Episode Three: Unsettling News

Three weeks have passed since a fold operation sent the SDF-1 and most of Macross City into the future just at the edge of the Kuiper belt near Pluto. Since that time a UNSC slipspace fold system has been jury rigged into the original slot where the first slipspace drive was installed. The system worked perfectly and transported the battle fortress near the Reyes-McLees shipyards in Mars orbit.

Currently, Captain Gloval and his First officer, Lisa Hayes, are speaking with Fleet Admiral Hood about the civilian problem.

"What of the civilians we have aboard the SDF-1? We can't just leave them there if we are going into battle against this Covenant," Captain Gloval objected.

"We know Captain Gloval. We don't like the idea of leaving seventy thousand civilians inside a combat vessel that might change the tide of war into our favor but…. As it is we have no room on any of the United Earth worlds to place them," Admiral Hood stated. "We even have refugee colony ships docked in some of these shipyards being used as makeshift shelters."

"I understand that, but it would be irresponsible of us to have so many civilians stay onboard. Especially if this ship is to engage these alien vessels!" Lieutenant Hayes stated.

"Captain Gloval, you've seen the destruction that was caused by global war over five hundred years ago. That destruction pales in comparison to what the Covenant dishes out on a regular basis," Hood stated. He motioned to one of his entourage to start rolling a video feed into the monitor screen.

"This was the planet Harvest. It was the first colony to be destroyed by the Covenant. Switch to the next picture please," Hood said. Both Gloval and Lisa noted that Harvest looked a lot like Earth but were stunned by the next picture. It showed a large glassy object all around the equatorial region of Harvest.

"This was Harvest after the Covenant bombarded the planet in a process we call 'glassing over'. Ever world that humans are on the Covenant 'glass over' and this brings me to my point. Every city on every human planet has been glassed over. Do you want Macross City to be glassed over as well?" Admiral Hood asked, looking intently at Captain Gloval.

"No but…" Captain Gloval couldn't argue with what the Admiral had just said. In a way he was right, but in another way he was wrong. "…we can't just enter into combat ignoring the civilians aboard. I can't guarantee their safety."

"Nor can we Captain," Lord Hood quipped. "Listen, we are adding double layering of our strongest alloys to the outer hull where Macross city is being held. I don't like the situation any more than you, so I'll have ONI work on getting presentations done. We'll present this to the inhabitants of Macross City during the military briefing. We'll broadcast it live. They'll have to make up their own minds on if they want to leave."

"Very well then Admiral Hood. I guess it's the best thing considering the circumstances," Gloval said hesitantly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do better Captain Gloval. We'll have the presentations done in a couple of days. That should give sufficient time for the ONI to whip up a few presentations," Lord Hood added.

"Very well then," Captain Gloval said as Lord Hood and his entourage left the room.

"You think he means it?" Lisa asked.

"Very much so Lisa. I still don't like the idea of having an entire city on board this ship, but it'll be up to civilians now. Let's hope they choose correctly," the Captain said to his XO as he took his pipe out for a little puff.

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"Exedor, have you been able to track them yet?" Breetai asked his lore master.

"The finder beam has had difficulty tracking the battle-fortress my lord. But there is some good news. We have been able to isolate the exact time frame the battle-fortress is in.." Exedor stated.

"Exact Time frame? What do you mean?" Breetai asked anxiously. Dolza has recently been on Breetai's back since the battle-fortress' disappearance. Now that Khryon's fleet has gone missing the situation has become even more disparate.

"The battle-fortress is located somewhere in this galaxy about five hundred micronian years into the future. I can't guaranty that we will be able to continue the pursuit considering the nature of hyperspace," Exedor stated to Breetai.

Breetai thought to himself 'Should I tell Dolza that we failed or should l I attempt to chase down that Battle-Fortress in the future. I must try and retrieve the battle-fortress or all will be lost.'

"We must have that battle-fortress! We have no choice. What do we need to do exactly in order to jump to this specific time period?" Breetai asked.

"Well we will need to initiate a fold at the exact location the battle-fortress entered hyperspace if we want to catch them. Of course we would need another destination other than this solar system since logically, in five hundred years these micronians would have expanded deeper into space," Exedor said, reminding Breetai of the legend of the micronians.

"We should probably fold near Installation 04. It's the most logical vantage point in this arm of the galaxy," Breetai said.

"Of course Breetai. We'll have to wait a little longer until we can rig our drives for this time jump," Exedor added.

"We must hurry if we are to succeed in saving our race," Breetai said.

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A couple of days, plus five hundred years, all RDF units were called for a general assembly on the parade grounds within the military block of town to be formally introduced into the UNSC military. The civilian population of Macross city got to see the event when the local news service received clearance from ONI to cover the proceedings.

To start things off Lieutenant Hayes walked up to the podium in front of the view screen that was set up along one of the barrack's wall and began her introduction. "Gentlemen, this briefing is now in session. We have select members of the United Nations Space Command here to talk to us today about a new alien threat and what will happen to the civilian population of Macross city. I'd like to introduce Colonel James Ackerson," Lisa said into the microphone. When she left Colonel Ackerson walked up to the podium and began to speak.

"Thank you Lieutenant Hayes, I'm here to discuss with all of you here and at home, about the alien threat known only as the Covenant. Our first contact with them was over thirty years ago when they destroyed the colony Harvest, and their attacks have been ruthless and final. Cue the recording."

The view screen quickly showed what looked like a small world not to different from Earth. Then as the camera zoomed out of the planet's surface a few small purple objects came into focus. The purple objects then fired off a volley some sort of blue energy toward the surface of the planet. Then what looked like small cities on the planet vanished as they were engulfed by nuclear weapons strikes. Some fifteen worlds came on the view screen all showing the same ruthlessness. Each world came with a name and a death toll. After the viewing, many on the parade ground, and at home were crying. Some were filled with what could only be described as a burning rage, while others were too stunned to react at all. Even those in the UNSC were crying.

Then Colonel Ackerson, after wiping a tear from his eye, spoke up and asked, "Now, I have only one question." A picture popped onto the view screen. It was a picture of Earth from the Moon's perspective with the text, 'Earth; fight for her!' "Will you help Humanity to defend itself and gain justice!" Everywhere on the ship, no matter if it were a corridor, house, skyscraper, or cargo hold, a resounding yes! could be heard. "Then stay within the battle fortress, keep it safe from the covenant and help the SDF-1 and Earth win this war. Help us out any way you can. Whether it be becoming part of the armed services or just providing morale support, stay within the SDF-1 and this will never happen to you!", a picture of Harvest after it was glassed over appeared on the monitor when Colonel Ackerson finished his speech.

Captain Gloval and many others, including Kyle Lynn, were disgusted with what ONI had just pulled. 'Now we have a real problem.' Captain Gloval thought.

Next the SDF-1 is christened the Macross and is sent on its first assignment with civilian volunteers aboard. The RDF is briefed on the Covenant war machine while Captain Gloval attempts to ambush the enemy in the planetary rings of Coral. Don't miss Blitzkrieg; the next exciting adventure in Robotech/Halo!