Of course, the first few days after my proposal and her acceptance were pretty busy.
oooooooooooooooooo
I took another assignment shortly after my interview with Breetai. Khyron struck again. This time, he had taken two hostages- the singer Lin Minmei, and her cousin/manager Lin Kyle. Spacy Captain Dennis Ward arranged for me to be flown to the air base where the rescue operation would be conducted. Spacy Captain Lisa Hayes directed the joint operation involving the Spacy's veritech Skull Squadron, a Marine destroid battalion, and a detachment of Zentraedi soldiers from Breetai's fleet.
The plan was successful. The destroids and Zentraedi diverted Khyron's forces while the Skull Squadron under the command of Captain Rick Hunter rescued both Minmei and Kyle. They were dropped off at the base before Skull Squadron pursued Khyron and his troops.
"So what happened?" I asked Minmei as we stood outside under the night sky.
"We were captured during a concert," said Minmei. "They had us in a cage or something. They weren't used to my singing though. But then Khyron kissed that Zentraedi female that was with them. that was when the rescue operation began. Captain Hunter broke in and took out the Zentraedi inside."
"I have something to say," said Kyle. "Captain Hunter was reckless. He could have killed us all!"
"Stop it, Kyle!" barked Minmei. "Rick saved our lives! Why can't you be grateful!"
The hostages were rescued with only a minor complaint, I wrote later. Some of Khyron's troops were captured, but Khyron himself managed to slip away.
oooooooooooooooo
"My little girl's getting married," said Jenna's mom.
"That's right," said Jenna, standing in her family's living room in their house in Apollopolis on the moon. "We want to get married as soon as possible."
"We need to select a church, send out the invitations, rent a hall," I said.
"We'll be glad to help," said Jenna's dad.
"We could have the wedding as early as December," said Jenna. "No later than February."
"The purpose of an engagement is to plan the wedding," I said.
"I've been to many weddings, including that of my son Alex," said Jenna's dad. "Now I will get to be the one to give the bride away."
ooooooooooooooo
"So you're getting married," said Mom.
"That's right," I said as I stood in my family's living room in their house in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. "It's time for me to settle down."
"This is great," said Dad. "We'd better tell Sally and Tony and Tammy and Oliver."
"How do you feel, Jenna?" asked Mom.
"I'm so excited," said Jenna. "I could hardly wait."
"When's the big date?" asked Dad.
"We're still working on it," I said. "I hope we can have it as early as December. I hate long engagements."
"So do I," said Jenna.
I looked at the television which was still on. I saw US Air Force General William Waverly making a statement before the press.
"We have just launched a nuclear attack against enemy Zentraedi hiding out in Wyoming," said the general. "Two dozen were killed. The Zentraedi had been staging raids against communities in Wyoming. We located them and we dealt with them with maximum force. Intelligence indicates they were serving under the Zentraedi warlord Khyron. We coordinated with RDF Headquarters and Zentraedi Supreme Commander Breetai to carry out this attack. I have this message to all Zentraedi still fighting their war against us. Surrender or die. We still possess a mighty nuclear arsenal left over from the Global Civil War and we will use it."
"We just have a development from UN Headquarters," said the anchor. "We're taking you over there."
The UN Press Room appeared on the screen. A black-haired man in a suit stood before the podium. He was identified as UN delegate Wyatt Moran.
"People of Earth," said Wyatt Moran. "We have received reports of Zentraedi residents among us spying for the renegade warlord Khyron. And just recently there was a mutiny on one of the Zentraedi vessels, a mutiny which was crushed by quick, decisive action. We have millions of Zentraedi living as resident aliens in UN member-states and protectorates, and millions serving in Supreme Commander Breetai's fleet. Khyron's spies are hiding among them. I am announcing that we will be holding public hearings into this matter. We will grant amnesty to anyone who turns over a Zentraedi spy."
