Two Of A Kind

by RDF-J6

What would happen if Rick joined the RDF under similar circumstances as Lisa and Mimnei had first fallen for Rick? It might easy for Rick and Lisa to meet and fall in love but it's not as easy as you think and with an obsessed Minmei, it will be harder.

4. Chapter 4 First Kill and Last Good Byes

TWO OF A KIND

CHAPTER FOUR

FIRST KILL AND LAST GOOD-BYES

ABOARD THE SDF-1

Lieutenant Commander Claudia Grant's Quarters

Roy really had to pull some serious strings to get Rick assigned to his unit. Rick graduated at the top of the class at training school and has been tabbed as a hot shot pilot even though he has yet to make a kill. Every veritech fighter squadron commander wanted Rick to be in his squadron. Rick was incredibly happy to learn he was being assigned to Roy's squadron; it is great to be with family. Roy was also happy Rick was in his squadron, but he was also concerned Rick was not doing anything off duty except to stay in his quarters. It is Skull Squadron's rotation off flight duty and Roy was enjoying his off-duty time with Claudia in her quarters. She was fixing him his favorite meal, pineapple salad. As Claudia was cutting up a pineapple in half and slicing it, she looked over at Roy sitting on the coach lost in thought. Claudia was concerned. Roy was usually not this moody. Usually, he will be sitting on the couch strumming his guitar and singing some stupid love song he came up for her. She walked over to her boyfriend and sat down next to him, kissing him on the cheek.

"A penny for your thoughts Mr. Fokker?"

"Hmm. Wha'" He then looked over at Claudia. "Oh, I'm sorry Claudia. I was just thinking about Rick."

"Your brother."

"Umm-hmm, I'm really worried about him,"

"In what way, Roy?"

"Well, every time when we finish flying CAP or flying a mission, after we finish with our debriefs and we're told we're off duty, Rick just heads off to the shower, takes a shower, puts on his civilian clothes and heads off to his quarters and do nothing for the rest of time we're off duty."

"Is that unusual?"

Roy nodded his head. "Yes, it is. I have always remembered Rick as a mischievous fun-loving guy. But the way he is now, that is not like him. I remember when I was with the flying circus and during the summers whenever we were finished with a show in the afternoon, Pop would allow me, Rick, and Cathy to go into town and hit the soda shop or the ice cream shop to flirt with the girls and in Cathy's case, to flirt with the boys because we were too young to go into the bars. Rick was always the first one to try to hit on a girl. Sometimes the girl was with a jealous boyfriend who wanted to pick a fight and we had to talk or fight our way out."

"Well, it seems that Rick hasn't gotten over his girlfriend's death."

"Yeah, but that happened over four years ago."

"So? To some that is a noticeably short time. Roy…. what I am about to tell you, promise me you won't go blabbing it all over the ship like the three enlisted girls I work with on the bridge."

"Of course, Claudia, I promise. What is it?"

"You know Lisa Hayes, correct?

Roy made a face of exasperation, rolled his eyes then nodded. He had his fair share of run-ins with Lisa. 'Oh boy, "Ice Queen" Hayes do I ever know her?' "Yeah, I know Lisa Hayes. I met her couple of times. I know you work with her on the bridge. Why did you ask that question and what does that have to do with Rick?"

"I'll explain everything in due time Roy. Lisa told me this shortly after she came on the island. When she was a teenager…oh I will say she was about several years younger than your brother, she was in love with a military man named Karl Riber. They were so madly in love with each other that Lisa wanted to join the military just so she can be stationed with him on the same base. As a matter of fact, she was dreaming about marrying him. The problem was he was against the Global Civil War. Lisa's father somehow got wind of their romance and his anti-war views; he had him secretly transferred to Sara Base on Mars. You remember what happened to Sara Base?"

Roy began to nod his head. He knew what Claudia was about to tell next and what happened to Mars Base Sara. Mars Base Sara was attacked by unknown alien enemy. Most probably by the same enemy they are fighting now. Everyone and everything on Mars Base Sara were wiped out. There were no survivors. The only thing that was left standing was the buildings.

"Lisa never forgave her father for having her boyfriend transferred to Sara Base and when it was wiped out, their relationship broke beyond repair."

"I still don't see what that has to do with Rick."

"Well Roy, after you told me about happened to Rick…on the day when we were attacked, and we had to do the hyperspace jump…I told Lisa about what you told me about your brother…and…I told Lisa it would be a good idea for the two of them to meet and see if they can hit it off." Claudia said quietly and timidly with her body and face cringed up waiting for the eventual surprised outburst from Roy.

"YOU DID WHAT CLAUDIA?"

"Now… now Roy… I know you want to strangle me to death for what I did but just listen to me. Once you listen to why I told Lisa about Rick, it will make a lot of sense. From what you told me, even though Rick's father raised you and another child as his own, Rick was still raised as an only child by a single father, as did Lisa. Both Lisa and Rick's fathers were military even though you never told me if Rick was ever a military brat. And this is the most important part, Lisa and as far as I can tell from what you have told me, Rick has never gotten over the deaths of the people they loved."

"Yeah Claudia, but that's not a guarantee that they will like each other once they meet. And besides, there are differences between Rick and Lisa. For one, and you told me this, Lisa has a strained relationship with her father while Rick loved his father. Lisa's dad is still alive while Pop died several years ago. Besides, Rick has gone military. And I mean military with a capital M. I don't think he will like the idea of him being a junior officer dating Lisa who is a senior officer."

