TWO OF A KIND

CHAPTER EIGHT

FIRST CONFESSIONS

Captain Gloval walked slowly back to his office with his hands behind his back. When he reached his office, he opened the door, closed then locked it. When he sat down in his high-backed office chair that is behind his desk, he let out a big sigh of frustration. He just wanted to break down and cry, but his military bearing and his macho male pride would not let him do it. Instead, he closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind so he can decide what he needed to do next. After for what seem to be an hour, he took a legal pad off his desk and started writing. After he finished writing he picked up the telephone that is on his desk and dialed a number.

"TCC/Radio Shack…Petty Officer Washington speaking captain."

"Petty Officer Washington we're close enough to Earth so we can fire off an encrypted microwave message, correct?"

"Yes, we are sir."

"I need you to come up to my office so you can transcribe a message for me."

"Aye-aye sir I'm on my way."

A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. "Hold on Petty Officer Washington while I unlock the door."

"Yes sir."

A black navy petty officer came in with a suitcase. "Just give me a couple of minutes to get set up and type up the header of the message and you'll be ready to go sir."

"Go ahead petty officer."

"Thank you, sir."

The petty officer set up a microphone to a laptop computer. He then inserted a formatted CD-ROM into its drive. He then brought up a program on the screen.

"What precedence do you want the message sir?"

"Make it EMERGENCY precedence."

"Yes sir."

Petty Officer Washington then looked at his watch and typed in the date-time-group and the "FROM" address.

"Who is the message addressed to sir?"

"RDF Headquarters."

"What is the office or office symbol sir?"

"Admiral Donald Hayes."

"What is the classification sir?"

"Unclassified EFTO but mark it 'EYES ONLY'."

"Yes sir."

"Okay sir, it's all set up for you. All you have to do is start talking."

"Thank you, petty officer. Do you mind if you wait outside while I transcribe the message? I'll let you know when I'm finished."

The petty officer shook his head. "No sir, I don't mind."

"Thank you, petty officer."

"You're welcome sir.", the petty officer said as he closed the door.

After making sure the door is closed and going back to his desk, Captain Gloval looked at his legal pad and spoke into the microphone with a deep sigh. "Donald, it is with deep personal regret that I have to inform you that your daughter Commander Elizabeth Grace Hayes, serial number 04080519 of the Robotech Defense Force is declared Missing in Action.

It happened less than 2 hours ago when the enemy deliberately targeted both our short range and long-range radar units with a laser bombardment. The electronic technicians said it would take 6 to 8 hours to complete repairs and up to 12 hours to come up with a makeshift radar unit. In the meantime, while the electronics technicians were making repairs, I had ordered Commander Hayes into a Cat's Eye reconnaissance jet escorted by a flight of veritechs as we are making our way towards Earth.

From what we can gather from the recordings from the reconnaissance jet and the veritechs, a flight of battle pods closed in to make an attack. While the veritechs were engaged in fighting the battle pods, Commander Hayes reported from the reconnaissance jet that a huge Zentraedi ship was closing in on them from the right front side. The reconnaissance jet pilot last reported he is trying to evade and that is when we lost contact with the reconnaissance jet. The veritech flight reported that the Cat's Eye crashed landed on the deck of the Zentraedi ship and they were breaking off to try to rescue Commander Hayes and the Cat's Eye pilot and co-pilot. That was the last time we have heard from the veritech flight.

Please rest assured Donald that I am doing everything within my power to find your missing daughter and the missing pilots. However, we do not know where they are because the ship did a hyperspace jump and we do not know where the ship went to. We have not received any ransom demands nor do we know the physical and mental conditions of your daughter and the pilots. But we are doing everything we can to locate and bring home your daughter and the missing pilots. If there is anything, I can do for you or if I can be of any assistance to you, please let me know as soon as possible.

