I combed my hair and then I put on my black tuxedo, making sure everything was okay. I wanted to look flawless for this happiest day of my life.
I got into the van with Quinn, Tony, Oliver, Vince, Konda, Rico, and Bron. We drove through the streets of Macross City and we reached the cathedral where I would be married. I walked up the steps. I would enter single and leave married.
Wooden pews lined the cathedral's main room. There were over three dozen people here, all finely dressed. I saw Mom and Dad and Sally and Tammy. Mom, Sally, and Tammy were wearing cream-colored dresses; Dad was wearing a black tuxedo. Sally's daughter was in this cute cream colored dress; she would be a flower girl. Looking at the other side, I saw Jenna's parents and her brothers Alex and Cameron. The guests to our wedding- there were about three dozen or so- entered the cathedral. I waited patiently, decked out in my tuxedo.
Then Jenna appeared in her white wedding dress. She walked along the aisle, escorted by her maid of honor Katie Taney and her bridesmaids. I stood at the altar, looking at her. She never looked so beautiful.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" asked the priest.
"I do," said Jenna's dad, decked out in a black tuxedo. He took his daughter by the arm and escorted her to the altar. Jenna and I faced each other.
"The rings please," said the priest.
Quinn Sullivan and Katie Taney presented the wedding bands.
"Do you, Jenna Annabelle Murphy, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" asked the priest.
"I do," said Jenna.
the priest then asked me if I would take this woman as my lawfully wedded wife.
"I do," I said.
"By the authority granted to me by the United Nations, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
And so I did, our first kiss as husband and wife. I was so thrilled to give me new wife a kiss. The guests took pictures. Jenna and I now walked down the aisle, with people taking pictures and congraulating us on our marriage.
We went to the front steps of the cathedral where a black limousine waited to take us to the Joint Forces Air Field where the reception would be.
"Congratulations," said my new mother-in-law.
"We hope you'll have a happy marriage," said my new father-in-law.
"We're so proud," said Mom.
"Good luck to you," said Dad.
"My big brother married," said Tony. "I can't believe it."
"Marriage is a wonderful thing," said Sally. "I know."
"Just stick together you two," said Alex.
"We'll be thinking of you every time we look at Earth," said Daisy.
We stayed there for a while, receiving congratulations from guests and posing for picutres. But we had to get going to the base.
Jenna and I sat in the limousine. The driver closed the door and the limousine passed through the streets of Macross City, heading for the Joint Forces Air Field.
ooooooooooooooooooooo
Our plan was to orbit the Earth in Jenna's VF-1R after the wedding, so that was what we did. We went to Knight Squadron headquarters in the Joint Forces Air Field and we both suited up in flight suits. The limousine then took us to the Knight Squadron hangar.
The VF-1R was prepped. It was in guardian mode, and had FAST packs attached to the legs and back. Ther phrase JUST MARRIED was stenciled onto the FAST packs. Jenna was one of the few flying aces of the First Robotech War, so she got this privilege. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were not far away.
Jenna and I climbed into the cokcpit and took our seats. We waved to the wedding party, who waved to us back. Jenna then closed the canopy.
"Initiating pre-flight check," she said. "Instruments check. Auxiliary power check. Ailerons check. Flaps check. Protoculture boosters check. Dorsal FAST pack check. Port FAST pack check. Starboard FAST pack check. Loving husband, check."
"I'm ready to go," I said.
"Knight Squadron Two, pilot Jenna Murphy. All systems check. We are ready for takeoff."
"Copy that," said the air traffic control officer. "You may take off immediately."
Jenna puished the throttle, and the powerrful thrusters thrust the VF-1R Valkyrie guardian into the sky. I felt myself take on additional weight. After rising to twqenty thousand feet, Jenna switched to fighter mode, aimed the nose upward, and put on maximum thrust. A few minutes later, the blue sky was replaced with black space. Soon we were in low Earth orbit. I was thrilled to be up here with her. We would complete one orbit, our first as husband and wife.
I looked around and saw both UN and Zentraedi ships. I saw the Robotech Satellite Fatory and a huge spaceship. the huge spaceship had several other ships docked to it.
"There's the SDF-2," said Jenna. "It was scheduled for completion today. All they have to do is add atmosphere and fuel and it can leave."
"Where would it go?" I asked.
"To find the homeworld of the Robotech Masters. Hopefully we can negotiate. If not, we can make sure the next Robotech War is on their home planet."
Five Zentraedi Gnerl fighters flew past us.