I wondered if this would lead to trouble.
oooooooooooooooooo
Jenna and I attended a christening at a church in Macross City. Vince's wife Jean had her baby a while ago, and she and her husband were there with the baby. Vince was dressed in a nice suit, and Jean was dressed in a simple blue maternity dress.
It was the first time I met the baby, Bowie Roy Grant.
"Hi there," I said to the recently-born Bowie.
"He's so cute," said Jenna.
"Try not to get too close to his face," said Jean. "We don't want little Bowie to get sick."
"Neither do we want to wake him up," said Vince.
"Just wait until he starts yapping," said Rolf Emerson, who was Bowie's godfather.
"We're getting married," said Jenna, holding my arm.
"Congratulations," said Jean.
"We've been spending a lot of time planning the wedding. I think we could do it by January."
"it gets cold here in January," said Vince.
"No need to wait," I said. "We have the money; we just have to gather everyone together. I already selected a best man, and my two brothers will be two of the groomsmen. I'd like you to be a groomsman, Vince."
"I accept," said Vince.
Just then, I noticed three policemen from the UN Army's Global Military Police enter the room. They approached Konda, Rico, and Bron, who were attending the ceremony.
"Yes?" asked Konda.
"We are informing you that you will be summoned to UN Headquarters in New York to testify in a hearing," said the officer.
"A hearing?" asked Rico.
"Yes. We have concerns of Zentraedi spies living among us."
"We used to be spies," said Bron.
"All air fare and hotel and food will be paid for."
Then the MP's left the church.
oooooooooooooooo
I watched the hearings from my office. The UN Commision on Alien Activities was now in session. It had been front page stories for the past few days. I wondered if Quinn was there covering the story. The commission members sat behind this wooden table.
"So tell me Konda," said Wyatt Moran, who was the chairman of the commission. "When did you decide to live among us?"
"After we returned from a spying mission, we were impressed by your culture," said Konda, who was dressed in a suit. "When we heard that Breetai was going to sneak in a Regult squadron, he took action. We shrunk ourselves to Micronian size and we managed to get on board the ship. Once there, we surrendered to the crew."
"And you are willing to live under our laws?" asked this woman.
"Yes."
"You admitted to being a spy," said Colonel Anatole Leonard. "How do we know you're not spying against us now?"
"We're not your enemies anymore," said Konda. "And Supreme Commander Breetai made peace with you. We never served under that backstabber Khyron."
"We know you have contact with other resident Zentraedi," said this man in a Spacy uniform. "Do you suspect any of them of being spies for Khyron?"
"No. We all defected together. There's no way we'd serve Khyron. He killed his own troops to achieve victory. There is no way we'd serve someone like that."
"Whom is your loyalty to?" asked Wyatt Moran.
"To the United Nations of Earth," said Konda.
I heard the door open, and Rebecca entered the office. "Here's my article," she said, handing me sheets of paper.
"Thank you," I said. She left the room and I reviewed the article.
ooooooooooooooo
In between my duties at the Associated Press's Macross City office and arranging my wedding which was scheduled for January, I spent my spare time watching the hearings.
"State your name," said Wyatt Moran.
"Second Lieutenant Xamilon Janus of the United Nations Space Marines," said the witness, dressed in a UNSM dress uniform. "I currently serve in the UNSM 1st Veritech Fighter Squadron, the Knights."
"And you were a Zentraedi, correct?"
"Yes, sir. I was a Gnerl fighter pilot assigned to the Two Hundred Fourth Fleet. After the battle over Earth, I was reassigned to the flagship of Supreme Commander Breetai. A year ago I applied for a commission to serve in the UN Space Marines. I wanted to stay a warrior, and yet live with the Micronians. I came to love their culture, and it's something worth fighting to defend."
"How many Zentraedi do you maintain contact with?" asked Colonel Leonard.
"About three, sir. Like me, they chose to live among the Micronians. We were lucky that Lord Breetai let us go."
"Well," said Leonard, "we have sources that indicate that you are a spy for Khyron."
"What?" asked Lieutenant Janus. "Says who?"