With absolute best regards,

Henry J. Gloval

Captain, RDF

SDF-1"

After he finished, Captain Gloval got up from his chair and went to the door. "Alright Petty Officer Washington, I'm finished. How long will it take for the message to be sent out?"

"Once I have it formatted correctly, I'll take the CD-ROM down to the radio shack. It should take less than 5 minutes because of the EMERGENCY precedence sir."

"Very good petty officer, go ahead and do it."

"Sir, if you don't mind, I'm leave the laptop here while I send out the message."

"No, I don't mind. Send out the message out right away."

"Aye-aye sir."

After the petty officer left his office, Captain Gloval went back to his chair and leaned back. He does not even want to think what Admiral Hayes' reaction will be when he receives the message.

BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1

After Captain Gloval left the bridge, Claudia picked up the phone. Roy needed to be told about Rick.

"Skull Squadron headquarters…Sergeant O'Hanlon speaking."

"Sergeant, is Commander Fokker in his office?"

"Yes, he is ma'am. Hold on while I transfer the call."

Claudia waited until she heard the telephone being picked up.

"This is Lieutenant Commander Fokker."

"Roy…this is…Claudia."

"Claudia you sound upset. What's wrong?"

"Roy…you're sitting down?"

"Yeah…I am. Why did you ask?"

"Roy…I'm afraid…I have some…terrible news…about Rick."

"Rick! What happened to Rick!?", Roy exclaimed at his bolted upright in his chair.

"Roy…Rick has…been listed…as Missing in Action."

"WHAT! Rick has been declared MIA! How did it happen?"

"Roy…just give me a minute. I need to…recollect myself. Okay Roy I can go on. A couple of hours ago the enemy deliberately destroyed both our short- and long-range radar units. Captain Gloval sent Lisa out in a Cat's Eye to be our eyes and ears while Rick and Vermillion Squadron were sent to provide air cover for the Cat's Eye. A group of battle pods swarmed in trying to attack the Cat's Eye. Vermillion Squadron intercepted the battle pods and started to engage them. Meanwhile, Lisa reported that a Zentraedi ship was closing in on them from the side. The Cat's Eye tried to evade but could not. Vermillion Squadron reported that they had broken off engaging the enemy to try to rescue Lisa and the Cat's Eye crew. That was the last we heard from them. We don't know where…Lisa, Rick and the other pilots are because the ship did a hyperspace jump and we don't know…if they're alive…or dead!"

Claudia could not take it anymore and broke and cried.

"Claudia, I'll be there in a minute."

"No... No... It is alright Roy. Captain Gloval is out and has put me in charge of the bridge. I'll see you when I get off duty."

"Okay Claudia. Where do you want to spend the evening at?"

"I don't feel like going anywhere Roy. I just need to be with you."

"Okay Claudia…I'll see you in a couple of hours then."

"I love you Roy."

"I love you too. See you in a couple of hours."

After Roy hung up the phone, the shock of the news Claudia told him was just too much for him to take. For the second time within a matter of less than two years, Rick has been listed as MIA. Before Rick came to Macross Island, Roy promised himself and Pop's memory that he will take care of Rick and twice he failed to keep his promise. Roy just balled his fists and slammed it down on the table so hard that it almost sounded like a gun going off. The orderly room sergeant came running into Roy's office scared that bad have happened to Roy.

"Sir you're alright?", Sergeant O'Hanlon said as he opened the door.

"Yes…I am okay Sergeant O'Hanlon…I just received some bad news about my brother, and I need to be alone for a while. I'm sorry I startled you."

"It's quite alright sir. No need to apologize. I understand.", the sergeant said as he closed the door.

After making sure he is by himself, Roy went back to his thoughts. He was in agony. He then looked at a framed picture on his desk of him and Pop together standing in front of Roy's stunt plane some years before he joined the service. It seemed like it was another lifetime ago when that picture was taken. "I'm sorry Pop! I am sorry I failed you! I promised you that I will take care of Rick and look after him, but I failed to do it twice. I don't know if I can do it!"

