Disclaimer: I hereby declare that I do not in any way own the rights to the anime known as Robotech. This includes plot, characters, the mecha, and the ships, the only things I officially own is my own stuff introduced as part of this story. Therefore please no lawyers I do not have any money to give them. Thank You.

Wings of a New Dawn

Book 1 of the New Macross Saga

A Robotech Story brought to you,

By

William R. Woods

"Deathzealot"

Chapter BGM is

Part 09: Just a Memory

When I arrived back in New Carter it was kind of refreshing, yet different at the same time maybe it was because I was older now and I was looking at things differently. Later I realized that New Carter was no longer home for me, while it would always be a home to me which possessed memories of a better time, it was no longer entirely my home for the Macross was my home now New Carter was just a memory…

Taken from the Diary of Richard "Rick" Hunter

Circa. June 2010AD

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Hunter Residence
New Carter, California

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

As his mother led him into the house's living room Rick took a look around the house to see everything the same when he left on that fateful day to head for Macross City. Everything but what could only be called a shrine on the mantel piece that shocked Rick to the core. For the shrine was for him and Roy, which made Rick flinched thinking about the missing Roy, as well as feeling sorry for his family for leaving them like that. However he knew that if he could go back in time till the day before he left he would still go no matter the reasons. Kyle seeing him looking at the shrine put a comforting hand on his cousin shoulder before leading him into the living room where his mother waited to hear what happened to him.

'Thank god the Captain authorized me to tell my family the whole true of what happened. I really wasn't looking forward to lying to my family,' Rick thought to himself with a sullen expression on his face. Finally he sat down on the couch opposite to his mother and adopted sibling sitting on the two seat couch on the other side of the 'V' that the couches formed. While Kyle pulled his father's favorite rocking chair to the front of the 'V' and sat down.

"Well where can I begin, well first of all I can tell you that all I am about to tell you is true and I am sorry for leaving my family behind however I didn't know that we were considered to be dead till a few weeks ago," he said looking over his family seeing them nodding at this, while Kyle looked a bit confused at his admission. Rick nodded and leaned over to the coffee table picked up the glass of water that was poured for him by his mother when he came into the living room. After drinking his fill from the cup, he turned to look out the living room's window at sunny day outside as if to gather his thoughts, granted he had pieced together a speech to tell them earlier but it didn't really feel right to say.

"For the past year and an half I have been onboard the SDF-1 fighting for my live as well as the people aboard the ship. For you see that fateful day at Macross Island was the start of an Interstellar war. A war between us humans and the human like giants named the Zentradi, which were hell bent of taking out the SDF-1 no matter the cost. However the pilot and troops of the Robotech Defense Force aboard the SDF-1 would not let them without a fight. It was during this first battle that I got my first taste of combat thanks to Roy and managed to meet a girl named Lynn Minmei who would become a good friend too me," Rick said and reached down to take another drink from the glass and sat it back down. He took this time to inspect his listeners and saw that they were wide-eyed and surprised at this for while they knew all about the reason for the formation of the United Nations Government and a dedicated space bound Defense Force, but still hearing that they were now at war was another matter entirely. With a nod Rick continued his story.

"You see I had forged a family aboard that ship and Minmei was just the first one, don't get me wrong my real family would always be here in New Carter. However when traveling over a year with only the people aboard the ship to keep you company and getting hounded ever turn by some sort of alien enemy I became close to several people and they became my family. Well anyways back to the battle after meeting Minmei and saving her live from an enemy soldier we headed towards the SDF-1 which was heading to space to take the fight to the enemy. It would be during this when I would meet someone else who would become a big part in my life for the next several months, Lieutenant Commander Lisa Hayes the ship's tactical officer and first officer. I admit we kind of got off the wrong foot but still we would become friends. Anyways back to the story itself, the SDF-1 was heading to space to meet up with the Orbital Fleet. I would later learn that we got our butts handed to us and over half of the space fleet got themselves destroyed thanks to a long-range bombardment by the enemy. Remarkable the SDF-1 was not damaged during this, and Captain Henry Gloval the captain of the SDF-1 ordered a retreat were back to Macross Island where they would execute a fold operation –a faster the light travel for those you don't know- which was targeted for the dark-side of the moon..." Rick said but was interrupted by Matt who was listening to the story with wide excited eyes that made Rick both smile internally and sigh for this story was not some sort of sci-fi action flick or book that he knew Matt loved but a full-on war where people died, however he didn't say anything to the young teenager for he was still innocent and he wasn't about to spoil that.