"And Lisa isn't military? And since when did I ever mention the word 'dating'? Besides, I am not talking about them falling in love and wanting to marry at first sight. I am talking about trying to get them together and see if they have something in common, I am sure they do. As a matter of fact, I know they do."

"Okay then, so how do you propose that we arrange this little get together?"

"Oh, c'mon Roy, I can't believe you would ask that question. The answer is so obvious. The next time the two of you are off flight rotation and Lisa and I are off bridge duty, how about the four of us get together to go to a restaurant, something that is not too fancy, yet not too casual. Hey, how about that new steakhouse that opened near the base? I just read about it in the ship's newspaper, I think it is called "The Tipsy Angus".

Roy still was not sure if Claudia's scheme would work. "Okay Claudia, but what are you going to do if this doesn't work?"

"Oh, c'mon Roy, it will only be one time. Things like this takes time to grow. Remember you and I didn't hit it off the first time we met either."

Roy drew in a deep breath and let it out in a big sigh. "I still don't know if this hare-brained scheme of yours is going to work Claudia, but I am willing to give it a try just this once."

Claudia kissed Roy on the lips. "Thank you, Roy. Now let me get back to what I was doing."

MINMEI'S ROOM ABOVE THE WHITE DRAGON RESTAURANT

Minmei was in her room above the restaurant enjoying a day off from her job of being a hostess at the restaurant. She did not mind being a hostess, but she hated being in that long red Chinese dress. It was so tight and form fitting, that she could hardly move around freely in that dress, even though it has a cut in the side that went up to her thighs. The cut was so high as a matter of fact she could swear that boys can see her panties. She also hated having her head up in a bun. Aunt Lena always did it too tight that her head hurts most of the day.

Also, the eating habits of some of the pilots and military personnel have her scratching her head many times. Just after she was released from the hospital and returned to work at the restaurant, a pilot ordered two orders of egg foo young and a milk shake. She still shudders at the memory of that order. Who drinks a milk shake with egg foo young? She shook that memory from her mind, picked up the telephone and started to dial a number. The telephone was a separate line from the restaurant, and it was a present Uncle Max gave to Minmei when she came to Macross Island. Uncle Max treated Minmei more like his daughter than his niece. After two boys, Uncle Max and Aunt Lena wanted a girl to complete the family but could not once Aunt Lena hit menopause.

Minmei looked at her watch. It was 10:00am. Even though they were in outer space, the tech people on the SDF-1 were able to artificially produce times of the day thanks to giant projection machines and screens that was hung high above on the ceiling of the ship. After she dialed the number she waited as the phone was ringing. Someone answered the phone on the second ring.

"Bachelor Officers Quarters…. front desk…this is not a secured line…may I help you?"

"Yes, is Ensign Rick Hunter in his quarters?"

"Let me check ma'am. Yes, he is ma'am."

"Can you transfer my call to his room?"

"Yes, I can ma'am. Hold on for a minute."

Few seconds later, Minmei can hear a telephone being picked up.

"Hello."

"Hi Rick. It is me; it is Minmei. How are you doing today?"

"I'm doing well thank you."

"Good. Are you doing anything today?"

"Uh…no I'm not.", Minmei could tell Rick wanted to say yes but did not because he knew he would be lying.

"That's great Rick! How about you and I spend the day together? Uncle Max is letting me have the day off and I want to go shopping! I have some money saved up from working at the restaurant! What do you say, Rick?"

"Uh…yeah…I guess I can Minmei. I don't have anything to do today."

"That's great Rick! I need to freshen up a bit. How bout I see you in a half an hour outside the gate? I'll treat you to dinner."

"Oh, you don't have to do that Minmei. I'll pay may own way."

"No, please don't do that, Rick, I insist."

"Okay Minmei if you insist. I'll let you pay for my dinner."

"Great. See you in an about a half an hour. Say around 10:30."

"Okay, that sounds good. I'll be waiting for you outside the gate, Minmei."

Minmei walked out the door at 10:25 and hailed for a cab. A cab immediately pulled to the curb. Minmei opened the back door and the cab drove away to the base. Outside the gate, Rick was waiting for Minmei. Rick opened the back door and climbed in and the cab drove away to Macross' shopping district.

Rick and Minmei spent several hours shopping until Rick told Minmei he was hungry and wanted to get lunch before doing any more shopping. Minmei agreed and they stopped to eat lunch at a sub shop. After eating lunch, Rick and Minmei was walking by a woman's lingerie shop when Minmei saw a pink dress in the window and immediately fell in love with it.

"Oh Rick, I just love that dress! I want to try it on and buy it!"

Rick suddenly felt uncomfortable about being the only guy in a woman's lingerie shop. "Uh Minmei, do you mind if I wait outside?"

"Why Rick? It is only a lingerie shop! None of the saleswomen inside are walking around in the store in lingerie for crying out loud!"

"I just don't feel comfortable being inside the store Minmei. Can I wait outside?"

Minmei cannot help but sigh. "Okay Rick, if you feel that uncomfortable being inside, you can wait outside."

"Thanks, Minmei."