As Roy was wallowing in his self-pity and self-doubts, Roy could almost swear his office was being engulfed in a bright light and stepping out of that bright light was Pop Hunter in his flying circus uniform. Roy knew he must be seeing things, but he could almost swear what he was seeing was real. He knew he is not sleeping and somewhere in his sub consciousness something told him what he was seeing was real. But before he could decide what he was seeing was either real or imaginary, the spirit of Jack "Pop" Hunter began to speak to Roy, and he was shaking his head with a fatherly look of scorn on his face.

"Roy. Roy. Roy. How many times did I have to tell you that you can't always be responsible for Rick?"

"Pop…is it you? It can't be you…you…you…you're dead."

"I know that Roy and I know what you're thinking. No, you are not dreaming, and you are not hallucinating. It is me and I'm still dead." A chair suddenly appeared next to Roy. Pop sat himself down in the chair. "Now you listen to me Roy Fokker and you listen to me really good! It is not your fault! Rick knew what he was getting himself into when he went to the academy and joined the RDF. He's no longer a little boy needing you to look after!"

"But…Pop…I promised you and your memory that I will look after Rick."

"And you are keeping your promise Roy and you're doing a good job at it. But Rick needs to learn how to stand on his own two feet. You cannot always be there to look after him. Besides, he has been in many tight spots before since he joined the RDF and he made it out fine without your help. He will get himself out of this one and he will be fine again. He will make it. I know he will. He's a Hunter just like you're a Hunter in a way."

"How can he get himself out this situation when he doesn't know where he is?"

"You have to trust him Roy. Right now, he is leaning on what he has learned at the academy, his training, and his instincts as a pilot to get himself out of this situation he is in. Besides, he is not alone, he has help. He has his wing mates, and he has Lisa. Something that I wished I had when I was shot down over the jungles of North Vietnam. The only thing that kept me out of the Hanoi Hilton was a radio that kept me in touch with a Marine forward air controller who was piloting an OV-10 Bronco that kept Charlie and the NVA off my tail. I wished I had a pretty girl beside me to keep me company while I was trudging through the jungles of North Vietnam."

Roy then sighed. "I guess you're right Pop. It is…it is…just that…it is just that I worry about him a lot. Now that he is a squadron commander, I can't keep an eye on him all the time."

"And it's only natural for you to worry. I used to worry about you and Rick every time the two of you went up. I mean the two of you including Cathy practically grew up together until you left to join the military. Look Roy, it is okay to worry but you must understand Rick has to learn how to stand on his own two feet. If he makes a mistake, he must learn from it himself. You will not always be there to help him out."

Roy began to nod his head. "I think I'm beginning to understand Pop."

Pop put his hand on Roy's shoulder and shook it. "Good Roy, you're doing just as you did when you were with the flying circus."

Pop then slapped his hands on his knees and got up from the chair and began to walk towards the light. "Well Roy, I've got to go."

"Will I see you again Pop?"

"Well…hopefully not too soon. Oh and... uh…Roy"

"Yeah Pop?"

"One more thing to tell you before I go, the next time you see Rick, tell him that Cathy said it wasn't his fault that she was killed doing that stunt. She climbed into the cockpit of that airplane knowing full well how dangerous that stunt was. She knew she could be killed doing that stunt, but she climbed into that airplane with her eyes wide open. You tell him that."

"I will Pop."

Pop waved good-bye to Roy, then walked through the light and the light disappeared. Roy had to blink his eyes. He still could not figure what happened to him just now was either a hallucination or if it were real. After brushing it off to the stress he is under, he decided that Minmei must be told of Rick being missing. He knew that Minmei wanted to be told. He called around until he had gotten a hold of the officials of the Miss Macross Pageant. The official told him that Minmei could go back to school for a while, but she will then have to go on a publicity tour for the RDF and to visit the ship's hospital and the city children's hospital. He then called the school and found out that Minmei should be finished with classes for the day very soon. He decided it was time to do something that no commanding officer ever likes to do; notify someone that their friend or loved one is missing or dead. He got up from his desk, closed and locked the door and walked to the motor pool. The motor pool sergeant gave the keys to a sedan and Roy drove off to meet Minmei at the Sacred Heart School for Girls.