"I take it that it didn't exactly happen like that?" the boy asked almost jumping from his while Rick only nodded at him before launching himself back into the story.

"Anyways, Matt is right for the SDF-1 didn't reappear at the dark-side of the Moon like the Captain wanted to but all the way across the Solar System to Pluto. Sadly this wasn't just the SDF-1; she had brought Macross Island, Macross City, the city shelters, and a small stunt plane by the name of the Mockingbird with me and Minmei inside. Once I realized what happened I started to make our way to the grounded SDF-1 which had collided with the drifting island. So into this hell-storm of a battle between the SDF-1 and enemy units still in the city that we had brought with us in the fold I went. It was there Menmei and myself where trapped for two weeks in the belly of the ship. While we were trapped the citizens of Macross City started to rebuild their city in the SDF-1s heart a marvelous achievement for they were done by the time the two of us were rescued from our prison two weeks later. Days after our rescue the SDF-1 had its first battle on our long trek back to Earth. It was there that the ship used her godly powerful main-gun for the first time in direct combat. Meanwhile inside the ship and as the battle raged outside the ship I was faced with a dilemma, for Roy had asked me earlier that day to join the defense forces but I was still stuck with my silly notion of peace in head. So after saving Minmei yet again I finally decided to join the Robotech Defense Force as a fighter pilot to protect the fledgling city inside the great ship. After training for a few weeks I was ready and in the rings of Saturn I went into my first real battle. I would survive this battle and move on to many more battles along the way back to our home Earth including the gravity well of Jupiter, through a dense cluster of asteroids in the asteroid belt, and onto the plains of Mars. It would be on Mars where I would start really developing a friendship with Commander Hayes when I saved her after she got stuck in the abandoned Sara Base. It would after this we were ordered back into the asteroid belt by the UNDF Command. A few battles later and escaping the enemy once again we arrived in Earth's orbit where we would meet up with one of the remaining Orbital Fleets centered around the ARMD-03 Enterprise which as I am sure you aware was were Rachael was stationed. It was there in the orbit of our home planet we had our fiercest fight since the Battle of Macross Island that first fateful day. While once more we defeated the enemy it was at the cost of many damn good fighter pilots, others like Roy were considered MIA or Missing in Action. Also during this battle we nearly lost our most precious command crew which over the course of our journey had been sharpened into a steel blade like the Veritech Squadrons aboard her to an enemy ship that had folded right in front of the ship. For no one else in the entire UNDF or remaining RDF units had our experience in a fight for we had been through the pits of hell and back twice over forging us into a close nit unit that everyone had something to do. So after the brutal fight we landed in the Pacific Ocean directly off the coast of California to repair and refit. There I got myself promoted into Roy's shoes to command the SDF-1's Air Group. After a few weeks training up my new squadron I got permission from Captain Gloval to come here to visit you guys, and here I am," he finished with a tired sigh and another sip of water while before smiling lightly to see the jaws of his audience literally on the floor. Suddenly the doorbell rang bringing a dose of reality to the listeners. Matt sighed and got up to answer the door for he answered to see a beautiful brunette in jeans and a short sleeve t-shirt with Angel stenciled across the front. Matt speechless stared at her since she did indeed look like an angel.

"Is Rick Hunter here?" the angel asked with a soft smile that would make any man or a young teenager like Matt, melt inside or go crazy. Matt wondered who this was and decided it must be someone else from the SDF-1 for he clearly didn't know her and he pretty much knew almost everybody in New Carter.

"I take it you are from the SDF-1 too then? Come on in then," Matt said after recovering from his shock at seeing the pretty woman standing there. The woman blinked in surprise at this before shrugging and stepping inside the house pass Matt. As Rick saw her coming into the room following his younger adopted brother he started get a sense of dread and cursed internally as he realized that he forgot to mention the wedding.

"Opps," he said with a grimace and Lisa knowing him just turned to glare at him as she figured out why he was saying that.

"Hello dear, I did mention you but in the end I kind was trying to rush to finish the story and forgot to mention our relationship," he replied to her look demanding an explanation and her glare turned sour before sighing knowing Rick didn't mean anything he just forgot.

"You forgot, you forgot. Rick Hunter if you weren't so sweet and nice I would bust you back to Warrant Officer here and now," Lisa said softening up for she knew why Rick didn't really mention her all that much thanks to her not being important to his story till much later past Mars for the two of them where not really friends. As she calmed down she looked around to see the rest of Rick's family staring at them in confusion. Rick looked over at them as well before sighing and turning to look over at his mother.