As Minmei went inside the lingerie store and Rick was waiting outside trying not letting the things that were in the shopping bags fall out without much success, Lisa Hayes and the Bridge Bunnies in civilian clothes were walking by as they were doing their own day of shopping.

"Excuse me young man but why are you standing outside a lingerie shop?", Lisa asked.

"A friend of mine is inside trying on a dress she wants to buy."

"Well, I think you should at least go inside the shop so that people will not get any ideas about you.", Lisa said in a matter-of-fact voice.

Rick not remembering it was Lisa who ordered him into flying his first mission before he was trained or ready became incensed. "For your information ma'am, I can stand wherever I want so as long as I'm not doing anything illegal! And as far as I know, I am not doing anything illegal like leering at women walking by or looking at the mannequins in the store!"

Lisa was aghast that someone would talk to her like that. "Well, at least next time how about being somewhere away from a lingerie store." Lisa said as she was walking away.

"Leacher!", Sammie whispered to Rick.

"Well, you have to admit he is kind of cute commander." Kim said to Lisa as they were walking away.

Lisa looked over her shoulder at Rick. "You're right, Kim. He is kind of cute."

As Minmei was coming out of the lingerie store wearing the dress she was looking at in the window she spotted Rick talking with Lisa and the Bridge Bunnies.

"Rick, who were those women you were talking with?"

"They're just the women who work on the bridge of the ship. They were wondering why I am outside of the store. It's nothing important."

Minmei became incensed. "Well, it's none of their business what you're doing outside! You're not hurting anyone!"

Rick was surprised Minmei reacted so strongly. "Minmei, don't worry about it. Like I said, it was nothing."

ASTROPHYSICS LAB

SDF-1

Captain Gloval walked into the Astrophysics Lab where Dr. Lang was waiting for him.

"Captain Gloval, I have some good news. I was able to get the hyperspace engines back online. However, I was not able to fully restore power, but I think we can use what remaining power the engines have to use as a barrier system for the ship."

"That is excellent news, doctor. Please keep me informed."

"I will captain."

Back on the bridge, Colonel Robert Maistroff, Captain Gloval's aide came up to Gloval and whispered in his ear.

"Henry, J-2 has just informed me that the enemy is about 6,000 kilometers behind us. We are about to approach Saturn's rings. I think there is a way we can use Saturn's rings as a lure to trap the enemy and destroy them. If you could come with me to the war room Henry, I'll explain everything."

"I'm close behind you Robert."

In the war room, Colonel Maistroff was standing behind a large map of Saturn that was on the HD video screen. With a pointer, Maistroff pointed to a large asteroid belt surrounding the planet. "What we can do Henry, is to hide several kilometers within the asteroid belt of the planet's rings with the SDF-1 in modular configuration. Because of the numerous asteroids, the enemy's radar cannot pick us up. When the flagship of the enemy armada approaches, we will open with the main canon, destroying the flagship and sending the armada into disarray. We have the veritechs mop up."

"How long do we have until the enemy approaches our position?"

"24 hours sir."

"Sounds like a good plan. Let us get to work on it then."

PARADE FIELD SDF-1

LATER THE SAME EVENING

A senior ranking RDF officer walked up to the stage after the pilots were brought to attention.

"Alright listen up men because I have something important to tell you! Tomorrow, the SDF-1 will enter the rings of Saturn as a way of luring the enemy into a trap. Soon afterwards, the defense force will initiate a counterattack with the SDF-1 leading the charge. You will all receive your orders and briefing tomorrow morning. But until then, I want all of you to think of one thing and one thing only: ROBOTECH. We are all counting on you to do your jobs and do it to the best of your abilities. Oh…and uh…one more thing…if there is anyone you want to see…you better make it tonight. That is all."

"DEFENSE FORCE…ATTENTION! DISMISSED!"

As Rick was walking back to his quarters trying to get some sleep before his first mission, Roy ran up to him and laid his hand on Rick's shoulder.

"Hey little brother, how are you feeling?"

"I'm a little nervous."

"Oh…that's to be expected. Say, aren't you going tell Minmei you'll be flying off on your first mission tomorrow?"

"No, I don't want to bother or worry her."

"You should tell her Rick. At least tell her so she can pray for you. She told me that she was raised a Buddhist. At least tell her so she can go to temple and pray for you.

"I guess you're right Roy. There's no harm in doing that."

It was dark when Minmei agreed to meet Rick at the Macross Park. She ran up to Rick and kissed him on the cheek.

"Hi Rick, what's up?"

"Minmei…I just want to tell you that I'll be flying off on my first mission tomorrow morning."

Minmei put her arms around Rick's neck when Rick told her the news. "Oh Rick, please be careful. I want you to come back. How about we go to the temple and I'll pray for you that you'll be safe while you're on your mission and you'll come back safe?"

"I'm not a Buddhist Minmei."

"That's okay Rick. You do not have to come inside the temple. You can wait outside while I go inside, light an incense candle and pray for you."

"Okay, but how about we get a picture taken of us first?"

"Okay."

Rick and Minmei sat on a park bench and Rick called over a roving instant camera machine. Rick fed money into the machine and the machine took their picture. After the camera took their picture, Rick took the picture out of the slot and handed it over to Minmei.

"Here Minmei, you keep it."

"Are you sure Rick?", a shocked Minmei asked.