"Looks like they're giving us a sendoff," I said. I waved to them.
Jenna then rotated the veritech fighter around its roll axis so that Planet Earth was above us. I looked up and gazed at my home planet.
We continued as we flew under the night side of the planet. I looked up and saw the lights from the cities.
"Want to raise the heat shield?" asked Jenna.
"Sure," I said.
The heat shield was raised. It was only me and Jenna here, alone. We were isolated from the rest of the Universe.
"It's amazing," said Jenna. "We've been through so much."
"And now here we are," I said. "Husband and wife, in orbit around the Earth."
And we just sat there, enjoying each other's presence. At this time and time, only the two of us were relevant; nothing else mattered.
"We've alsmost completed our orbit," said Jenna. "I'd better lower heat shields."
And the heat shield was lowered, revealing the Earth above us. I looked around the spacecraft in orbit. I copuld see about thirty Zentraedi Gnerl fighters flying in formation. They were heading towards the satellite factory and the SDF-2.
And then they opened fire. The hull of the SDF-2 was lit up with fireballs.
"Did you see that?" I asked.
"Renegade Zentraedi," said Jenna. "I'd better turn on the radio."
"SDF-2's taken a direct hit!" yelled a voice.
"Do you want to go ahead?" asked Jenna.
"Yes," I said. "We can do it...together."
"Earth Orbital Control, this is Knight Two," said Jenna. "I'm up in Earth orbit and I'm going in to repel the attack on SDF-2. I am equipped with FAST packs and I am fully armed. I'll hold them off until you can send reinforcements."
Jenna pushed the throttle forward, and we flew towards the SDF-2. We approached closer and closer even as the enemy fighter were shooting holes in its hull.
"Fire!" yelled Jenna. She launched a volley of missiles. The missiles found their targets, blasting the Gnerl fighters to pieces. I kerjked forward ans jenna switched to guardian mode and delivered another volley of missiles. She then changed into battloid mode and started shooting down the Gnerls with the GU-11 gunpod. "This is Knight Two! I am engaging the enemy!"
"Copy that, Knight Two," said a female voice. "Reinforcements will be there in seven minutes."
We took on the Gnerl fighters, blasting them with missiles, laser beams, and cannon fire. The FAST packs really helped in this battle, our first battle together as husband and wife.
Then this missile flew really close to us. Jenna jerked the stick to get us away. I saw the missile make impact with the SDF-2's hull.
We flew around, and then we saw what fired on us. It was bigger than the Gnerl fighters, it was painted black. It had three thrusters. We chased after it, but this enemy fighter was a lot fasters than the Gnerls. It dodged most of our attacks; it was almost like it was equipped with FAST packs. We flew around the SDF-2, hoping to use it as cover.
We then were flying towards it. I could see the front. The thing had two arm appendanges in the front. We fired at the fighter, and it fired back. I felt the impact as a glancing shot hit our fighter.
"We've ID'd what you're up against, Knight Two," said a voice. "It's a Glaug officer's battle pod encased in a fighter booster. The booster allows it to accelerate more."
"Thanks," said Jenna.
"Hello, infidel," a voice said.
"We have a transmission coming from the enemy craft," said Jenna.
I looked at the monitor. I saw a man with a gray-and-brown beard. He looked familiar.
"Who is this?" asked Jenna. "Identify yourself."
"I am Samir Atta Nidal of the Blood Martyrs' Brigade," he said.
No way! Samir Atta Nidal was flying that thing? It was designed to be operated by giants.
"How could you be there?" I asked.
"I've gotten a lot bigger."
"I didn't know a human could be turned into a giant," said Jenna.
"Three of my followers sacrificed their lives trying to find a way. I was the first success. Khyron trained me in the use of these Glaugs, and he gave me command of a fighter squadron to lead a mission to destroy the SDF-2. I will take care of you infidels first. Then we will destroy your infidel civilization, and a new Islamic order will rule the world."
"Your infitada ends here!" I yelled.
"Then let's go," said Samir Atta Nidal. "Allahu akbar!"
And then we continued the fight. We made many twists and turns and mode changes around the SDF-2 trying to get a shot at Nidal while trying to avoid being blown to bits. We flew like this for a long time, firing shots at each other. Some of our shots hit the SDF-2, creating more holes in the hull. Nidal just kept managing to get out of the way.
"We have to play this smart," said Jenna. "Our friend here is too quick."
"We'd better take cover," I said.
Jenna switched to guardian mode and we flew roight next to the hull of the SDF-2.
"Where are you, infidels?" asked Nidal.
