TWO OF A KIND

CHAPTER TWO

SPACE JUMP

MACROSS ISLAND

05 JULY 2010

2300 ZULU

Rick's plane landed after spending five more minutes in the air. After the plane reached the gate and the engines finally fell silent, Rick unbuckled his seat, stood up, opened the overhead bin, and took his briefcase out of the bin. Rick had to wait a while for his chance to leave the plane because he was seated in the middle of the plane near the wing of the plane. After walking through the jet way, he went to baggage claim to retrieve his duffel bag and suitcase. As he was walking through the terminal near the entrance to the airport, Rick noticed an enlisted woman in her late teens holding a sign that read; "ENSIGN RICK HUNTER". Rick walked up to the young woman.

"I'm Ensign Rick Hunter."

"Welcome to Macross Island sir. Is that all the luggage you brought with you sir?"

"Yes, it is."

"I'm parked in the temporary parking area. Do you mind if you wait for a couple of minutes while I get the car? That way we can just load your luggage in the car then we can take off from there. You can wait here in the terminal where it's cool."

Rick shook his read. "No, I don't mind waiting for a couple of minutes."

"Thank you, sir."

It took the enlisted driver several minutes to bring the car around. When Rick stepped on the mat and it tripped the automatic doors and opened, a blast of tropical heat hit Rick in the face.

"Wow it's hot out here!"

"Well, we are in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean sir. Don't worry you'll get used to it. Some longer than others but everyone eventually get used to the heat and the humidity.", the driver said as he put Rick's luggage in the trunk of the car.

"What time is the commissioning ceremony?"

"It will be at 1200 hours sir."

"And the veritech flight demonstration?"

"It's right before the commissioning ceremony at 1130 hours sir."

"What time is it now? I have a severe case of jet lag and I have no idea what the time is."

"I understand sir. Its 0900 hours. Sir, have you been billeted yet?"

"No."

"Tell you what I can to do for you sir. I will drive you to the guest house, you go ahead and check in and get breakfast if you want. I will wait for you in the lobby. When you are ready, I'll drive you to the commissioning ceremony in time for the flight demonstration."

Rick nodded in agreement. "It sounds like a good idea. I like it. Go ahead and do it."

The driver drove Rick to the base's guest house where Rick checked in and grabbed a quick breakfast. He decided to take a quick nap in his room because the jet lag still had him tired. In his hotel room, Rick set the alarm on the aviator watch he was wearing on his left wrist, took off his shoes and just fell on the bed and immediately went to sleep.

At 1100 hours, the alarm on Rick's watch went off. Rick groaned, shut off the alarm and looked at his watch. He could have sworn he just fell asleep several minutes ago. Rick was still suffering from jet lag. Rick flustered that he was still not able to get much sleep, got up and put on his shoes. He met his driver who as she promised was waiting for him in the lobby. She stood up and smiled at Rick.

"Are you ready to go sir?"

Rick sighed. "Yeah…I'm ready as I'll ever be."

"Did you get much sleep sir?"

"I got a little. Not much though."

"Well, it's better than not getting any sleep at all, sir."

"I guess you're right."

The driver drove Rick to just to the outside perimeter of the SDF-1 where a security checkpoint was set up. Rick walked up to one of the security check point where a MP saw him and saluted him. Rick returned the salute and showed the MP his invitation. The MP told Rick that even though he is RDF, he still had to go through the metal detectors and had to be searched because of the presence of high-ranking representatives of the Earth Government, world heads of state and high-ranking officers of the RDF. Rick as asked went through the metal detectors and was patted down for weapons. The place was already filling up with people. Rick wanted to get an up-close look at the jets he will be flying so Rick had to maneuver to the front of the roped off area.

As Rick was waiting for the veritech fighter demonstration to begin, an 8-year-old Chinese boy dressed in an RDF pilot's uniform was running through the crowd trying to get up close to the front where Rick was standing. A young Chinese girl just barely in her teens was trying to catch up with her cousin who was her charge for the day. She agreed to be with him at the flight demonstration show because her aunt and uncle was busy running a Chinese restaurant and could not take him to the show.

"Hey, c'mon hurry up Minmei! The show's about to begin! I don't want to miss the airplanes flying!"

"Jason! You need to wait for me!"

Minmei then yelled in a panicked voice. "Jason! Look where you're going!"