Roy drove up to the parking lot of the school and went into the administrative office to let the officials know that he is waiting for Minmei. The officials allowed Roy to wait outside in the parking lot for Minmei. Roy waited for Minmei leaning against the car. Very soon the school bell rang signaling the end of the school day. Roy waited for Minmei to walk out of one of the school buildings. When Roy saw Minmei walking out with a couple of friends cradling some books in her arm, Roy breathed in deeply and then blew it out, psyching himself up to tell Minmei the bad news. Then he decided it was time to do the deed. Roy began running to catch up with Minmei.

"Minmei!"

Minmei dressed in the prototypical Japanese schoolgirl uniform, turned around and saw Roy. A bright smile came across her face. "Oh! Hello Commander Fokker!" Minmei said as she waved with her free arm.

"Minmei, can I talk with you alone for a couple of minutes? It's important and it won't take long.", Roy said as he caught up with Minmei and her friends.

"Sure, Commander Fokker, I think my friends can wait for a couple of minutes. Can you?", she asked turning to her friends. Her friends nodded their heads.

"What do you want to see me about Commander Fokker? What's wrong?", Minmei asked as they started walking the other way.

"Minmei…I don't know how to say this to you any easily so…I'll just come out and say it. Minmei…I'm afraid Rick has been declared Missing in Action."

Minmei gasped and her hand flew to her mouth as it dropped open. "Rick's…missing…how…how did it happen?" Minmei said has tears began to fill up in her eyes.

"I'll try to tell you as much as I can without giving too much away because of the military stuff okay. Apparently, several hours ago the enemy destroyed our radar units. A reconnaissance jet was sent out to help guide the ship. Rick's squadron was sent out to provide air cover for the reconnaissance jet. The enemy attacked the jet and Rick's squadron. Rick and his wing mates started to engage the enemy. The reconnaissance jet somehow was captured by an enemy ship. Rick's squadron broke off engagement to try to rescue the pilot, co-pilot, and radar officer. That was the last time we have heard from either of them."

"He's…he's dead, isn't he? Please don't lie to me and say he's not!", Minmei said as the tears began to freely flow.

"To tell you the truth Minmei…I don't know." But then Roy began to furiously shake his head. "But if you ask me, no…Rick's not dead. I know he is not. You need to keep hope that Rick's still alive. Remember when you and he were trapped in the cargo hold after we hyperspace jumped? Remember the one thing that kept you going? It was hope, the hope that you and he would be found alive, and you were found alive! Well…that is what you need to do now more than ever."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Unfortunately, no, we don't. The ship did a hyperspace jump. Once a ship hyperspace jumps, we lose contact with the ship, we can't track them on radar."

"THEN HE'S DEAD! I KNOW HE IS!"

"Minmei, don't say that. He is not dead. He's just"

"DON'T LIE TO ME!", Minmei yelled at she ran away from Roy.

Roy did not chase after her. He knew at this moment in time, it is better for Minmei to be by herself so she can calm herself down and recollect herself. Roy knew there was nothing more he could do so he walked back to his car and drove back to the motor pool so he can turn the car in. Minmei ran to the park where she met Rick on the night before he flew his first mission. When she arrived at the park, Minmei went to the wall where she and Rick talked. Even though they are in space, somewhere a breeze blew through giving Minmei an even more melancholy feeling.

'Oh Rick, where are you? Please don't be dead.',Minmei said to herself.

Soon her friends came up to where she was standing. They were worried about her. "Minmei, you're alright?" One of her friends asked her.