"Mother, Matt may I present you my wife Lisa Hayes-Hunter the first and only important woman in my life. Well right above Rachael anyways," Rick announced with a smile and laughed lightly at the reactions he got from his family. Of course Kyle already knew and was calmly sipping his water while both Matt and his mother where once more looking at him in shock with jaws hanging.

"YOUR MARRIED!" the two managed to shout almost at the same time Rick just nodded at this and dragged Lisa on top of his lap. He was surprised as his mother feinted dead away making him look down at her in shock before looking over to Lisa.

"Opps."

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Fokker Field
New Carter, California
‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

Soaring high above New Carter in the slowly darkening sky were four C-130 Hercules transports on their approach vector towards the small airfield that was their home. In the lead transport Mitchell "Pops" Hunter the father of Rick and the leader of the Pops Hunter Air Circus looked over the large plane's pilot's shoulders at the view of his approaching home. It was good to be home for he had been on a ten-month circus tour. He sighed as he remembered the day before he left for the tour it was determined that his son and his best friend's son were dead thanks to some Anti-Unification Terrorist attack, with already being estranged from his daughter thanks to an argument on the day of her graduation from the academy, made him a bit depressed during this tour. He already heard some critics mentioning in the papers and such that this tour was a bit of a letdown thanks to these events affecting his pilots.

"Boss I have Fokker Field on the line," the pilot said interrupting his thoughts reaching up and flipping a switch on the radio panel turning the radio to speaker.

"Roger Hunter One you are clear to land and boss welcome home," came the voice of the controller over the speaker making Mitchell blink in surprise for his nephew Kyle was supposed to be in the control tower tonight being trained by his father, Mitchell's brother-in-law. With a frown he held his hand out to the co-pilot who handed over his headset over to the older man.

"Thanks, but didn't Kyle have duty today?" Mitchell replied through the headset with a frown looking down at the fast approaching air field.

"Yes he was but he along with Mister Carpenter left about a few hours ago when we got a very weird flight come in. All I know is that both of them were shaken up and Kyle had his father taken home for some odd reason. Currently I believe from the last report that Kyle went to your house for some reason boss," the other man replied with some confusion in his voice after a few moments making Pops frown at this confused as well at what is going on. With a shake of his head he got up from the jump seat and turned to look at the pilot.

"Right land these monsters and inform me when we land I need to think," Mitchell ordered throwing the headset back to the pilot and exited the cockpit heading towards the refitted passenger compartment. Both pilots looked at each other in surprise for the big boss usually sat with them for the entire trip and hardly left for the passenger compartment. Shaking off their shock the two turned their attention back to the job bringing the large transport planes down onto the small air field.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Hunter Residence
New Carter, California

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

Back in the Hunter Residence Ann Hunter's eyes fluttered open to see both her sons leaning over her with worry itched over their faces. At first she started to wonder what happened then it came crashing down on her and she flinched in memory knowing the shock of seeing her son safe and sound, followed by the totally unbelievable story, and then knowing that her only son beside the adopted Matt was married it was far more then she could handle. So she fainted dead away, of course she believed him for she saw the look in his eyes and face that gave it all away.

"Help me up you two," she ordered and the two boys... no the boy and the man helped her to sit up against the couch for she was on the floor and most likely fell down to the floor somehow when she fainted . Just then the women, that is her new daughter-in-law came walking into the living room with a glass of water in hand, she was followed by Kyle who she was sure was showing the woman around the kitchen while her sons tried to help her.

"Here drink this Mrs. Hunter and I'm sorry about that," the women said with a hint of authority that told Ann that the women was clearly a part of military, most likely some sort of position of authority if her tone said anything at all.

"Nonsense young lady it was mostly your big hunk of a husband that did it for he appeared here when we thought he was dead and told us this unbelievable story," Ann replied with a smirk slowly sipping the water. Her comment earned her a chuckle from the other boys beside Rick who was blushing in surprise.

"Oh I told him we should have gone somewhere else for our honeymoon Mrs. Hunter," she said in reply with a chuckle and a smile. This surprised Ann yet again for she didn't know they were just married.

"So you guys just got married then? By the way call me Ann no of this Mrs. Hunter stuff you are now part of this family," Ann asked dragging her body back onto the couch behind her.