Jason not watching where he was going because his back was towards Rick ran into the back of Rick's legs.

Rick immediately turned to around to see what hit him. "Hey! What the"

Minmei dressed in a red skirt and white long-sleeved blouse immediately started apologizing while her face was a beet red.

"I'm sorry sir! My cousin was not watching where he was going! Say you're sorry for running into him Jason."

"I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to run into you."

Rick smiled at Minmei and Jason. "That's okay. I know you didn't mean to run into me."

Minmei caught a glimpse at Rick and her breath was taken away. She immediately began to let her eyes take a good look at Rick and she determined she liked what she saw. 'Wow, he's a cutie. I like him. He has everything I like in a man. He is not too tall, black hair, but his eyes. His eyes almost seem to go right through you. I wonder what's his name is and what's his job in the RDF?'

Just then the public announcer's voice came over the loudspeakers.

"And now ladies and gentlemen, boys, and girls, we present an amazing display of aerial acrobatics, demonstrating the amazing advances we have made through Robotechnology. Lieutenant Commander Roy Fokker, call sign "Baron", leader of the veritech fighters' Skull Squadron will describe and explain the action for us."

The crowd then began to clap. Roy walked out to the microphone stand waving to the crowd acknowledging the applause. Rick started to clap too and wanted to shout to Roy but thought better of it because he knew Roy was working and he did not want to disturb Roy.

"Today, ladies and gentlemen, you will see how we've applied human know-how to understanding and harnessing a complex alien technology."

As the veritech fighters began their flying demonstration, Rick was in awe at how nimble the jets are. His jaw dropped at the precision flying.

'Wow those pilots are good! They are good enough to fly with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. Pop would have loved them flying for him. I can't wait until I'll be flying in one of those beauties.'

"Keep your eyes on planes two and four," Roy went on as two and four lined up for the first maneuver, engines blaring. "Flying at speeds of five hundred miles per hour, only fifty feet above the ground, they will pass within just a few yards of one another. Robotechnology makes such precision possible."

The show lasted for about several more minutes before Roy told the crowd the demonstration show was over.

"And that concludes our aerial demonstration show. I hope you have enjoyed the show and if you have any questions, please just ask one of the veritech pilots. They will be more than happy to answer any questions you have. Enjoy the rest of the day everyone."

The crowd clapped again to show their appreciation. Roy acknowledged the applause by waving again to the crowd. Rick decided now is as good as a time as any to try to get Roy's attention. He started shouting Roy's name and waving his arms.

"Hey Roy! I'm over here!"

Roy heard Rick shouting his name and began looking around trying to find him. When he spotted Rick, his face brightened.

"Rick!", Roy said as he was pointing his finger at Rick's direction.

As Rick was running over to where Rick was, Rick remembering that he was supposed to salute a superior officer when outside began raising his right arm.

"Oh, I almost forgot.", Rick said softly as he saluted. Roy returned the salute with a mischievous smile.

"I see the academy taught you well."

Roy then grabbed Rick and pulled him into his chest and gave him a big bear hug.

"Good seeing you little brother."

"Good seeing you too, Roy."

"How was the plane ride over here?"

"It was long."

"How are Uncle Jon and Aunt Becky doing?"

"They're doing fine. I promised I will keep in touch with them. I think Aunt Becky has finally convinced Uncle Jon to hire full time help now that I'm here."

"Hey, you want a sola, Rick?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay, hold on for a moment. Hey! Soda!"

A wheeled talking soda vending machine came up to Roy. "Hello. I have Petite Cola, Diet Petite Cola, ginger ale, orange soda, lemon-lime soda, lemonade, bottled water, sweetened raspberry and peach iced tea. Make your selection please."

"Wow! I never seen those kinds of vending machines before.", a surprised Rick exclaimed.

"Yep, it's one of the things we have courtesy of Robotechnology. What do you want Rick?"

"I'll take a cola Roy."

"Okay.", Roy said as he fished in the pocket of his flight suit searching for change. Roy found enough change to buy him and Rick drinks.

As they were talking Jason was trying to get Minmei to buy him a cola from the same wheeled talking soda vending machine. Minmei was saying no because Jason already had two sodas. Jason was upset and crying.

"Cancel the order, please, machine!", Minmei was telling the machine.

"Jason, you'll make yourself sick!"

"I don't care!", Jason wailed.