Minmei shook her head. "No, I'm not. Look girls, I just got some bad news about a friend of mine and I really do not feel like walking home with you. Can you just go on without me? And can you do a favor for me? Can you take my books and tell my aunt and uncle I'll be home very soon but not right away?"

"Sure Minmei, we'll tell your aunt and uncle. Hope your friend's okay."

"Thank you, Hiromi."

Minmei then decided to go the Buddhist temple and pray. She prayed at the temple the night before Rick went on his first mission and he came back to her. She decided that if it worked once before, it should work again. So, she walked the short distance from the park to the Buddhist temple. She bowed as she entered the temple, lit an incense candle and while standing in front of a large golden statute of Buddha, she began to chant a prayer for Rick.

As she was chanting her prayer, somewhere in the back of her mind, she began to have doubts on whether chanting a prayer to a large golden statute does any good. But then she realized that Buddha did exactly what she requested him to do; he looked after Rick, got him through his first mission and brought him back to her safely.

After she left the temple, she started walking back to the restaurant, but it had taken her some time because people were stopping and asking her for her autograph or wanting to have their pictures taken with her. Very soon a large crowd began to gather around Minmei. She happily signed autographs and she also happily agreed to have her picture taken with her new fans, but she had to kindly tell people that she cannot stay for a long time and sign autographs or pose for pictures because she was expected to be home by now. The crowd groaned but they understood her situation, so the crowd relented and let her go.

When she finally made it to the restaurant, Aunt Lena took her over to the side and asked her why it had taken her so long to get home and why she asked her friends to drop her schoolbooks at the restaurant. She began to tear up again and told Aunt Lena about Roy coming to her school and telling her about Rick being listed MIA, going to the temple to pray for Rick and as she was walking home being stopped by people asking her for her autograph and wanting to have their picture taken with her. Aunt Lena wrapped her arms around Minmei neck and hugged her telling her that everything will be alright, and Rick will be okay. Minmei began to shake her head but Aunt Lena stopped her and told her that she needs to have faith and believe that Rick is alive and will come back. Minmei managed to nod her head as Aunt Lena dried her tears.

ROBOTECH DEFENSE FORCE HEADQUARTERS

WASHINGTON, DC

ADMIRAL DONALD HAYES' OFFICE

Admiral Hayes was finishing up doing paperwork and was about to leave for the day when the telephone on his desk began to ring. It was his aide on the other end.

"Admiral, I've just received a message from our TCC. There is an incoming emergency precedence message for you from the SDF-1. It should be in your e-mail's inbox."

"Thank you, Ken."

Admiral Hayes immediately pointed his mouse's cursor on the e-mail icon and clicked on it. There was only one unopened e-mail message; it was from Captain Gloval. He then clicked to open the message. As he was reading the message from Captain Gloval, his heart began to sink, and tears began to fill his eyes. Barely several days ago, he was notified that the SDF-1 was safe and was fighting its way back to Earth. He was overjoyed when he was notified that Lisa was alive, well and for the most part safe, if you can call being on a ship that constantly being attacked by space aliens safe. He then balled up his fist and banged it on the top of his desk feeling sadness, hurt, rage, worry and anger all at the same time.

"Damn it, Lisa! How many times have I told you that I want you off that damn ship but for God's sake you wouldn't listen to me!"

After he finished reading the message, he became more determined that if Lisa was alive, he will get her off the SDF-1, come Hell or high water and nothing was going to stop him from doing it. Not even Lisa herself was going to stop him if he could help it.

BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1

The evening watch came on to relieve Claudia and the Bridge Bunnies. Claudia briefed her relief and about to leave the bridge so she can be with Roy when Sammie came up to her.

"Umm ma'am…I'm here to do my extra duty."

Claudia then slapped her forehead. "Oh yes, that's right. Umm…let me think for a minute Sammie. Alright Sammie, why don't you clean up Captain Gloval's office? You don't have to make it absolutely spotless, but do a good job okay?"