Rick nodded his head and smiled. "I'm sure."

Rick and Minmei then walked over to the Buddhist temple. Minmei walked in, lit an incense candle, and stood before a giant statue of Buddha and chanted a prayer while Rick waited outside. After a few minutes, Minmei walked outside. It was an awkward moment for both.

"Rick, can I give you a kiss…just for good luck?"

Rick thought about it and did not see anything wrong with it. He then shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, why not."

Rick lowered his head to let Minmei kiss him without straining her neck. They continued kissing until Rick broke it off.

"Well, Minmei…I have to go. I have to get some sleep before I take off tomorrow morning."

"I have to go too Rick. Uncle Max and Aunt Lena will be wondering where I'm at."

Later, Roy opened Rick's door and found the lights were out, but Rick was lying in bed wide awake.

"Rick, you need to go to sleep otherwise you won't be alert when we fly tomorrow."

"I'm trying Roy but it's very difficult."

"I know what you mean Rick, but you have to at least try." Roy said as he closed the door.

'Poor guy, I can remember the night before my first mission. I couldn't sleep a wink.'

Rick woke up the next morning bleary eyed from lack of sleep. He closed the door to his quarters and Roy came up alongside him.

"Hey, little brother, how did you sleep last night?"

"I had better nights Roy."

"Well, remember to look alive, stay sharp and stay with your wingman."

Inside his veritech, Rick went over his preflight checks. When he was satisfied with his checks, he called the tower.

"Tower this is Ensign Rick Hunter in VT three-two-zero ready for take-off over."

"Roger VT three-two-zero you can take-off once you have been cleared by the catapult officer."

On the bridge of the SDF-1, Sammie cringed when she heard Rick's voice calling out his rank and name on the speakers. She was the one who called Rick "leacher" outside the lingerie shop. 'Uh-oh, I hope I don't run into him anytime soon or else he will have my stripes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.'

Rick looked over at the catapult officer and gave him the thumbs-up sign telling him he is ready for take-off. The cat officer raised his red coned flashlight wand and started to spin it in a circle telling Rick to turn on engine number one. Rick toggled the switch and immediately the engine turned on and went into after burner. The cat officer then raised a second flashlight wand and started to spin it. Rick toggled the switch and engine two came to life and went into after burner. A tremendous roar came from the engines and it began spouting a fiery red, yellow, orange, blue and white flame. Only the jet blast deflector was protecting the flight deck crew from the immense and intense heat. The catapult officer then saluted Rick giving him the signal he is cleared for take-off. Rick returned the salute, gave the thumbs-up sign and barely had time to brace himself when the catapult officer knelt to one knee, pointing one of his flashlight wands towards the bow of the ship and the magnetic catapult slings him down the short runway at over 160 knots per hour. Rick grabbed the stick and pulled it back to get himself airborne.

"Tower this is 'Wrecker' in VT three-two-zero. I am now airborne over."

"Roger 'Wrecker' go to vector Zeta-Alpha-Beta zero-one-zero."

"Roger."

Lisa not knowing that Rick was the one who a year earlier almost crashed a VT into the SDF-1 looked at Rick's flying by the video monitor and was quite impressed by his flying. 'Hmm, his flying is not bad. He's almost a natural.'

BRIDGE OF THE SDF1

A Zentraedi battle cruiser began firing its missiles at the SDF-1. The phone on Captain Gloval's chair began ringing. He picked up on the first ring.

"Captain Gloval, this is Dr. Lang in astrophysics. We don't have enough power for the barrier system, so we have to divert it to the pinpoint barrier system."

"Do it."

Three enlisted girls sat at a table with three big white track balls. The young girls were doing their best to intercept the missiles, but more missiles were hitting the ship instead of being deflected. After suffering another hit, Gloval decided it was time to use the main gun, but the gun was not charging up. He called Dr. Lang.

"Dr. Lang, why isn't the main gun charging up?"

"All the power that is being diverted to the pinpoint barrier system is using up all the power for the main gun!"

Captain Gloval hung up the phone cursing in Russian. Lisa then spoke up.

"Captain Gloval, I have an idea. Why don't we use the arm of the Daedalus itself like its cannon? Once an enemy ship is in range of the Daedalus, we will ram the ship, and we have a battalion of Destroids at the entrance of the door and have them empty their missile drums?"

Captain Gloval nodded. "It sounds like a good idea Lisa! Do it!"

Out in space, Rick dispatched a battle pod that was closing in Roy with his gun.

"Thanks Rick."

"Hey Roy! Why hasn't the SDF-1 fired its main gun yet?"

"I don't know Rick."

Before he knew it, Rick was engaged in a fire fight with several battle pods. Instantaneously, he switched to battloid mode. He then fell through an open top hatch of a Zentraedi battle cruiser. Inside one of the passageways of the ship, he came face to face with a startled Zentraedi solider. Rick and the solider froze where they were standing at unable to speak or move.

Meanwhile out in space, a pilot's excited voice came over the radio.

"Hey Baron take a look at what the SDF is doing!"

Roy just finished off a battle pod with a missile when he happened to look over to his port side.

"What the"

As the enemy ship came charging in at the SDF-1, the arm of the Daedalus cocked back like a boxer getting ready to throw a punch. Then it went forward in a blur of speed.