"Maybe you should tie a can of soda to a fishing pole to lure him home, miss.", Roy suggested.

"Maybe I should.", Minmei laughed nervously. Her eyes then fell on Rick again. She was really giving him the eye when her staring was interrupted by Jason.

"Okay! I have enough of this! We're going home!", Minmei said as she was pulling Jason by the arm.

"Well Roy, I see you're still a big lady's man."

"Huh? You mean me?"

"Yes you."

"Not me little brother, I have a girlfriend now!"

"No, you're kidding me!"

"No, I am not kidding you little brother. I have a girlfriend. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about asking her to marry me very soon."

Rick laughed a sarcastic laugh. "You, Mr. Casanova of the Hunter Flying Circus is thinking about settling down and getting married?"

"Well, why not me? Besides, I am getting tired of running around from girl to girl. And besides, I think she was giving you the eye, not me."

"Me?"

"Oh, c'mon Rick you're being naive! The way she was looking you over and checking you out! Man, I think some of my charm must have rubbed off on you.", Roy said as he nudged Rick on the arm with his elbow.

"Roy! Stop it! I do not even know the girl! I only met her once and that's only because her cousin ran into me while I was waiting for the flight demonstration show to begin!"

"Okay, whatever you say Rick."

Rick decided to change the subject. "How about showing one of those veritech fighters I'll be flying soon?"

"Okay."

BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1

Commander Lisa Hayes, Executive Officer of the SDF-1 and Second in Command, walked onto the bridge of the SDF-1, flipped her past shoulder length auburn hair, looked around to make sure everyone is working and not lollygagging around, gave herself a satisfied nod, then walked over to her station. As she began her checks by flipping and toggling switches, turning knobs, and pressing buttons, her friend and First Officer Claudia Grant was doing checks of her own.

"Bridge to the Engine Room what is your status over?"

"Bridge this is the Engine Room. All systems are on-line and ready for go over."

"Roger Engine Room…Bridge out."

Lisa trying to make some small talk to try to lighten the tension brought on by the uncertainty of whether this alien ship will fly, struck up a conversation with Claudia. "The ceremony starts in about fifteen minutes. I hope the captain gets here in time. The scuttlebutt is that he didn't get much sleep last night."

"Yeah; the flag-rank officers threw a farewell party for him. They probably sat up all night getting drunk and telling each other war stories. I will not be surprised if they brought in a couple of strippers. You know how they are."

"Oh yes, I know. My father probably was at the party, getting drunk and telling the same war stories."

"What about you, Lisa? What did you do last night?"

Lisa shrugged her shoulders. "Oh…nothing much Claudia, I spent a little time with my dad before he left for Captain Gloval's farewell party and I spent the rest of the night in my quarters."

Claudia then sighed and shook her head. She wishes her best friend would have a life off duty. "That's all? Lisa, we might be sent to the outer reaches of our solar system. You could at least celebrate a bit."

"You know I'm not the partying kind.", Lisa then smiled a mischievous smile. "And where were you, Claudia hmm?"

Claudia was taken off guard by Lisa's question. "What're you talking about Lisa?"

"Oh, c'mon Claudia, you're not fooling me. You did not get back to your quarters until four in the morning, that is what! You've been out partying too."

"What, are you jealous Lisa? No, I wasn't out partying! For your information I had a late dinner with Commander Fokker."

"You did what Claudia? Claudia you stayed out all night, knowing you and Roy both have to be on duty today?"

"So? What is the big deal, Lisa? We not letting it affect our performance on duty. After all, we're not children-and you're certainly not our mother!"

Lisa could feel her face getting hot with anger. "Excuse me! You have a responsibility to this ship Claudia, and it comes first!"

"Now you listen to me Lisa Hayes and you listen to me real good! My private life is my own business! It's nobody else's and as sure as Hell is not yours!"

The three enlisted techs; Vanessa Leeds, Sammie Porter and Kim Young better known as the Bridge Bunnies or the Terrible Trio, turned around from their workstations and looked at the arguing duo with wide eyes. Immediately Claudia regretted losing her temper. She was the only one who knows why Lisa seem to be wrapped up in her job and only thinks about doing her duty. She looked over at the trio and gave them the evil eye. "Alright you three! Get back to work! This is only between Lisa and me!"