"We're asking the questions, Lieutenant," said the colonel. "Are you a spy for Khyron?"
"No, sir! I never even heard of Khyron before I lived on Earth. And from what I heard since, he sacrificed his own troops to achieve victory. Everyone knows you're supposed to sacrifice the enemy's troops to win."
And so it went on like that. Almost every Zentraedi who was brought before the panel was told they were accused of being a spy, by anonymous sources.
Then it was my turn to appear. The Global Military Police came to my office.
"Yes?' i asked.
"The mailman had trouble delivering you certified mail," said the officer.
"Well, I'm usually here during the day."
"You are to appear before the UN Commission on Alien Activities."
ooooooooooooooooo
And so I headed back to New York. The UN put me in a nice hotel in Manhattan, just blocks from UN Headquarters. They also paid for all air fare.
I appeared before the commission room. I could see the members, both civilian and military. Ariound the room were television cameras. There were reporters here taking notes. I noticed Quinn was here.
"Tell us about how you came to be on SDF-1," said Wyatt Moran.
And so I told the commission my whole story.
"Captain Gloval had you interview the Zentraedi defectors, did he not?" asked Colonel Leonard.
"Yes," I said. "They wanted to find out if the defectors got their story straight."
"And you still have contact with the defectors?" asked a Spacy commander.
"Yes, I do. I live in the same building as three of them."
"Are they spies for Khyron?" asked a woman.
"Definitely not," I said. "Given how they described him when I first met him, there is no way they would work for him."
"We have reports that you expressed sympathy for the Zentraedi," said a woman on the panel. "You even wrote a supprotive article when one of them married one of us."
"They're people like you and me," they said. "Most of them chose not to be our enemies, and live among us as our neighbors. We must vanquiosh or make peace with our enemies no matter what world they come from. We must treat our neighbors the way we would want to be treated."
"You were once held captive by a terrorist group," said Colonel Leonard. "When you were rescued, you reported that they were working with Khyron."
"That's right. Samir Atta Nidal and his Blood Martyrs' Brigade were allied with Khyron. the Blood Martyrs recently blew up a bus in Israel."
"So there are humans who are cutting deals with Khyron," said Leonard. "Perhaps humans from Earth are spying for him too."
"Some of them are," I said.
ooooooooooooo
"How were the hearings?" asked Jenna after my return to Macross City.
"It was a bunch of questions," I said. "They did ask me about Khyron's connection to those terrorist that held me hostage."
"I guess it's now public," said Jenna.
ooooooooooo
And so the hearings continued. Now some of the humans were being informed that they were identified as spies for Khyron. Accusations came up from out of the blue.
There was one session that I would not forget. I was sitting in my office when I saw it.
"Okay, Miriya Parino," said Wyatt Moran. "How did you come to live among us."
"When I was serving under Azonia," said Miriya, "I formulated a plan to elimiate the SDF-1's best fighter pilots. I led the mission and I found myself in combat with this blue veritech. He beat me. I was so humilaited that I asked to become a Micronian spy. I was planted on board the ship and I waited to find him. I finally found him in the Close Encounters Arcade. He asked me to meet him in the park. When I showed up, I tried to kill him. He beat me. He then told me he loved me. That was when Maximilian Sterling proposed to me. I accepted, and we were married. I later joined the Skull Squadron and fought in battle against Dolza's fleets."
"So you admitted you snuck on board ship to murder one of our pilots," said Colonel Leonard.
"Yes, sir. I fell in love with him."
"You served under Azonia. Azonia is currently Khyron's second-in-command. We have sources telling us you are still working for her as a spy."
"That's not true!" yelled Miriya.
"You admitted to becoming a spy for her so you can murder one of our pilots."
"I was a spy. I stopped being a spy after I married Max."
"And how do we know you're still not a spy?"
"This hearing's a farce!" yelled someone.
I looked and saw Lin Kyle.
"Mr. Lin," said Wyatt Moran. "We have already heard from you."