Then the ship shook as the arm of the Daedalus punched through the bow of the ship like an angry boxer who had just pounded his fist through a wall. As it was making its way through the ship, it was snapping and breaking wires and pipes, causing sparks and small electrical fires. Then it stopped and the front arm of the Daedalus swung down. Hundreds of Destroids began emptying their deadly cargo. Hundreds of thousands of deadly missiles began to fill the ship. Rick brought out of his stupor by the sight of thousands of missiles buzzing around like angry hornets, fled and climbed out of the cruiser. He switched to veritech mode and flew away. As he was flying away, Rick saw the ship he was in a short time ago began to blister and then explode as the arm of the Daedalus began to withdraw from the exploding ship.

That night Rick could not sleep a wink. He knew the moment he fired his gun on the battle pod, he stopped being Rick Hunter the pilot and became Rick Hunter the warrior. He thought about the Zentraedi solider he saw in the passageway of the ship he was on and he could not get the sight of him out of his mind. He will never forget the frozen look of surprise and fear on the giant alien's face. He knew that the solider and others on the ship Rick was trapped on if only for a moment was dead the split second the ship exploded killing the solider and others on the spaceship instantly. Remains of him, his friends, and the ship he was serving on were now nothing more but hundreds of bits of space debris floating somewhere in the vacuum of space near the vicinity of Saturn. When he came to that realization, he ran to his bathroom and began to throw up. As he was in his bathroom throwing up and then dry heaving when he could not vomit anymore, one question kept going through his mind; 'God, why does war have to involve killing the living?''

ONE WEEK LATER

Skull Squadron was again off flight rotation which meant it was the perfect time for Roy and Claudia to put their plan into action. Roy went to Rick's quarters around dinner time and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Roy opened the door and found Rick lying on the couch.

"Hey little brother, have you eaten yet?"

"No, I haven't. Why did you ask?"

"There is a new steakhouse that opened up just outside the base. Let us go out there and eat. It will be a change of pace from the dining hall food."

"Yeah, you're right. I am getting tired of dining hall food anyway. Let us go."

At the same time, Claudia stopped by Lisa's quarters and convinced her to come with her to the new steakhouse. It just so happens that Rick and Roy arrived at the same time as Lisa and Claudia. When Rick and Lisa met each other, they stopped with surprised looks on their faces, pointed their finger at each other and said "YOU!" at the same time. It was an awkward moment for all concerned.

Roy finally managed to speak up. "Uh, I take it the two of you have met before?" Roy asked as he was eyeing Rick and Lisa nervously and forgetting that it was Lisa who ordered Rick into the air on his first day on the island not knowing he was a rookie fighter pilot with no experience flying a veritech.

"You're the incompetent pilot who almost crashed a veritech into the SDF-1 and caused so much damage to Macross on the day we had to hyperspace jump!"

"EXCUSE ME MA'AM INCOMPENTENT? I am not the one who ordered an inexperienced pilot into the air in a jet he has no experience flying with! Didn't you even bother to check to see if I was wearing aviator's wings when you called me? We were on a video radio system for god's sake!"

"Why were you in a veritech in the first place?"

"For your information MA'AM I was in that veritech because I wanted Commander Fokker to give me an up-close look at the jet I was to be flying. When the shooting started, he ordered me to stay where I was!"

"Uh, Commander Lisa Hayes, this is Ensign Rick Hunter. Rick, this is Commander Lisa Hayes, Executive Officer of the SDF-1." Roy said trying to smooth things over without much success.

"Roy, I hate to be a rude guest, but I'll get something to eat on base! Right now, I am not all that hungry. And for your information commander, you tell your subordinate that I am not a leacher. You better tell her that I expect an apology from her or else I will see to it that she gets busted down to E-1!", Rick yelled as he was walking away.

"How dare you threaten one of my subordinates like that ensign! It was an honest mistake! She did not even know you are an officer! All of us were in civilian clothes for crying out loud!"

'Now what was that all about?", Claudia asked looking confused.

"It's nothing Claudia. It was a misunderstanding between Sammie and the ensign. Look Claudia, you and Roy enjoy your meal. I do not think I will be good company. I will cook something for myself back at my quarters. See you tomorrow at work Claudia?"

"Uh…yeah…sure Lisa.", Claudia said as she gave Lisa a hug.

"Well…that went over well.", Claudia said with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Claudia. I did not know this was going to happen. I had forgotten all about that incident where she ordered Rick up into the air.", Roy said as he put his arm around Claudia's shoulder and held her close to his chest.

"It's not your fault Roy. Really, it is not. I had forgotten all about that too."

Roy and Claudia ate their dinner in silence. None of them enjoyed the meal. After paying for their tab, Roy and Claudia agreed to meet Rick and Lisa separately to try to find out what happened between the two of them that caused them to get at each other's throats after barely meeting and to at least try to smooth things over if there was any chance of a second meeting. Roy stopped by Rick's quarters and knocked on the door.

"Come on in Roy. The doors unlocked."

"Rick, what happened between you and Commander Hayes for you and her to get at each other's throats after barely meeting?"

Rick went on to tell Roy about Lisa ordering him to fly off on a combat mission not knowing he was not qualified to fly in a veritech on commissioning day when the Zentraedi attacked Macross Island and had to do a hyperspace fold and what happened between him, Lisa, and the Bridge Bunnies outside the lingerie shop.