Immediately the three turned back around to their workstations, said a quick "yes ma'am" and went back to work. After making sure the three was working she walked the short distance to Lisa's station and talked to her in a low tone of voice. "Lisa, I'm sorry I yelled at you, but you have to understand my life is not wrapped up in my job. I have a life off duty. You need a life off duty also. You need to loosen up a bit Lisa and let people see the real you, not the Lisa Hayes that only thinks about doing her job. Try finding someone and go out on a date. Open up and let the real you shine through."

"I'm sorry I'd said those things to you Claudia…but…you know no one on this ship is willing to go out with me. You do not think I know about the names the pilots, enlisted people, and the other officers on this ship and on base call me? They call me 'Ice Queen', 'Cold Fish', 'Frozen Heart' 'Miss SDF-1'. How can I go out on a date knowing some officer or pilot is calling me those names behind my back?"

"That's because they do not know the pain that you are in, Lisa. I know it happened a long time ago when you were just a teenager, before we met…but Lisa…you have been in mourning for too long! You're letting your long dead boyfriend affect your whole life including your love life!"

"That's because I will never find someone as warm, loving, kind, tender and gentle as Karl."

"Yes, there is. You do not know he is out there because you have never looked. And the reason why you have never looked is because you're afraid of Karl's ghost."

"That's not true Claudia."

"Yes, it is true, and you know it Lisa. You are either in denial or you are too scared to admit it. You are afraid that if you fall in love with someone, Karl's ghost will come back and haunt you. Look Lisa, Roy told me last night that a good friend of his, well…they are more like brothers because his late father raised Roy like his own son when Roy became an orphan but never officially adopted him. His brother went through a similar situation you went through. Roy told me that his brother's girlfriend was killed in an airplane accident about four years ago. He just graduated from the academy recently. He is young, single and he has just arrived here on Macross. He's going to VFWTS."

Lisa's eyes then went wide. "For goodness sakes Claudia, he's just an ensign!"

"So? There's nothing in the regulations that says a senior officer can't date a junior officer."

"If he just graduated from the academy Claudia, it means he's younger than me! People will think I'm a cradle robber!"

Claudia rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Oh, for Heaven's sakes will you stop talking that nonsense Lisa! There you go again making excuses! You are making it sound like you are an old spinster! Just because he is several years younger than you, it does not mean that you are old! And it certainly does not make you a cradle robber! He is only five years younger than you for crying out loud! How about meeting him? I'm sure you and he have a lot in common."

"I don't know Claudia. If people see us together, they will start talking and might even start spreading rumors."

"So? They are already talking about you. Why not let them talk something good about you for a change?"

Lisa then let out a big sigh. "Okay…fine. I'll think about it, Claudia. But that is all I am going to do for now. I'll think about it."

"That's fair enough with me."

Suddenly, the upper left-hand corner of Lisa's space telescopic radar screen started showing a vast tear in the space fabric, while at the same time a warning siren began blaring. Lisa immediately became annoyed with the siren and shut it off.

"Oh, shut up!", Lisa said in an annoyed tone of voice.

"What is it Lisa?"

"It looks like a tear or a rip in the space-time continuum. It looks like a spaceship or several spaceships just came out of a hyperspace fold. It looks like it came out of its jump near the moon."

"I'll notify Captain Gloval while you keep watch on the radar screen."

"Okay Claudia thanks."

As Claudia was on her way out of the bridge to notify Captain Gloval, she spotted the three enlisted techs at their workstations. As Lisa was telling Claudia about the names the pilots, enlisted people and other officers were calling her behind her back, Claudia with her peripheral vision looked over at the three young women working at their stations and intuitively knew one of them started the gossip and rumors. She did not know which one of the three started it and she did not have proof beside from her intuition as a woman, but Claudia knew if she did not put a stop to the rumors and gossip right then and now, those three will not stop and Lisa will have even more difficulty trying to find a date if Roy does not come through with his brother. They were close together so Claudia knew she could talk to the three without Lisa overhearing. "Girls, I have something to tell you."

"What is it ma'am?", Sammie asked.

"Girls," Claudia said in a low voice. "I don't know which one of the three of you started the rumors and gossip about Commander Hayes and frankly, I don't care. What I do care about is Commander Hayes and I am giving you this one time and one-time only warning; STOP IT! You know it is against regulations to spread rumors and gossip about people. It breeds distrust, it hurts people, and it lowers morale. There are reasons why Commander Hayes acts like she is only concerned about doing her job and it is not something I am going to tell the three of you because it is none of your business. What I am going to tell you is that the three of you are going to do just your jobs here on the bridge and nothing else."