"Yes ma'am we were just married yesterday by Captain Gloval," Lisa replied with a smile sitting down next to her mother-in-law. Ann just gave her a look before shaking her head with a sigh knowing it was hopeless.

"So how did you meet this thickhead excuse for a son…Lisa was it?" Ann asked taking another sip of the water pleased that she remembered the young lady's name when Rick first introduced her.

"Well you see he was in one of our Veritech Fighter where he had been left by Roy and here I am in the control tower of the SDF-1 and I ordered him into the sky not knowing he was a Civilian. Then after his adventure in the city Roy was taking him back to the ship when I first saw him through a communication screen he turned to me and asked: 'Yeah Roy so who's the old sourpuss'. Right in my face, this earned a well needed laugh around the bridge including all my friends," Lisa began with a smile wondering if Rick's mother was going to blow up on her but she didn't and was surprise when she turned her ire onto Rick much to her amusement.

"He did what! Rick I taught you better than that!" Ann said scolding her son with a glare that made him flinch in response before she turned back to Lisa with a shake of her head.

"Okay then after the fold and his rescue from the bowels of the ship we meet again. After that we started to get close..." Lisa started to say but Matt quickly got bored and dragged Kyle out of the room while Rick leaned back watching as the two of the most important woman in his life bonded with a smile.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Fokker Field
New Carter, California
‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

At the airfield Mitchell Hunter walked out of the giant transport aircraft behind him and into the bustle he was very much used too as the air fields dedicated deck crew scrambled around the four cargo planes doing various duties from starting to unload the various aircraft of the circus to starting to look over the plane for any damages or such. With a sigh the old pilot took in this in with a small smile on his face, however with a shake of his head he started to head for the Control Tower to see what is going on when he noticed a plane sitting in front of one of the guest hangers.

'This must be that mysterious flight that the controller mentioned,' he thoughtwith a frown before making his way over to the plane with Brian Carpenter his oldest nephew following behind him curious on what this was as well. The two men stopped in front of the plane and looked it over with expert eyes.

"Have you ever seen something like this before Uncle Mitch?" Brain asked with a frown looking over the plane. It looked like your average stunt plane like several he had seen through the circus and elsewhere, with one noted exception; it was a little too big to be a fully-fledged stunt place.

"No Brian I have not seen anything like this anywhere," as he climbed up the side of the plane where he pulled the tarp off the cockpit to see that it was a two-seater and had a strange set of controls vastly different then the controls on his stunt planes in his air circus. With a frown he thought they looked somewhat similar to military fighter controls he had seen during his service in the Civil War. He looked up to see Brian up on the other side of the plane looking around at the plane entirely.

"You know it kind looks like a miniature F-14 Tomcat doesn't Uncle?" Brian mentioned with frown looking the plane. Blinking in surprise Mitchell could only nod for it does bear some resemblance to the F-14 Fighter. Suddenly Mitchell looked down and nearly fell as he saw a small plaque painted onto the said of the plane near the cockpit bubble similar in position to where a pilot's name would be. That plague read: Mockingbird II (Peregrine Prototype Hunter's Special). This made Mitchell gasp in surprise making Brian looked up at him from where he had been inspecting the underside of the plane.

"What is it?" Brian asked coming around nose of the plane towards his Uncle who shook his head before starting to climb down from the plane. Confused Brian looked up to see what could have surprise his uncle and saw the plague with a frown he stepped up the side of the plane to read it and gasped as well for this plane was named after his the Mockingbird which is a plane he was quite familiar with. Stepping down from the plane Brian saw his Uncle heading for the control tower. With a curse Brian quickly threw the tarp back over the cockpit before running after his uncle.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Hunter Residence
New Carter, California

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

Back in the house Rick flinched as when he noticed that his mother had pulled out the dreaded baby pictures for Lisa to see. So he quickly got out of the room heading out to see what Matt and Kyle where up to. He soon found them hiding in his father's office which was often used for business outside of the Air Circus, since he had a larger office located in the headquarters building of the Air Circus.

"What you guys doing in here?" Rick asked looking around the room to see many of the pictures from his father's days in the Global Civil War.

"Just nothing thought you guys might want time with her," Kyle said from his seat in the office chair.

"Yeah thanks for that, anyways Mom pulled out the baby pictures for Lisa to see," Rick said taking a seat in the single arm chair in the room. Kyle flinched at that and turned his attention back to reading something he found in one of the shelves while Matt just looked between the two older men both with equally horrified expressions on their faces.