"Yes ma'am."

Claudia and Sammie walked down to Captain Gloval's office. Sammie got the cleaning supplies, broom, mop and bucket out of a closet and started to clean up Captain Gloval's office. As she was watching Sammie do her extra duty, Claudia had to admire Sammie for coming up to her and reminding her. In the stress everyone is under and the feeling of sadness everyone on the bridge is feeling from Lisa being declared MIA, Sammie could have used that distraction to her advantage and could have just walked out. But she did not, and Claudia had to give some her some credit for not doing that.

'Maybe she's finally beginning to grow up a little.' Claudia said to herself.

Sammie spent some time doing her extra duty. She wanted to do a good job to show Claudia that she was sorry for what she did but mostly, Sammie kept cleaning up Captain Gloval's office to keep her mind occupied and not to feel the sadness of Lisa being missing. She was basically finished when she sprayed furniture wax on Captain Gloval's desk again.

"Sammie, if you keep spraying furniture polish on Captain Gloval's desk again, it will be so slick he won't be able to write on his desk."

Sammie then realized she was absentmindedly doing the same job over again. "I…I'm sorry ma'am…but…I was trying…not to…think about…Commander Hayes being"

She then broke down and cried. Claudia rushed over to where Sammie was standing and wrapped her arms around Sammie's neck and let her cry on her chest.

"I'm sorry ma'am but I'm missing Commander Hayes and somehow if I didn't give her name to Miss Adams, she"

Claudia suddenly pushed Sammie away from her chest and through her own tears told Sammie in a stern voice; "Now you listen to me Sammie! Giving her name to that gossip columnist has nothing to do with Commander Hayes being listed missing. Lisa knew it would be a risk getting into that Cat's Eye and she could be captured or killed but she did it because she was ordered to do it and she obeyed that order knowing full well the risks she was getting herself into."

"I know ma'am but…but...but it's just that I'm missing her so much."

Claudia then let Sammie cry on her chest again. "I know…I know Sammie, I'm missing her too, but we need to have faith and believe that she is still alive, and she will come back to us. We cannot lose hope. We need to keep hope that she and the pilots of Vermillion Squadron are alive and are trying to find a way to escape. Do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Sammie, you're finished for the day. Do not worry about putting the cleaning supplies away. I will do it for you. Listen Sammie, why don't you, Vanessa, and Kim get together and spend the evening together? You really need to be with each other, especially at a time like this. Now remember that you are to stay on the ship and not go anywhere, understand."

Sammie nodded her head. "Yes ma'am. And thank you for putting away the cleaning supplies for me."

"You're welcome Sammie. Now get out of here."

"Yes ma'am."

Sammie then turned and walked out of Captain Gloval's office. Claudia quickly put away the cleaning supplies, mop, bucket, and broom back into the cleaning closet, closed and locked Captain Gloval's door and ran to Roy's quarters. She needed to be with Roy. When she came upon Roy's quarter's door, she knocked on the door.

"Hold on for a moment Claudia while I open the door.", Roy said quietly.

As soon as Roy opened the door, Claudia just flung her arms around Roy's neck, buried her face in Roy's chest, broke down and started to cry, weep and sob very bitterly and loudly even though her sobs were muffled by her head being in Roy's chest. She spent all day comforting her dispirited crew that she needed to cry on someone's shoulder herself. Roy could do nothing for the moment but to gently rock Claudia, stroke her hair and sometimes gently plant a kiss on the top of her head.

After being quiet for a while, Roy through his own tears began to whisper words of encouragement to her. "It's okay Claudia baby it's okay let it go just let it go. They are alive and they are going to make it. I know they will. We just have to believe and have faith that somehow they will escape and make it back to us safe and sound."

"I hope you're right Roy. I have been saying those same words to Sammie, Vanessa, and Kim all day. I want to believe it myself but there is something in the back of mind that says they're not alive and will not come back to us."