Claudia then leaned in closer to show the trio what she is about to tell them is serious. Her voice then became low and cold as an Arctic winter storm and her face turned into a menacing mask. "And if I ever catch wind of another rumor about Commander Hayes again, I am going to break every bone in your tiny little bodies. And I do not care which one of you is the guilty party and which one of you is the innocent party. And that is not a threat, it is a promise. Do I make myself clear?"

The three then gulped hard to try to swallow the lump that was caught in their throats. The three then said a meek and timid "yes ma'am" and returned to doing their duties.

As Claudia was walking away, Vanessa Leeds whispered harshly to a petite long-haired blonde. "I told you Sammie not to start it! But would you listen to me? NO! You had to open your mouth and start blabbing! I knew we would get into trouble sooner or later!"

"Hey! I am not the only one who like to gossip! You're not exactly "Miss Tight Lips" yourself!"

"Will you two shut up and get back to work? Maybe next time you'll know better than to start gossiping!", Kim whispered in a harsh tone of voice.

Outside on the dais, Senator Russo was 15 minutes into a long-winded boring speech. Captain Gloval kept looking at his watch wondering when he is going to finish his speech. As Russo went into a long spiel about global peace, Claudia walked up next to Captain Gloval's ear, cupped her hand, and whispered into Captain Gloval's ear.

"Sir, telescopic radar just detected a huge rip in the space fabric just outside the moon. Several huge spaceships just came out of a hyperspace fold."

"Hmm, the same thing happened ten years ago when the alien ship arrived. It is something I need to personally check out. Let us go."

"What about Senator Russo, sir? Shouldn't you tell him you're leaving?"

"Why bother him? Besides, he's in love with the sound of his own voice."

As Captain Gloval walked onto the bridge, Lisa spotted Captain Gloval. "ATTENTION ON DECK!", Lisa commanded. Everyone on the bridge stood up at attention.

"As you were! Carry on!", Captain Gloval said.

"Sir, space monitoring stations and our lunar monitoring station all report a flash of brilliant light and several huge ships unfolding from hyperspace.", Lisa reported.

"Sir we have numerous incoming bogies closing in on the ship at a high rate of speed!", Kim yelled.

"Put the ship on red alert! Sound the general quarters alarm and evacuate all civilians and non-essential personnel from the immediate area of this ship!" Gloval said as he pulled a pipe out his jacket pocket and stuffed a wad of pipe tobacco into his pipe.

"Yes sir."

"Uh…excuse me sir, smoking's not allowed on the bridge."

"What is your name young lady?"

"Sammie Porter, sir."

"What is your rank?"

"I'm a seaman, sir. My rate is a defensive weapons systems technician."

"Well, seaman Sammie Porter, when you outrank me you can tell me what to do. Until then, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself. I am captain of this ship and I can run it the way I want to." Gloval said with a stern voice but he did put his pipe away into the inside of his uniform jacket pocket with letting Sammie see him doing it.

"Yes sir.", Sammie said with her head down after she suffered the putdown by Captain Gloval.

Outside on the tarmac, Rick and Roy walked towards a two seat veritech that had its canopy up. Rick was clearly impressed.

"This is one of our newer fighters Rick. It is a two-seater. The pilot sits up front piloting the fighter while the co-pilot sits in back handling the radar and weapon systems just like in the old F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Strike Eagle."

"Wow Roy! It's looks even more beautiful up close."

Roy chuckled. "Wait till you see the inside of this baby Rick."

"Can I take a look inside?"

"Sure, go ahead and look. Have a seat inside if you like. You'll be flying one of these very soon anyway."

Rick was overwhelmed when he saw the cockpit of the veritech. "Wow! All these gauges, switches and dials, buttons and pedals."

"Ah, you'll get the hang of it very soon. But this is what makes flying this ship so special." Roy said as he handed Rick a red visor flight helmet.

"Looks like an ordinary flight helmet to me."

"Turn the helmet over."

Rick turned the helmet over and started examining the interior. "Whoa, what kind of helmet is this? What's all this stuff inside?"

"They're receptors. They pick up electromagnetic activity in your brain. You might say the helmet's a mind reader, in some ways."

"What're they for?"