"Rick, it was a misunderstanding. It should not get in the way of you getting to know Commander Hayes. You may not want to believe it, but you and she have lot in common. You must understand Rick; she had a lot of difficulties in her life. If you get to know her, she's a really nice person at heart."

"Roy, please…spare me the sob stories, alright. I do not want to hear it okay. We all had difficulties in our lives. She is not the first one to have difficulties in her life and she will not be the last. Look Roy, I am tired, and I am turning in for the night. See you tomorrow morning at the morning briefing."

Roy could do nothing but sigh. "Okay Rick, whatever you say. See you tomorrow morning. Have a good night." Roy said as he turned the knob to Rick's quarter's door.

Lisa basically told the same story to Claudia. "I can't believe the person you told me about in reality is an obnoxious loudmouth know-it-all junior officer, not a shy, sweet, innocent quiet young man."

"He did have a point Lisa. Did you even bother to check to see if he had aviator's wings on his chest when you ordered him to fly into combat with no training whatsoever?"

"Uh…no."

"Well, he had a right to be upset."

"Claudia! He had no business whatsoever being in that veritech!"

"Yes, he had! He asked Roy because he was going to be in training to fly a VT! Roy ordered him to stay where he was at. He was just following orders! You know all about following orders, right?"

"He should at least tell me he wasn't qualified to fly a veritech!"

"You didn't give him time to explain! All you did was to order him to take off!"

Lisa let go a sigh of resignation. She knew Claudia was right. "Maybe I was too hard on him. I'll try to apologize to him the next time I see him."

Claudia could do nothing but smile. Maybe Lisa is finally turning the corner in being the hardnosed superior officer.

"I'm glad you're finally beginning to get some sense into that hard head of yours."

"Hah-hah-hah very funny Claudia."

Claudia chuckled and smiled. "See you on the bridge tomorrow morning Lisa?"

"I'll be there. Good night Claudia."

"Have a good night Lisa."

600 KILOMETERS FROM MARS

"This can't be. Captain, I am picking up data and radio signal beacons from Mars but exactly where I don't know for sure.", Kim reported.

"It is coming about 600 kilometers from our present course in the vicinity of Sara Base sir." Vanessa said.

Lisa had a shocked look on her face. 'What? That can't be!'"Vanessa, are you sure you're getting the right readings from your equipment?"

"Yes ma'am."

"That's impossible! Sara Base was abandoned years ago when the base was attacked, and all personnel were killed. The only thing that is left standing is the buildings." Captain Gloval said.

Lisa spoke up. "Sir, do you think it's possible there will be survivors?"

"I seriously doubt it, but Sara Base was a big base, so anything is possible."

"Sir, do you think it will be worth our while to investigate?", Claudia asked.

"Well, we do need to replenish our food stores, supplies, munitions and ammunition and there still should be plenty of supplies left in storage, so it will be worth our while to check it out. All right, change course for Mars."

As the SDF-1 was approaching the red planet, Lisa began to have flashbacks to when she was a teenager living on her family farm in upstate New York. Her boyfriend Karl Riber visited Lisa to tell her that his transfer request to Mars came through. Karl asked for the transfer because he wanted to be away from the fighting of the Global Civil War and Lisa's father approved the request. He wanted Karl to stay away from his daughter. Karl maybe a soldier in the army but he hated war. The only thing that he did not liked about the transfer was he would be away from Lisa. Lisa promised him she would enlist in the military herself so she can be stationed on Mars with Karl. The last memory she had of Karl was of him warmly kissing her. He then stood up and started walking away. He then turned around and waved good-bye to Lisa. Lisa waved back and told Karl she loved him, and she hope to be with him soon. Lisa was brought out of her stupor by Captain Gloval who ordered her to send out a Cat's Eye recon jet because the ship had just landed on Mars. Very soon trucks began to shuttle supplies from the deserted base back to the SDF-1 while veritechs were flying cover.

'Oh, please God. Let him be alive.' "Captain, request your permission to leave the ship to check out the source of the signals."

Captain Gloval was about to say no to Lisa's request when Claudia volunteered to cover for her while she checked the deserted base. Claudia however pulled Lisa to the side before Lisa left the bridge and warned her not to get her hopes up because reports were that all base personnel were killed and only the buildings were left standing. Lisa could only nod her head. Claudia then made Lisa promise her that if she gets trapped or gets into trouble, she will notify her so that help can be sent. Lisa raised her right hand and said she will notify the bridge at the first sign of trouble. Several minutes later, Lisa took off for one of the deserted buildings in a six wheeled space vehicle.

Rick, who along with the rest of Skull Squadron was relegated to picket duty standing guard over trucks taking supplies out of the abandoned base instead of flying air cover when he saw Lisa driving by him. Even though he was still angry at Lisa over the scene he thought she created at the restaurant, he cannot help but let his heart skip a beat when he saw Lisa drive by. He had to admit Lisa looked hot in that form fitting space suit. But as he saw Lisa driving by underneath the legs of his battliod, he noticed a look of sadness on her face. It was then he also felt a twinge of sympathy and understanding for Lisa after Roy told him about Lisa going through a similar tragic circumstance as Rick did in loosing someone they loved.