"What is the matter with baby pictures?" Matt asked confused looking at the two guys before him. Both looked over at him sharply before shaking their heads almost as one.

"Sometimes I forget that you are an orphan and don't know some things," Rick mentioned with another shake of his head.

"Well Matt see when you bring your darling date home mommy dearest starts to pull out baby pictures to show your date. These are aren't the cute ones either, not these are the ones where you are doing something very embarrassing," Kyle said with a smile as he leaned back remembering back when he brought his first date home and the laughter afterwards from his mother showing his girlfriend pictures of him whizzing in his dads hair while the poor guy was asleep when he was only a year or so.

"Is that really going to happen?" Matt asked with a shudder trying think of any that would make him embarrassed for while he had been around four or five when the Hunters found him and adopted him he was sure there would some embarrassing pictures laying around somewhere.

"Yes, when dear mom pulls out those pictures run like hell Matt," Rick said with a smile as he too remembered when he brought his first date home and how his mother showed the picture of him throwing up all over Roy who was in his clean ROTC uniform.

"Well I guess I don't have to worry for I don't have any pictures like that laying around, or least I don't think so. For you can never know with mom she sure loves taking pictures," Matt said with mixed emotions. His comment made the other two guys laugh with him soon joining in.

-o-

Back in the living room Lisa smiled trying not to laugh as she looked down at the picture of baby Rick throwing up all over a younger, more dashing teenaged Roy Fokker in what looked to be a ROTC uniform of some sort. This would make the others laugh so hard back at the Macross especially Claudia.

"Can I keep this Ann the others are going to love this?" Lisa asked finally giving up the fight with her mother-in-law over the names. Though personally it had been so long since her own mother had died and it felt good talking to an older mother like figure like Ann.

"Sure there are many more where that came from Lisa," Ann said and laughed along with Lisa which blended really well with the loud laughing coming from upstairs. They didn't even notice that both Mitchell and Brian coming into the house to hear the laughter much to their confusion.

"Oh god I am so going to razz him so much over this and if Roy was still around I would do the same to him as well," Lisa said once she stopped laughing and started to slip a few pictures into her purse along with the ones she showed Ann herself of their time aboard the SDF-1. Both Mitchell and Brian stood silently as they watched in shock as Ann pulled the surprised Lisa, someone completely unknown to the two men, into a comforting hug.

"Well I better go collect my brain dead husband and get going to the hotel for it is getting late and I am really tired for I packed all of our stuff since he had to get some sleep for he was going to fly today," Lisa said after the hug was over as she wipe her eyes a bit for it had been a long time since an older motherly woman had hugged her like that, granted she got hugs from Claudia from time to time but that was different it was more sisterly. With a sigh she turned around to find her husband only to freeze in surprise at the sight of the two unknown men to her. Ann however simply smiled brightly before rushing past Lisa and hugging her husband.

"Mitchell, Brian your back! Kyle mentioned you guys wouldn't be back till tomorrow night," Ann said with a smile but found that her husband and oldest nephew glancing over at Lisa in confusion. Ann frowned at this as she saw the confused looks at her daughter-in-law.

"Who is this Ann and why is she looking over Rick baby pictures?" Mitchell asked wondering what in the world is going here and why Ann was showing this unknown woman baby pictures of his dead son.

"First of all Mitchell allow me to show you something amazing," Ann before looking over at Lisa with a small smile on her face. Then looked up the stairs behind Mitchell, having been in the entranceway to the living room were the stairs to the second floor were located.

"Matt you and the others get down here now please," Ann yelled up the stairs to the ears of the three guys having a pleasant guy talk with each other.

"Coming Mom!" came Matt's shouted reply as the sounds of running feet could be heard above their heads before one by one the guys came down the stairs. Rick being the third and last down stopped in his tracks when he saw his father standing in the Living Room Entrance way looking inside the living room with his back to him and his mother staring at him over the shoulder of his mother. His oldest cousin Brain saw him and his jaw literally dropped in surprise at seeing him making Rick smile over at him before using his skills of stealth that he learned during boot camp stepped right behind his father.

"Hello Dad long time no see," Rick softly spoke to his dad, who upon hearing his sons voice turned so quickly that his head would have fallen off. When Mitchell saw Rick standing there right behind him, alive and well his face went ashen white.

"Rick is that you?" Mitchell asked in disbelieve not believing that he was seeing his long dead son standing alive before him.