"Well, I can't tell you very much out here in the open Rick because most of it still pretty much classified but what I can tell you is that it's for flying a veritech, buddy boy. You'll still have to handle a lot of the manual controls, but there are things this baby does that it can only do through advanced control systems."

"Can I put the helmet on? I'm not going to start the jet, am I?"

"No, go ahead and put it on. You still have to turn the jet on manually."

"Is there any way I can go up in this? Do you think your CO would mind?"

"I think Captain Gloval won't mind. It is a two seat. You can be in the back in the co-pilot's seat, and I can be in front in the pilot's seat."

Just then the general quarters alarm claxon began going off and Lisa's voice came over the public address system.

"GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS! ALL SDF-1 PERSONNEL MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS! ALL PILOTS PREPARE FOR IMMEDIATE TAKEOFF! ALL CIVILIAN AND NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL PLEASE EVACUATE THE IMMEDIATE AREA NOW!"

"What the heck's going on here Roy?"

"I don't know Rick. I am going to find out what is going on. Stay right here okay Rick! Don't go anywhere!"

"Okay Roy, I won't."

Roy began running towards his squadron's building. As he was running, a pilot from another squadron ran past him.

"What's going on?"

"There're reports of numerous unknown bogies closing in on us at a high rate of speed Baron!"

Roy ran back to his locker to retrieve his helmet and ran towards his VT. As he was being strapped in, bombs went off all around him causing small craters to appear on the runway. Parked veritechs exploded and other veritechs were hit by missiles as they were going down the runway.

Even though bombs and missiles were going off all around him, Rick was asleep in the open canopy of the VT. He was still wiped out by the jet lag. As he was sleeping, a face appeared on the video intercom.

"This is SDF-1 control calling VT one-zero-two. You down there, on the exhibition grounds! We are on combat alert! Why haven't you taken off?"

Rick began to stir from his sleep. "Huh. You're talking to me ma'am?"

"Yes, I am talking to you ensign! Do not waste any more time! Take off immediately and join your wingman! The fighter squadrons are outnumbered as it is!"

"But…ma'am the runway is demolished and besides I'm new"

"I don't care what you are! Runway two is operable! You are fully armed and ready to go! Now prepare for takeoff!"

Just then, an ordinance crewman finished arming his VT. He gave Rick the thumbs up signal and saluted him. "You're all set sir! Good hunting!"

Rick returned the salute, adjusted his flight helmet, and acknowledged Lisa's instruction. "Yes ma'am. VT one-zero-two ready for takeoff."

"Well, here goes nothing. I wonder where the start engine switch or button is on this thing.", Rick muttered to himself as he was looking at the cockpit searching for the right switch amid the dizzying array of switches, gauges, dials, and buttons that were not even labeled. Out of frustration, Rick just landed his finger on a switch, toggled it upward and suddenly one of the engines roared to life. Rick gave a slight smile as his confidence grew.

'Well, this is promising. Now if I can just find the other switch which should be right here.' Rick said to himself as he was going for the second switch.

He then toggled the neighboring switch, and the second engine came to life. His face beamed.

"Hurray! I got it on the first try! I cannot believe it! Maybe this isn't as difficult as it looks."

Rick then maneuvered his way on the runway and remembering what he learned at the academy, he grabbed the throttle, pushed it forward towards him to open it up and it began to go forward.

The VT then started to rocket down the runway like an unguided missile. Rick surprised by the sudden forward thrust of the jet barely had enough time to pull back on the stick and get the VT airborne before he went off the end of the runway. Rick then began to zoom up into the upper reaches of the atmosphere at an incredible rate of speed. He knew if he did not level off soon, the VT will soon reach the end of its performance envelope, it will then stall and fall back to earth. Rick was already at 100,000 feet when he finally was able to level off. He then leveled off then pointed the nose down, turned his flaps up to control his descent and then began to fly down to an attitude he is more comfortable with. As he was making his descent, missiles, battle pods, and veritechs began to explode all around him. Rick flinched every time an explosion happened near him. He dropped down to 30,000 feet. He was way in over his head, and he needed help. He found the switch for the video radio and radioed for Roy.

"Baron, are you there? Baron, are you there?"

Roy was wondering who would be calling him in the middle of an air battle. He turned on the screen to his video radio and was surprised to see Rick on the screen. He had forgotten all about Rick until he saw his face on his video radio screen.