Lisa began her search of the deserted base hoping against hope that some way, somehow or the other her boyfriend managed to survive the attack and was still alive. However, everywhere she went, Lisa saw no signs of human life, there was not even a skeleton to be found. Finding no one alive drove her into a deeper despair and it made the search more desperate. She then went on to search one of the deserted unit barracks in one of the more remote reaches of the base.

After checking out the day room only to find it deserted, the next building Lisa decided to check was the base's J-6 branch. As she opened the sliding door, Lisa was surprised to find one of the computers in the computer room was still running and online. Someone had to turn the computer on but who it was and when it was turned on, she did not know and there is no one in the room. Instead of giving her hope that someone, maybe even Karl is alive, it made her suspicious. 'Well, now I know where the data signals are coming from but how it was turned on and by who is the unanswered question because no one is in here. Hmm, something definitely fishy is going on here and I don't like it.'

Lisa then opened the radio that was on her wrist computer. "Commander Hayes to the bridge, do you read me over."

Claudia's voice came over the radio. "This is the bridge Commander Hayes; I read you and clear over."

"Claudia, I'm in the computer room. I found the source of the data signals. Somehow or the other someone turned on the power to the computer room, but I cannot find any clue on who it was because I cannot find anyone alive or dead on the base. I cannot even find a skeleton. I did not find the source of the radio signal yet, but I suspect it is coming from the communications center which is where I am going next. It is right next door to the computer room. If it is and I cannot find out how the radios were turned on I will do a quick sweep of the rest of the building and the base, then I get back on the rover and head on back to the ship over."

"Roger Lisa, be safe out there. There's a lot of debris and trash lying around in those buildings so be careful over."

"I will Claudia, Hayes out."

Suddenly an explosion was detected in the mountains west of the SDF-1's current position. Gloval immediately ordered a Cat's Eyes recon plane to do a aerial and ground radar sweep of the area of the explosion. The recon jet sent back pictures of battle pods surrounding the ship. Gloval was alarmed.

"Battle pods! Sound the General Quarters Alarm! Scramble all available veritechs! Have all supplies been transferred off the base?"

"Yes sir!"

"Take off!"

"Yes sir!"

The SDF-1's engines were straining and kicking up red dust, but it wasn't lifting.

"We're not lifting sir!" Kim said.

"Are any of the control systems damaged Claudia?"

"No sir. My monitor shows all systems are functioning normally."

"My monitor is showing something underground is holding us down sir!" Vanessa reported.

"Bring it on up the main screen!"

"Yes sir!"

"They're magnetic gravity mines! No wonder we cannot move! The enemy somehow must have activated the signals to lure us into this trap. Stop all engines!"

"All engines have stopped captain!" Claudia replied.

"Sir a swarm of enemy battle pods are closing in!" Vanessa said looking at her monitor.

"How far down are the gravity mines Vanessa?"

"It's about three kilometers down sir."

"Damn it! That's too far down for our bombs to reach!"

"Battle pods have just reached our outside perimeter and three squadrons have already been totally wiped-out sir!" Kim reported.

"What are we going to do sir?" Sammie desperately asked.

"I think I know of a way to get us out of this trap. There was a reflex furnace that was built deep in the bowels of this base when the base was first built! If there is a way we can get to the room and overload the furnace and blow it up, the resulting explosion should detonate the gravity mines! Vanessa, give me a probability check!"

"It will work sir."

"Good. Lisa is already on the base. She will be the one to put the furnace into overdrive. Claudia, get me in touch in Lisa!"

"Yes sir!"

Lisa was almost finished searching the base and was at an abandoned officer's quarters. She was finished searching it and was about ready to leave the building when Gloval came over her wrist radio with an insane and crazy order. "You want me to do WHAT sir?"

"I want you to go to the reflex furnace room and put the reflex furnace into overdrive so we can destroy the magnetic gravity mines! It is our only chance of getting out of here alive! Lisa you need to listen to me! You are only one who can it. The lives of everyone on this ship are depending on you to do as you are ordered! If you do not, we will have to do a suicide attack! Claudia contact Fokker and order him to execute plan Alpha-Beta-Omega-zero!"

"No Captain! That will not be necessary. I'll do it sir."

"Good, Lisa. You are already in the building where the reflex furnace is, so you do not have to go far. I am having Vanessa send you the schematics of the building to help you find the room where the furnace is. Now listen to me very carefully Lisa because this is important! Once you put the furnace into overdrive, you will only have fifteen minutes to get out of the building, get onto to your vehicle and back on board the ship! Once the furnace explodes, everything in the vicinity of the blast will be vaporized! Therefore, set the timer on your wrist computer to fifteen minutes to help you know how much time is reminding."

"Yes sir."

Lisa ran to the basement of the building where the reflex furnace is by the radio computer that was on her wrist. Lisa pressed a button and the door slid open. Lisa went to the control panel, pressed every control button, and slid every control slider. Lights began to blink; a warning siren began wailing and a voice came on warning of a furnace meltdown. Lisa ran out of the room and onto the elevator.

"Captain, furnace is in overdrive.". Claudia reported.

"Good. Have all squadrons retreat but have them do it slowly as to lure the enemy onto the base otherwise the trap will not work."

"Yes sir."

