"We're applying to become Micronian citizens," said Bron. "We won't just be living among Micronians, we will BE Micronians."
"That's great," said Jenna.
"Is there anyone on the wall you're visiting?" asked Konda.
''Yes," said Jenna, pointing to Lani's name on the wall. "She and I were close friends. You know, you three remind me of me and Lani and Katie."
"Is Katie?" asked Rico.
"Katie's still alive," said Jenna.
"You know," said Bron. "Miriya Parino just had a baby. A baby girl."
"That's great," I said.
"Hi there," said this female voice. "Visting the wall?"
I looked and saw Lieutenant Commander Claudia Grant, wearing her green uniform and carrying some red roses. I could never forget her for sending my message to my family after the UN refused to let the civilians on board SDF-1 resettle.
"Uh, yeah," I said. "Jenna was visiting and wanted to pay respects to one of her best friends. What's going on with you?"
"I'm going to be an auntie," said Claudia. "My sister-in-law Jean is pregnant."
"I should pay a visit to Vince," I said.
I looked towards the wall.
Then I looked around the park where the wall was located. So many wide open spaces. I felt very vulnerable.
ooooooooooooo
A few days later, I decided to pay visit to Vince Grant as he was working in the bar.
"Hey there," I said. "Congraltulations, man. I heard you're gonna be a daddy."
"Who told you?" asked Vince.
"Claudia told me. When did this happen?"
Vince poured orange juice and vodka into a glass. "Back in August. It was a special occasion."
"Make sure you invite me to the baby's christening."
"Of course."
"Hey Vince," said this young lady. "Congratulations. I heard you're having a baby."
"Everybody knows," said Vince before speaking to the woman.
After finishing my drink, I decided to gamble some money.
oooooooooooooooo
Christmas was coming up in a few days, and I had already booked a flight back to New York. My office held a Christmas party, and my apartment building will also be hosting a Christmas party. The Associated Press office was deocrated with all sorts of Christmas decorations.
"So long, everyone," I said. "I';m flying back to my family's home tomorrow evening."
"Bye, Boss," said Keith, holding a plastic cup filled with punch.
"Have a safe trip, sir," said Rebecca, holding a cookie sprinkled with red and green sprinkles.
I went to the garage and got into my white Ford Mustang. I started the engine and drove through the streets of Macross City to my apartment building. The party was held in the commons area. Champange, cookies, bacon-wrapped scallops, and stuffed musrooms were served. Vince and Jean were there, along with Konda, Rico, and Bron along with three women who work at RDF Headquarters inside the SDF-1.
"This will be our last Christmas here," said Vince. "I'm looking for a new house where the baby will live."
"I'll help you pack," I said.
"We'll help too," said Rico.
And then three people came in- a man with blue-dyed hair and blue-tinted glasses, a woman with green hair, and a baby in a portable baby seat. That was Max and Miriya. And their baby, the baby girl that made history, Dana Komillia Sterling.
"Hi Dana," said Bron, looking at the baby's face.
"This is the first time we took Dana out of the house since her christening," said Max.
"Hi," I said to little Dana.
"She's such a sweet baby," said Miriya. "Childbirth is such a miracle. We came here to visit the baby's godfathers."
"She's so cute," said one of the three women who were guests of the Zentraedi defectors.
I smiled. Who knew what little Dana would accomplish?
oooooooooooooooo
I returned to my family home in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City after a long flight and a long wait through customs. I paid my fare to the taxicab driver and I rang the doorbell.
"Hi," said Dad. "Welcome home."
"Hi Dad," I said. "What's going on?"
"Well, they're almost finished refitting that alien cruiser. It's gonna be a real party when it's complete."
Then Mom called out my name. "How are you doing?" she asked.
"Fine," I said.
"I heard you were one of the hostages of those terrorists."
"That's right. I managed to get out alive."
"That's what's important," said Mom.
I walked towards my old room. I looked out the window and I saw the crashed Zentraedi spaceship, with scaffolding on all sides. It reminded me of the old pictures of the reconstruction of SDF-1. We werelucky that the ship was under Breetai's command.