'Oh no! I'd forgotten all about Rick!' "RICK! What are you doing up here? You shouldn't be up here in the middle of an air battle!"

"I know that Roy! Tell that to the female commander who ordered me up! I was in the cockpit sleeping when she came on the video radio screen asking me why I was still on the ground! Next thing I know before I even had the chance to tell her I'm new here and I don't know how to fly a veritech, I was being armed then she ordered me to get up in the air and join the fight!"

Roy gave out a silent angry growl, sighed and shook his head. He did not even have to second guess who ordered Rick into combat.

'Great, it had to be Lisa Hayes. I should have known. Only she would do something like order someone into combat who doesn't have the training or the experience to do something like that.' "Well, be that as it may, how is your first mission going?"

"Not good Roy! I'm being shot at!"

"Well, that is to be expected. Just follow my lead Rick. It will be just like the good days back at the flying circus."

"Yeah, but I never got shot at in the flying circus."

Just as soon as Rick said that, a missile exploded near him. The concussion caused Rick to momentarily black out. Rick's VT then began to spiral downward.

"RICK!"

As he was spinning out of control plummeting his way to the ground with the SDF-1 clearly his unintentional target, Rick regained consciousness and tried to regain control of the veritech but was unable to. None of the flight controls were working, they were all were blacked out. A panicked Lisa appeared on his video radio screen.

"SDF-1 to VT one-zero-two VT one-zero-two you need to pull up! Pull up! Pull up now! You're diving right towards us!"

'Tell me something I don't know!' "I'm trying to ma'am but none of the controls are working! They're all blacked out!"

"Then switch to configuration B! Didn't you learn that in flight school?"

Rick searched all over the cockpit until he found a slider switch labeled "B".

'No, I didn't learn that in flight school because I haven't been to flight school yet. This must be it! I'm hoping this is it!'

Rick slid down the switch.

The jet then began to do something Rick never expected it do. The jet then began to morph or change. The rear engines began to swing down becoming legs and began to come out from the sides of the fuselage. Rick unfamiliar with the controls of the VT tried to glide the VT down but cannot and it started to crash into buildings. But as soon as he was able to get control of his VT, the jet changed again. This time it changed to a gigantic robot. Unable to control the huge robot, Rick began to stumble.

Upstairs at the White Dragon Restaurant, Minmei was lying in bed on her stomach with her shoes and socks off, her legs were up in the air and crossed at the ankles as she was humming to herself and writing in her diary.

Dear Diary,

Today I met the most handsome young man. He must be new here because I never remember seeing him anywhere on the island or at the restaurant. I met him at the air show when Jason ran into him wanting to get a closer look at the planes. I know he is in the military because I saw him in his uniform.

He is not too tall but at the same time, he is not short. He has dark hair but the most important thing I remember about him was his piercing blue eyes that seem to look right through you into your soul. I wanted to get his name or find out what unit he is assigned to, but I did not get the chance to because Jason got upset when I would not buy him another soda. I have got to find out who he is.

As Minmei was continuing to write in her diary, Jason Lynn in the next room looked at Rick's battloid stumbling around in the street with wide eyes. He then ran into Minmei's room. "Hey Minmei look what's outside our window!"

"What is that?"

"It looks like a giant robot."

Suddenly, the battloid stumbled and crashed through the upper wall of the restaurant. Minmei and Jason ran away from the crumbling wall and barely managed to escape with their lives. The battloid then rested against the outside wall of the restaurant. Then Rick appeared from the top of the battloid's head. He cupped his hands and yelled; "Are you okay in there? Is anyone hurt?"

"No, none of us are hurt!", Minmei managed to shout back.

'Oh, thank you God.' Rick said to himself.

BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1

"Captain we're being overwhelmed! We're sitting ducks here on the ground!", Lisa yelled.

Captain Gloval did not want to do it, but it is the only way he knew how to take the battle back to the enemy. After the bridge was rocked by another explosion, Gloval had his mind made up.

"All right that's it! I had enough of this! We're going to do a hyperspace fold!"

Everyone looked at Gloval with shocked look on their faces. "Captain, are you sure you want to do that? We don't even know if the hyperspace engines are going to work or what will happen when we do fold so close to the ground." Lisa warned.

"I have no other choice in the matter Lisa! Do any of you have any other ideas? If so, I would like to hear them right now!"