"He's above us," said Jenna.
"Right here!" I yelled.
We flew up and we fired a volley of missiles towards Nidal's fighter. I saw a fireball. I wondered if Samir Atta Nidal was dead. But his fighter was intact; there was smoke coming out of the booster.
Then I saw the radar lock warning.
"Incoming missiles!" yelled Jenna. She flew to avoid the volley of missiles. I saw the hull of the SDF-2 coming to greet us. I felt a hard thud.
We were now in battloid mode. I looked at the monitor and gazed at the surroundings. I could see bulkheads. We were inside the SDF-2! I looked up and saw a hole which we had fallen through. There were also other holes in the bulkheads created by the Gnerl fighter attack.
"Jenna," I said. "Are you all right? Jenna? Jenna, talk to me!"
There was no response. Was she just unconscious?
"Jenna!"
"Where are you infidels?" asked Nidal.
Then he leaped down. I saw the Glaug officer's pod standing on its legs; Nidal must have jettisoned the booster unit.
"It is time for you to perish like all Jews and infidels will perish," said Samir Atta Nidal. "Allahu Akbar!"
Jenna was not responding, so I did what I had to do.
I pressed every button and pushed every lever I could think of.
The monitor screen turned white. I wondered if I was dead.
"What happened?" asked Jenna.
"You're all right!" I asked.
"I guess so."
I looked and saw smoke coming out of the SDF-2. Its hull was now riddled with holes. The battle turned it into a smoking ruin resembling Swiss cheese.
"Our engines are offline," said Jenna. "I can't get them to start."
Then I saw two bogeys coming for us. They got closer, and I recognized them as Zentraedi power armor.
"Attention, Micronians," said the power armor pilot.
"What?" I asked.
"We are from Lord Breetai's flagship. Do you need any assistance?"
"We can't return to Earth under our own power," said Jenna.
"We will take you to his flagship," said the Zentraedi pilot. One of them used the power armor to push our crippled battloid to Breetai's flagship.
oooooooooooooooooo
Immeidately after we entered the flight deck of Breetai's flagship,. we entered a Zentraedi Recovery Pod with the two Zentraedi Nousdajel power armors. The pod descended towards Earth, landing at the Joint Forces Air Field.
When Jenna walked the battered battloid out of the pod, the sight before us stunned us both.
Macross City was on fire. The SDF-1 was in terrible shape. They attacked here too.
Jenna changed the VF-1R into its guardian mode and we both climbed out. We wondered if our wedding party was still alive.
oooooooooooooo
Frotunately, the wedding party was all alive as the enemy's main target was the SDF-1, not the Joint Forces Air Field. The reception hall was still intact, so we all went there and had the wedding reception. Jenna and I had an interesting story to tell about our trip to space. I had my first dance with her as husband and wife, we had our dinner of veal parmigiana, we had a toast, and we had a cut of our white wedding cake. On the top were figurines of a groom, a bride, and a veritech guardian. We all had a good time, but then it was time to go. Jenna and I went to the guest quarters to spend out first night as husband and wife.
ooooooooooooo
As it turned out, Khyron had launched a suicidal kamikaze attack on the SDF-1 after it fired its main gun. Admiral Henry J. Gloval was killed in the impact. A funeral was held for him. The top brass attended. Zentraedi Supreme Commander Breetai himself came down to Earth to deliver a eulogy. He towered over all of us and even the Skull Leader battloid that stood next to him.
"Henry J. Gloval was my greatest foe," he said. "And an even greater ally. No one I met outside of Zentraedi circles commanded more respect. I was truly blessed to call him friend."
Taps was played as his coffin was lowered.
oooooooooooooooo
"Here we are," said Jenna. "Our new home."
"Finally," I said.
I looked around the living room, which had a couch, a chair, a coffee table, a bookcase, a television, a DVD player, and a stereo system. The kitchen had a tiletopped counter, an electric stove, a refrigerator, and a microwave oven. There were five bedrooms in the house, enough for a family. Much of our stuff was still in cardboard boxes; we still had a lot of unpacking to go through.
The UN had decided to dismantle the remains of SDF-1 and evacuate Macross City. The residents were relocated to Monument City. KNight Squadron was not assigned to Monument City; it was assigned to the United Nation Space Marine Air Station- Long Island. We lived on base for a while until we bought this new house in Merrick, New York, not far from the air base. We moved our stuff here.
We briefly remembered all of those we left behind. But now, from this house, we would forge a new life and move forward.
My life will never be the same again.