Christmas dinner was great. We talked about our lives, and how much Sally's children had grown. The only thing I said about my experience with the Blood Martyrs was that I was glad to have escaped with my life. Still, their shadow cast a presence, especially since they were allied with renegade Zentraedi. As I ate the deep-fried turkey, I wondered if I would be able to escape the shadow of the Blood Martyrs.
ooooooooooooooooooo
I flew back to Macross City the day after Christmas. Jenna could not be with me for New Years' Eve, since she was on duty. I ran in the new year at the Bright Star Casino with my friends. After that, I continued with my work as an editor. By concentrating on my work, I could focus on something other than the prospect of the Blood Martyrs coming after me.
One day in March, Quinn Sullivan decided to take a vacation to pay me a visit in Macross City. I picked him up at Macross International Airport. The airport was a lot bigger with more buildings.
"Welcome to Macross City," I said as I saw Quinn.
"Thanks, Scoop," he replied.
We both loaded his luggage into the trunk of my Ford Mustang. I then started the engine and drove off to my apartment.
"We have really short days this time of year," I said.
"I heard that Macross City used to be near the tropics," said Quinn.
"Well, the events of the past four years have been, welll, I'm sure that schoolchildren would want to read about it over and over again a hundred years from now."
Sudddenly I saw this giant man fall to the ground. I slammed my brakes hard.
"What the hell is that?" asked Quinn.
"A Zentraedi," I said. "Some of their engineers are working here."
I got out of the car and saw two of the giant-sized Zentraedi arguing.
Then one of them impaled the other Zentraedi, the one who had been knocked to the street earlier. The attacker then ran away. I looked and saw the fleeing giant and heard the honking of horns as drivers of cars tried to avoid him.
"It looks like we have a story to cover," I said.
"Just like old times," said Quinn.
Minutes later, the wounded Zentraedi engineer was airflifted by two Chinook helicopters. The Macross City Police Department was there.
"Hello," said this man in a suit. "Detective Fantone, MCPD. Tell us what happened."
"Well, my friend and I were going to his apartment. I came to visit him from New York and my flight had arrived. Suddenly this giant falls down onto the street. He was arguing with aniother giant, and then the giant who fell on the street was stabbed."
"That's what happened," I said. "They were arguing in their nartive tongue. After he stabbed the othert giant, he ran that way."
I then remembered where I had met Detective Fantone. It was back on SDF-1. He had arrested me for the casino bombing three years ago.
"Okay, people," said this woman with curly black hair, wearing a police uniform. "I want this crime scene to be secure."
I noticed the four stars on her collar and the nametag C. LASALLE. She was the security chief on SDF-1.
"Excuse me," I said to her, telling her about what I had seen.
"Thank you," she said.
"You were on the SDF-1, right?"
"That's right," she said. "I was a Spacy lieutenant and provost marshal on board SDF-1. I resigned my commission when I was offered an appoinment as chief of the police department."
"Do you have a statement, Chief?" I asked.
"We've had other incidents of Zentraedi causing trouble. We're going to work with the Zentraedi military to find the assailant."
"So this isn't the first time this happened?"
"No, there are reports of rioting by the Zentraedi. Some of them want to fight again."
So it is happening. Some of the Zentraedi were not satisfied with peace. If a leader were to gather them, they might renew the Robotech War.
And there was such a leader.
ooooooooooooooo
After Quinn unpacked in my apartment and told me what an awesome place I had and that it was better than his Greenwich Village apartment, we went to the Bright Star Casino where we gambled some money in slot machines, blackjack, craps, and poker. We then had a drink where Vince was tending the bar.
"Hi Vince," I said. "This is my friend Quinn Sullivan. He's visiting from New York."
"Hi," said Quinn.
"I'm your bartender, Vince Grant," he said.
"Get us some screwdrivers please," said Quinn.
"Right with you."
And so we drank. Quinn told me stories of the happenings in the New York office. Mr. Chegwidden was still the editor. The office hired three new people. Art and Cassie were still working there.
"Did you hear about the Zentraedi engineer that was killed?" asked Vince.
"Quinn and I saw it happen," I said.
"It's too bad," said Quinn. "I wonder how his family feels. Does he have a family?"
"Zentraedi are born from cloning chambers," I said.
"Maybe he has clone-mates."
"How is Jean doing?" I asked Vince.
"She's doing well," said Vince. "Her pregnancy's going along okay."
"Will it be her first baby?" asked Quinn.
"Yeah," replied Vince. "Our first."