When no one spoke up, Gloval then went on. "Alright then! Claudia, notify the engine room! Have them prepare for a hyperspace jump. Our target is the far side of the moon. Lisa, have all veritechs break off enemy contact and return to the ship post haste and notify Macross officials and tell them all civilians are to evacuate Macross Island immediately!"

"Yes sir.", Lisa and Claudia said at the same time.

MACROSS CITY

After some aerial searching and calling on the radio, Roy managed to find Rick and the battloid he was in resting against the side of a Chinese restaurant he always goes to. Minmei, her uncle, aunt and cousin Jason were outside surveying the damage.

'Ah! There he is.' Rick! This is Roy! Are you there? Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Yeah, I'm okay Roy, I'm not hurt but I'm having trouble getting this…whatever it is to stand and off this building."

"It's a battloid Rick but don't worry, everything will be explained to you and you'll know how to operate this in due time. But first, we need to get you standing and off the restaurant."

Roy landed to help Rick work the controls of the battloid. Very soon Rick had the gist of handling the battloid. He managed to stand up the giant robot without any problem.

"Whew. Thanks for the help big brother."

"No problem Rick. Sorry that your first flight in a veritech had to be a rough one.'

"Well, I suspect I will have more rough periods like this before I get the hang of this. Please tell your uncle I am sorry for what I did to his restaurant. I didn't mean to ruin his restaurant, but circumstances were just beyond my control."

"That's okay sir. We're being told we have to evacuate the island anyway.", Minmei said.

"She's right Rick. I am being told that the SDF-1 is about to do a hyperspace jump. We need to get back to the SDF-1 right away."

"Okay Roy, I'm right behind you."

Rick then noticed Minmei running back into the restaurant. "Hey! You cannot go back in there! The ship is about to do a hyperspace jump!"

"My diary is in my room! I can't leave my diary behind!"

"Rick c'mon! We've got to go!"

"She says she left her diary behind in her room! You go ahead I will catch up with you! I will take her back with me to the SDF-1. Later, she can be reunited with her family when we land back on Earth!"

"Okay Rick but don't lag behind! You know how to transform into fighter mode?"

"Yeah, just toggle the "F" slide."

Minmei came running out of the restaurant. "Miss I'll give you a ride! This area needs to be cleared!"

Minmei hesitated unsure of getting into the cockpit with Rick after seeing the damage he had done to her uncle's restaurant.

"You don't have to worry miss I've got the hang of this now! C'mon! We need to leave now! Just climb into the back seat!"

Minmei then climbed up into the back seat of the veritech. Rick toggled the "F' slide and turned on the engine. The battloid switched to guardian mode and then its engines turned on. After hovering for a moment, Rick worked the pedals and pointed the nose of the VT skyward. The jet then transformed back to a fighter. Rick began flying fast as he can to the SDF-1.

'Ah, this is much better. Something I am more familiar with. I wonder why this jet transforms into a giant robot.'

BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1

"Captain, the engine room reports they are ready.", Claudia reported.

"Initiate the countdown sequence."

Claudia started counting down. "Initiating… counting down…10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0!"

"Execute!"

As Rick was flying back to the SDF-1 with Minmei in the back seat, he saw a gigantic brilliant white light bubble was encircling the ship.

Minmei became alarmed. "What is that circling the ship?"

"I don't know. Maybe they're about to do the hyperspace jump Roy told me about."

"A hyper what?"

Before Rick could say anything else, the bright white light engulfed him, Minmei and the VT.

Onboard the bridge of the SDF-1, Captain Gloval walked to one of the windows and looked outside. He saw stars and the blackness of space.

'It worked. By God it worked!' He then noticed something was not right. 'Wait a minute something's not right here! Where is the moon? I can't see the moon.' He then turned to Lisa. "Lisa, what's our position?"

Lisa looked at her chart. Her face then turned an ashen pale. "We're on the other side of Pluto sir."

AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE

MILITAY ACRONYM

Zulu Time – Also known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or previously known as Greenwich Mean Time. It is based on the mean solar time at 0º longitude which is at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, England, and it does not consider countries that observe Daylight Savings Time. Even though there are 26 time zones in the world, UTC is based on the 24-hour clock cycle. As you go east, add one hour when you go past 0º. Once you hit the International Date Line, you subtract one hour. The military (both NATO and the rest of the world) uses UTC ostensibly.