"Yes Dad it's me and no I am not dead," Rick said with a smile landing a hand on his father's shoulder which showed him that what he was seeing was not a trick or an illusion.

"I knew it, no terrorist could kill a Hunter so easily," Mitchell said with a hardly laugh as he grabbed his son and hugged him tightly.

"Mitchell let him down for he has quite the story to tell and I believe you owe our daughter-in-law an apology for that tones you used with her earlier," Ann said glaring over at him making Lisa smile a bit at this. Again Mitchell turned sharply to look at the Lisa still standing in the living room.

"Daughter-in-law! Since when was Rick married?" Mitchell asked in disbelieve at Lisa standing before him.

"Yesterday dad and please sit down and I will explain what happened to me over the year since I left for Macross," Rick answered and when his father sat down in his favorite arm chair along with the others. Rick proceeded to tell them the same story that he had told the others hours before, explaining the wedding to make his tired wife happy. We he was done he got the same responses from Mitchell and Brain he got from Kyle, Ann, and Matt.

"So you joined the defense force to protect your friends and your new family aboard the SDF-1 from this new enemy which are basically large giants?" Mitchell asked with a frown for long ago he had left his military life behind thanks to the sheer mismanagement of the Global Civil War by the government. This left him with a general anti-war look on life and the reason he opposed Roy's and later his own daughter's decision to join the military. Now that he thought about it he knew it was really a bad decision to oppose this, for both of them where their own person and if they wanted to defend the planet that was their decision. He however was still all-out pissed at the so-called United Nations Government for hiding this new war from the populace for they had been told that the SDF-1 was originally an alien warship and that the UNG would be building up a defense fleet to defend the planet for several years. His little interior rant against the government was stopped when he noticed that his new daughter-in-law was fast asleep on the shoulder of his son with his son on his way to join her.

"Well looks like we have to get back to the hotel before we end crashing on the couch. Kyle can you drive us to the hotel?" Rick asked as he picked up Lisa and started to the door with Kyle in tow.

"'Night guys see you in the morning and thank you for understanding," Rick said before disappearing out the door towards Kyle jeep. Later Mitchell watched them through the window as the Jeep pulled out and headed towards the Elaina Hotel which was attached to the airfield for the purpose of guests. With the Jeep on its way Mitchell turned to stare at the sky and decided that his son was telling the truth thanks to that intense stare in his eyes, ones that have seen death and walked away from it. It was the same look on his face all those years before.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Hunter Residence
New Carter, California
April 1, 2010AD

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

The next morning found Rick and Lisa walking from the Air Field's Hotel back towards the house of the Hunters. Thankfully with the Airfield located outside the city along with the Hotel and the Hunter Residence they didn't have to walk through the city itself and get asked awkward questions. Even then they still ran into a few early-morning joggers and bikers on the road who all lived either on the outskirts of the city or outside of it like the Hunters did. Finally the husband and wife couple arrived at the houses front door. Rick knocked and in a couple of seconds found his mother answering the door with a beaming smile.

"Yeah you lovebirds I didn't think you would wake up this early," Ann said with a smile letting them into the house.

"Well we're light sleepers and I wanted to go out for breakfast or something with you guys," Rick said with a smile since he had always been a light sleeper which saved him numerous times from getting kicked out of his rack in boot camp. Lisa at his side smiled for she too was a light sleeper having a military man as a father.

"Well I'm making breakfast and I think I can make some for two more," Ann said as she started to head for the kitchen.

"May I help Ann?" Lisa asked with a smile as she followed the older women to the kitchen while Rick head for the dining room were his brother and father waited.

"Sure you can dear follow me," Ann said with a smile as she headed for the kitchen to make breakfast for the now three hungry men in the dining room.

-o-

Rick smiled as he walked into the dining room to see his father doing his usual thing reading the morning newspaper. While Matt was tiredly looking over something in his hand probably homework no doubt.

"Morning guys," Rick said with a smile taking his usual seat at the table right next to his smiling father who had put down his paper to look over at his son, but it quickly turned to a frown.

"So Rick, Roy is MIA if I remember your talk last night right?" he asked with a frown remembering the blond haired man that he had learned to look at as a son. Rick frowned looking up the ceiling remembering the last time he saw the man when they were getting ready to take off for the battle.