"First one's the charm. I remember a few years ago when my brother had his baby."
"What's his name?"
"George Sullivan. That's my nephew."
ooooooooooooooo
I took Quinn on a tour of Macross City, especially the memorial wall. We talked about old times and plans for the future. And I mentioned Jenna.
It was time for him to go back to New York, so I dropped him off at the airport.
"Take care," I said.
"You too," he replied.
I then drove back home.
oooooooooooooo
There were more reports on the news wires of Zentraedi rioting, both among the micronized and macronized populations. I was watching a news report in my office. A UN Army officer, Colonel Anatole Leonard, spoke from United Nations Headquarters in New York announcing the formation of the Global Military Police to deal with the renegade Zentraedi.
"I just got back," said Keith, entering my office. I had sent him to a press conference in Bernard Center, the headquarters of the Macross City Police Department which was named after the police chief that was killed when the Zentraedi invaded Macross City two years ago. "Here are my notes."
"Very well then. You have an article to write."
"Yes, sir."
I read Keith's notes. Police Chief La Salle has reported that the suspect in the slaying of the Zentraedi engineer had not been found, despite working with the US Air Force and the Zentraedi Air Force. The suspect was believed to be somewhere in the Alaskan wilderness.
Just another day at the office.
oooooooooooooooo
I flew back to New York to attend the opening ceremony of the Nova Complex, a commercial and residential complex built inside a crashed Zentraedi cruiser. The mayor and city officials werre there. Quinn was covering this event. We were all standing outside. A macronized Zentraedi officer stood outside, towering over us.
"It was two years ago that this alien ship crashed right here in Queens," said the mayor. "The aliens who crewed this ship turned against their leaders to fight with us. We decided to turn this ship of war into a place where we can work, shop, and live. Today we open for business. With over ten thousand residential limits and over a million square feet of retail space, this will be a tourist attraction to remember. "
We all clapped as His Honor cut a yellow ribbon to one of the entrances. We all went inside.
The place was like a shopping mall. There were all sorts of stores open, along with vacant retail space. Escalators and elevators allowed access to the different levels of the ship. There was even a train allowing quick transport around the place. The MTA even had a train stop inside the Zentraedi cruiser.
"Wow," said Quinn. "I never imagined such a place could exist."
"It is amazing even after all I've been through," I said, looking at the kiosks and stores.
A holographic billboard advertised the place, notifying us of two hundred stores and eighty fabulous restaurants. The place was crowded, like a mall on Christmas Eve. The mayor made sure to shake everyone's hand and pose for pictures. Quinn and I sat in a pub, drinking beers.
"DEATH TO ALL JEWS AND INFIDELS!" I heard someone yell. It came from outside.
I grabbed Quinn's hand. "We'd better get away!"
"This is for Allah and his prophet Muhammad!" yelled the voice.
And then there was a loud explosion that left rining in my ears.
oooooooooooooo
What was a celebration turned into a tragedy. Fifty people were killed, including the Mayor of New York City. Police officers and firefighters were at the scene. Ambulances took the wounded away. Quinn and I questioned police officers and witnesses.
Then a UN Army sedan arrived. Out stepped this bald man in a UN Army uniform.
"Hello there," I said. "I'm from the Associated Press."
"I'm Colonel Anatole Leonard from UN military headquarters," said the bald man. "I'm here to investigate any possible connection between the bombing and renegade Zentraedi. This was a Zentraedi space cruiser. Please excuse me."
I knew who was behind this bombing. The colonel was right about a connection with renegade Zentraedi.
oooooooooooooo
Samir Atta Nidal sent a recorded message to news media outlets, claiming to be behind the bombing of the Nova Complex in Queens. He said that there would be more bloodshed until the world bows before him.
Not long after the New York bombing, there was another incident in Detriot, Michigan. Renegade Zentraedi stole a resizing chamber being kept there. The UN Spacy Skull Squadron stopped the theft. But before they could take it back, the residents of Detroit demanded that thewy keep the resizing chamber. Lin Kyle, a resident of Macross City, had instigated this. Captain Rcik Hunter, the commander of Skull Squadron, decided to withdraw.
It was then that the renegade Zentraedi made another attempt, this time with powered armor. They stole the resizing chamber.
After that, there was a broadcast from their leader, who was Khyron.