"What kind of hearing is this!" yelled Kyle. "You make up accusations and you expect them to answer."
"Remove him," said Moran.
Two security guards dragged Kyle out.
"Tell us how we know you are not a spy," said Colonel Leonard. "Tell us how we know your husband is not a spy for Khyron. After all, he fell in love with a Zentraedi, and we know that human terrorists are working with..."
Then Miriya got up and lunged towards the table. Soon a message appeared on the screen about technical difficulties.
oooooooooooooooooo
The hearings came to a close after that incident. I assumed the Global Military Police kept a discreet investigation into anyone spying for Khyron. there was some reports of renegade Zentraedi activity, including a raid on the airport in Monument City. Christmas was coming up. This would be my last Christmas as a single man, and I would spend it in good old Macross City.
Knight Squadron had its Christmas Party in a meeting room in its headquarters. Punch and cookies and stuffed mushrooms and bacon-wrapped scallops were served. Jenna and Katie were there, along with others in the squadron and their dates. We all celebrated the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"This Christmas is interesting," said Lieutenant Xamilon Janus. "Amazing story about how your creator took your form and died for you. Your creator loves you; our creators don't love me or the other Zentraedi."
"Maybe my creator could adopt you," I said, sipping punch.
"So you're getting married next month," said Katie. "I can't wait."
"You're telling me," I said.
"Congratulations man," said Captain Jonathan Wolfe. "Or condolences."
A Marine corporal entered the room. "Colonel, Major," he said. "There is a renegade Zentraedi raid on Macross City. RDFHQ has ordered all fighters to scramble."
"I got it," said Knight Squadron's commanding officer, a woman with shoulder-length brown hair. "Lets' scramble."
"Enjoy yourself," said Jenna. "I've got to go."
"Merry Christmas and a happy new year," I said.
Khyron was staging a raid on Macross City. He stole the protoculture storage matrix that was stored in a military warehouse. He then had bombers set off bombs all across Macross City, setting much of the place on fire. The veritech fighters assistged the Macross City Fire Department in putting out the fires and rescuing the people.
Khyron later interrupted a television transmission. "I would like to thank the Blood Martyrs for their sacrifice," he said. "i could not have done it without them."
Jenna came back after all the fires were put out. "Take a look outside," she said.
I went outside the Knight Squadron headquarters, and I saw the SDF-1 decorated with Christmas lights.
oooooooooooooooooo
My wedding was approaching fast. I was at the airport to pick up my parents and brothers and sisters.
"Welcome to Macross City," I said to them as they stood on the sidewalk next to the terminal building.
"So it's finally here," said Mom.
"Could you take us around?" asked Oliver.
"We'd better get you to your hotel room."
A limousine then took them to the Macross Hyatt.
oooooooooooo
"The next time we meet, we'll be at the church," said Jenna.
"That's right," I said, standing before the memorial wall.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen were here with us. I had introduced Tony and Oliver to Vince, Konda, Rico, Bron, and my best man Quinn Sullivan. Jenna had six bridesmaids which included her sisters Daisy and Grace . Her maid of honor was Katie Taney.
"Well, Lani," said Jenna, facing the wall. "I'm getting married."
She laid down a wreath of flowers.
Lani would have liked that.
oooooooooooooo
The bachelor party was at the Big Bounce Strip Club, not far from the Hyatt Hotel where my family was staying. I was there with a band of people, including Tony, Oliver, Quinn, Vince, Konda, Rico, and Bron. the place was dark and there were plenty of strippers.
Rico was having a lap dance, with the stripper rubbing her tits on his face. I looked and noticed he got used to the Micronian custom, as he referred to it.
"That Rico fellow is sure enjoying it," said Tony.
"He's a Zentraedi," I said. "An alien."
"No way."
We all sat and drank our beers. Vince and I watched as the guestshad lap dances with the strippers.
"Look at that," said Vince. "You think they'd never been with a woman before."
Fortunately, there was no fight tonight. I went back home and lay in bed, for tomorrow I would be a husband.