"Yes he is still considered MIA, though many think he is still alive for we have recovered his fighter after the battle and saw that his escape capsule launched cleanly. We just need to find out whom if anyone picked up his capsule," Rick mentioned with thoughtful frown thinking back to the days following the battle. A work crew from the Enterprise had found the damaged Skull-One about four days after the battle and had shipped it down to the SDF-1 where crews from the Foundries on board started to rebuild it. Currently Rick was using his old VF-1J repainted in Skull-One colors but when the older Skull-One was ready he would be taking over piloting the VF-1S.

"Well I really hope you guys find him for I need to apologize to him in the future," his father mentioned with a sad smile on his face.

"Yes I hope so too, and it better be soon for he left behind a son that he didn't have a clue about," Rick said sadly but with a smile. This took his father by surprise for he didn't known that his so-called third son was married as well.

"You are full of surprises aren't you son," Pops said with a smile and starting going back to his paper but soon remembered the plane from last night.

"By the way son is that your plane sitting in front of the guest hangers?" he asked looking back at his son.

"Yes it is he and boy can that plane fly. It can outfly and out maneuver the Mockingbird," Rick said with a smile remembering his flight here and how well the plane flew. His father just chuckled before shaking his head at his son.

"You know maybe we should have a welcome back party and meet up with your old friends here. Are you and Miss Lisa up for that?" Pops asked with a smile that made his son brightened in response.

"That would be great dad," Rick said excitedly as Lisa and Ann done with breakfast brought it into the room to serve which stopped all conversation and the extended family sat down to eat some breakfast.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
New Carter Recreation Building
New Carter, California

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

Later that day found Mitchell walking into the city's Recreation Building, which not only sported facilities of a normal Recreation Center with rooms sit aside for recreation like a full computer lab and a full scale gym but doubled as a Community Center for the entire city. Therefore many used the center for meetings, Community Dances, and all-out parties.

"Mister Hunter what can I do for you today?" the Rec Center's receptionist asked as he entered the large lobby of the center. The young seventeen year old teen was one of many New Carter Teenagers who wanted to join the Air Circus someday.

"Hello Sarah is the Dance Hall open currently?" Pops asked with a smile back as he looked around the lobby at the others. He had named the largest room in the center which was reserved for big parties and functions that the mayor throws. Sarah blink in surprise at this request before looking down at the calendar located next to her computer before looking back up at him.

"Yes sir it's open for the next two days. I take it you want to throw a welcome back party for the rest of the Air Circus?" Sarah said with a smile which made Pops chuckle lightly.

"Well that and something else," Pops replied mysteriously with a smile knowing that Rick wanted to surprise his friends and Sarah happened to one of them.

"Very well then sir. For which day do you want the Hall then Mister Hunter?" Sarah asked looking up at the man and wondering what he had in store for them.

"Tomorrow if you please Sarah," Mitchell replied with another mysterious smile and started to walk out of the Rec Center leaving behind a very confused young lady behind him.

-o-

For the rest of the day Lisa, Ann and the other wife's of the Air Circus started to decorate the Dance Hall in preparation of the party. Lisa who was under the name of Lisa Hunter and was introduced as a relative of Mitchell was having a blast getting the Dance hall ready for what would be the best party in history here in New Carter. Meanwhile Rick was stuck staying at the Hunter's House while his wife got to know her in-laws better as she help prepare the Dance Hall for the party. After staying the night in his old room he was carefully escorted by his cousins Brian and Kyle to the party.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
New Carter Recreation Building
New Carter, California
April 2, 2010AD

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

Mitchell smiled as he stepped up to the small raised stage dressed in his best suit. He looked around to see that the party was in full swing and the latest song started close. Once the song stopped Pops got the crowd's attention for an announcement.

"As you all know this party is a welcome back the various members of the New Carter's own Pop Hunter Air Circus but unknown to you all this party serve a dual purpose, one to welcome back our tired sons, fathers, daughter, and mothers. It is also to welcome back a special person to us all, someone who has been gone longer then the Circus and has travelled a long way to be with us once more. With that said it is a great pleasure to me to reintroduce my son Richard Hunter!" Mitchell said into the microphone he held in hand and watched as the various confused guests looked in shock at the announcement before looking around trying to see the famous Rick Hunter. Suddenly Rick stepped out from the behind the curtain in the back of the stage much to the further shock of all of the guests. With a grin Mitchell handed his son the microphone before taking a step back from the front of the stage chuckling at his son's dirty look for he had told Mitchell that he didn't want to make a speech.