"I have just captured the resizing chamber," said Khyron. "I now invite all Zentraedi to become giants again. Together, we can crush the Micronians!"
He had the same madness in his eyes as did Samir Atta Nidal. No wonder they formed an alliance.
ooooooooooo
I was working in my office, reviewing the articles of my reporters, when I received a call.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Some military people are here to see you, sir," said my secretary Lindsay.
Three men entered my office. They were General Maistroff, Colonel Beckett, and the Zentraedi liaison Exedore.
"Hello there," said General Maistroff. "We've reviewed your work. We have a special favor to ask you."
"Name it," I said.
"Zentraeid Supreme Commander Breetai is granting an interview," said Exedore. "We would oike you to do the interview."
"Where is he?"
"Up in his ship," said Colonel Angus Beckett. "We've arranged for Knight Squadron to fly you up there."
And so I rode with them in a staff car which was heading for the Macross Joint Forces Air Field, or JFAF.
"How are you doing, Colonel?" I asked.
"I now work in Marine RDF headquarters under General Maistroff here," said Colonel Beckett. "My flight status was degraded to B. Flying veritechs takes a toll on both man and machine. Those of us who don't get killed in action end up behind a desk."
"Angus Beckett was one of the best pilots," said General Maistroff. "Roy Fokker was the only veritech pilot on SDF-1 that scored more kills than Angus Beckett did. So, is it really true that those Blood Martyrs made an alliance with the Zentraedi Khyron."
"Very much so," I said. "I saw Khyron's image on that screen, and Nidal was definitely speaking to him. The Blood Martyrs claimed responsibility for some recent bombings in Israel."
"And with Khyron granting the Blood Martyrs safe harbor," said Exedore. "I have studied the beliefs of these Blood Martyrs. They were a lot like us Zentraedi."
Soon we arrived at the Knight Squadron offices in the JFAF. We all went through the main office with its many desks. Colonel Beckett opened the door to one of the private offices.
"Here is your pilot," said the colonel.
I went inside and saw a room with a desk, chairs, and file cabinets. There was a UNSM poster on the wall emphasizing aviation. A computer and some papers were on the desk.
I recognized the woman standing behind the desk in her black -trimmed uniform.
"Jenna," I said.
"I'll be the one flying you up there," she said. "It's a real privilege."
"Supreme Commander Breetai considers the interview very important," said Exedore.
"You will fly up there unarmed," said General Maistroff. "The ship's crew will escort you to his office. I have ordered that all runways be cleared as soon as you are ready for takeoff. Get suited, Major. You have a flight."
"Yes, sir," said Jenna.
oooooooooooooo
Minutes later, I(was suited up and ready to go. I rode in a Jeep to the hangar where Jenna's veritech plane sat.
"This is a VF-1R," said Jenna, pointing to the black plane. "It's a new model; I qualified for it."
"So you're now back in KNight Squadron."
"I'm the XO. Knight Squadron is the only veritech squadron where both the CO and XO are women."
"Good afternoon, ma'am," said this pilot in a green-trimmed flight suit. He was a young man with short brown hair on his head.
"Lieutenant Janus," said Jenna.
"Hi," I said, introducing myself. "Lieutenant Janus right?"
"Second Lieutenant Xamilon Janus, United Nations Space Marines. I used to be a Gnerl fighter pilot for the Zentraedi Air Force. One day, Supreme Commander Dolza ordered my ship to support an attack on Earth. Out of my squadron, only I survived. I was picked up and I served under Supreme Commander Breetai for a few months."
"Why did you come down here?" I asked.
"I wanted to live among the Micronians. I received my discharged and was reduced in size. It took a long time to become a veritech pilot. I understand that Major Murphy is flying you to Breetai's ship for an interview."
"That's right," I said. "Maybe after I return to Earth, I can interview you."
"I don't know if it will be okay."
"It will be an order, Lieutenant Janus," said Jenna.
"Yes, ma'am."
I climbed into the cockpit of the VF-1R Valkyrie and sat in the seat. Jenan went through the pre-flight checklist. she then started the engines ands taxied to the runway.
"Knight Two to JFAF Tower," she said. "We are ready for takeoff."
"You are cleared for immediate takeoff, Knight Two," said the air traffic controller. "Have a safe trip."
We took off and headed into space.