As Lisa was running out of the building, she was getting tired and was running out of breath when several steel doors slid down and she became trapped. As she was trying to find a way out of the building, she noticed something in the corner of her eye. It was a name plate on the dusty door that caught her attention and caused her to stop in her tracks. "RIBER, KARL" it said on the name plate. Lisa stopped and rubbed her gloved hand on the name plate. "Oh, Karl my love, I finally made it to Mars."

She pressed the button to open the door. But when she opened the door and entered the room, she found the room dark and deserted. "But you're not here! Why Karl, why did you have to leave?" She then fell on her knees and began to weep.

Back on the SDF-1, Captain Gloval was worried that his executive officer has not arrived back on the ship yet. "Where in the blazes is Lisa? She should be on the ship by now!", Gloval said.

"She is not answering her radio sir.", Claudia said.

"Her GPS unit on her belt shows her current position as being in the northwest quadrant of the base sir.", Kim said.

"That is where the officer's quarters used to be. It was heavily damaged in the attack. She might be trapped by debris. Have the Skull Squadron find her and get her out."

"Yes sir."

"Wrecker, Commander Hayes is missing. We have been ordered by Captain Gloval to find her and get her out before the base explodes. I am putting you in charge of finding her. You should be able to find her by her GPS position. It should have been downloaded to your navigational computer by now."

"Roger Baron, I have received her position. I'm on my way.", Rick said as he veered off from the group.

Rick fought his way through the barrage of enemy fire. Roy was impressed by Rick's flying and fighting skills. He switched to guardian mode and found Lisa in a matter of moments in the abandoned room. "Commander Hayes, are you okay ma'am? Are you hurt? Are you trapped by debris?"

"No, I'm not Ensign Hunter.", Lisa said softly.

"Good. Stand back ma'am. I'm going to punch my way through to get you out."

"Don't do it ensign! I am ordering you to leave!"

"Excuse me ma'am?"

"I said I am ordering you to leave NOW!", Lisa said as she turned to face him. Lisa had a look of despair, sadness, and heartache.

Rick was startled by the look Lisa gave him. He knew that look very well. 'That look, I know that look. I had that look.' "I'm sorry ma'am but I'm disobeying your order. This order is coming from Captain Gloval!", Rick said as the giant hand of the veritech in guardian mode punched through the thick paned glass and grabbed Lisa. Rick fired his engines, and it began to lift off.

"Ensign Hunter you need to hurry up! There is only thirty seconds until meltdown!"

As they were flying through the upper reaches of the atmosphere going its way to the SDF-1, the reflex furnace melted down and exploded. Battle pods that were in the blast zone literally disintegrated. Those that were not in the immediate area of the blast zone still flew hundreds of meters up in the air and landed in a sickening crunch of metal caused by the concussion of the resulting shock wave. The hot windstorm created by the blast flung battle pods hundreds of meters away from the center of the blast.

After the windstorm from the reflex furnace blast died down and wreaked battle pods stopped falling, an Zentraedi army officer with short purple hair who looked like he was the lone survivor of the blast somehow managed to open the hatch of his damaged battle pod. He was steaming mad.

"I-HATE-TO-LOSE-A-FIGHT!", he said as he was pounding his gloved fists on the cockpit at the same time. All the careful planning it took to lure the Micronians to Mars and to capture or destroy the SDF-1 came to naught when they somehow managed to destroy the gravity mines, the Zentraedi had dug and planted.

Then he had a menacing smirking grin on his face as he saw the SDF-1 and Rick's veritech flying away. "But we shall meet again Micronians. And when we do, I shall give you no quarter.", he said then laughed a sinister laugh.

HANGAR BAY OF THE SDF-1

Lisa began pounding Rick's chest with her balled-up fists and was crying. "Did you have to do it, Ensign Hunter? Why did you have to go and save me? What gave you the right to save me? I ordered you to leave! Why can't you follow orders?"

She then fell to her knees and began to weep bitterly. Rick was torn between comforting her and leaving her alone. He decided not to let her cry on his shoulder because that would not be the proper thing to do. Instead, he radioed Claudia on the bridge.

"Ensign Rick Hunter to Lieutenant Commander Grant, are you there ma'am over?"

"This is Lieutenant Commander Grant, go ahead ensign over."

"Ma'am, can you switch to the secure channel over?"

"Switching, what do you need ensign over?"

"Ma'am can you please come to the hangar bay and help Commander Hayes back to her quarters over?"

"I'll be there in a minute ensign over."

"Thank you, ma'am. Hunter out."

Claudia came down and found Lisa on her knees and still crying. She whispered an acknowledgement to Rick.

"Thank you, ensign."

"You're welcome ma'am."

Claudia walked over to where Lisa was kneeling and helped her to her feet. "C'mon Lisa, let's go back to your quarters."

Later that evening in his quarters, Rick could not help but keep seeing the sight of Lisa's sad face in his mind and he was troubled. 'I know that look. I had that look. I had that look after Cathy died when I did not to live. What happened to her that caused to react that way? What is it about that room that made her not want to live? I want to help her but how? I can't stand her!'

AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE

MILITARY ACRONYMS

CAP – Combat Air Patrol. Aerial combat patrol Navy and Marine Corps carrier fighters fly to protect the aircraft carrier and carrier battle group..

E-1. Lowest U.S. Armed Forces enlisted rank.