"Thanks so much for that Dad. Anyways yes news of my death where a bit premature, and while I cannot tell you how I survived I can tell you that this piece of news will not be withheld for long. With that said I will be here the rest of the party to those who want to talk to me. That is all and thank you for the warm welcome back to New Carter," Rick said with a smile and a wave before handing the microphone back to his father and stepping off the stage to stand by the waiting Lisa who beamed up at him.

-o-

A few hours later found Rick with Lisa at his side meeting up with all his old friends from his past. He had introduced them to Lisa and all felt happy for him. Just then he grinned as an older teenager walked up to him with a big smile on her face.

"I can't believe you are alive Rick. It has been a very long time since I saw you," Sarah Thompson with that same big smile on her face as she hugged him. Sarah was one of his best friends that used to be his girlfriend but broke up because it didn't feel right, so instead the two became the best of friends. Rick smiled and hugged her back.

"Sarah it is so good to see you again, Lisa this is Sarah and Sarah this is Lisa," Rick introduced them with a smile knowing they would get along greatly. Both ladies said hi to each other and started up a conversation. Looking up he noticed Kyle was motioning him towards another group of friends so he left his wife in the care of Sarah and went to meet them. However he stopped as suddenly his world turned to white as something near them exploded.

-o-End-o-

Post Chapter Notes:

You know I really hate Cliff-Hangers and here I go using one of them. /shakes head/ Anyways not much have changed here all that much from Part Four. However expect the Battle of New Carter to be very much different for I have some new ideas about that which should make it a bit more interesting. Hopefully I can get them down to paper for sometimes it is hard to do so.

Anyhow that is about it folks besides a new Omake and something else.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

Omake 09: Spacey Interruptions

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

The Battle was in full swing between the SDF-1, its Veritechs and the enemy Zentradi with the SDF-1 winning. In Skull-One Rick Hunter grinned behind his helmet's face plate as Skull Squadron tore through the enemy Pods like they weren't even there. A few minutes later found the squadron hovering the midst of the remains of their enemies.

"Alright Skull Squadron let's move out," Rick ordered however before they could follow his orders something just appeared with the sound of breaking glass. That something appeared to be a large hole in space and something spiraled through the hole before exploding taking out a few enemy pods and some cruisers that had been caught in the blast.

"Just who the Hell do you think I am!" a cry said over every single communication channel before the hole disappeared just as fast as it appeared.

"What…."

"…the…"

"…hell…"

"…was…"

"…that?"

-o-End-o-

/grin/ What can I say I am diehard Gurren Lagann Fan as well as a diehard Robotech/Macross Fan. Besides figured I needed a humorous Omake after the series of more serious ones I have done lately. Hope some people enjoy this one.

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐
Data File 01

Brief History of the Robotech Defense Force

‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐

The Robotech Defense Force started as a Paramilitary Security Force organized to defend the facilities and personal of the Robotech Research Group after terrorists associated with the Anti-UN Forces attacked and nearly killed the founder of Robotechtechnology Doctor Emil Lang. This force would later include several military test pilots assigned to test pilot new Robotech Mecha being developed by the Research Group under the command of this security force. When the Unification Wars started this security force would become purely a military force assigned to the direct protection of the RRG projects, facilities and personal during a full scale war.

Later during the war various units associated with the new Robotech Security Force would take part in combat. One such unit known as Skull Team which tested the new Veritech fighters in combat would take part in several battles. One such battle or rather a series of battles would be the Mayan Incident where Skull Team alongside regular UNDF Units would fight against a AUNF Special Operations Unit based on the Submarine Carrier Auerstädt. Other units using the new Destoids Vertical Tanks would assist the regular UNDF units in numerous battles like the later Battle of Baghdad. Thanks to the RSF the Anti-UN would be hard pressed to match the UNDF and the war would end.

After the end of the Unification Wars in early 2008 many thought this so-called Robotech Security Force would once more become a straight Security Force defending the RRG. However thanks to their operations during the war it would be organized into a Special Elite Force centered on the use of Robotech Mecha. This new force would be titled the Robotech Defense Force.

-o-File End-o-

Well this is the first Data File of the story which is basically a separate extra added to the end of several chapters which go on to explain some things. There two type of Data Files the normal Data File which explains something that wasn't explained in the chapter or overall story. Like the history of my version of the RDF here. The second is the Technical File which gives readers a look into the custom mecha or ships created by me or someone else for the purpose of this story. These files will basically build up the world which the New Macross Series is based in. With that said expect many of these in Wings of Freedom the sequel.