"We can't have those doubts in our minds Claudia. We cannot lose hope that at least Rick and Lisa are alive, and they are trying to find a way to escape. I know my brother; he is one tough stubborn son-of-a-gun. He will try to find some way anyway to escape. We need to keep believing and hoping that they are alive, and they will eventually come back to us. I will never lose that hope. You need to never lose that hope too! You're understand what I'm saying Claudia?"

Claudia nodded her head. Roy then gently pushed Claudia away from him. "Now, what do you want to do for tonight?"

Claudia just shook her head. "I don't want to do anything; I don't want to go anywhere. I just need to be with you tonight.", Claudia said quietly.

Roy nodded his head. He understood Claudia's feelings and had hoped she would say that. He then put his arm around Claudia's shoulders and led her to his couch. Roy sat at the end of the couch and let his long legs stretch out. He then put his arms around Claudia's shoulder and let her rest her head in his chest. They were quiet for a long time before Claudia spoke up.

"Roy, I just hope that wherever they are, they're alive and trying to find a way to escape."

"Trust me Claudia, they are. If Lisa's with Rick, he will try his hardest to get himself and Lisa out. I know my brother. He will find a way. I know he will."

ZENTRAEDI ARMADA

ABOARD BREETAI'S FLAGSHIP

After Lisa, Rick and Ben were captured; they were put on a table where a giant glass bowl was put over them upside down trapping them. A small wad of cloth was thrown in the middle of them. Before they ever had a chance to know what it was, their eyes became droopy, and their heads began to spin.

"It's sleeping gas! Try not to breathe it in!", Rick shouted.

But it was too late. They dropped where they were standing.

Because of their small micron sizes, it had taken the Zentraedi scientists an incredible number of mathematical calculations and equations to make sure the sleeping gas they threw in was enough to put them to sleep for a while but not too much to kill them. The scientists then taken the three off the table and took them to an examining room. There they proceeded to disrobe them but again because of their small sizes, the scientists had to put the three humans under microscopes and magnifying glasses to help them see. After they had the three humans completely naked, they began to scan, poke, and prod them. After they were finished examining them, they began to put their clothes back on them again with the help of microscopes and magnifying glasses. They then put Lisa, Rick, and Ben back on the table and put the glass dome over them and let them sleep off the gas.

In an office on board the ship, a smaller Zentraedi with red hair looked at the results of the examinations and scans of Lisa, Rick, and Ben on a video screen.

"Hmm…it's very interesting and peculiar sir."

"What is it Exedore?"

"Apparently my lord, the scientists cannot find anything different between us and the Micronians. We and they have the same skeletal structure, the same muscular system, circulatory system, endocrine system, everything. There is nothing remarkable of difference between us and them."

"Can the scientists explain what accounts for the differences in our sizes?"

"No, my lord, the scientists cannot find any explanation on why they are smaller than us. However, they did find something remarkably interesting."

"What is it my friend?"

"Apparently, the scientists found out that the Micronians are missing a minuscule amount of extra genetic material. But at the same time, they cannot find any difference between their and our DNA structure. They say it may account for the difference in the appearance in our facial features but other than that, they cannot explain the difference between our sizes."

"Hmm…it is very interesting and peculiar indeed my friend."

"My lord, the Micronians are just beginning to wake up.", Exedore said as he and Breetai began to look in at the trio as they were just beginning to wake up.

Lisa was the first to wake up. Soon afterward Rick began to stir. Ben was beginning to stir but was still groggy from the gas.

"Ben you're alright?", Rick asked.

"Wake me up when lunch is served.", Ben said then went back to sleep.

Rick began to get up on his feet, but he was still feeling woozy from the aftereffects of the sleeping gas. He began to put his hands on the glass and started to feel the glass going around in a circle.

"What are you doing lieutenant?", Lisa asked.

"I'm trying to find us a way out of here ma'am. When I went through SERE training at the academy and at fighter training school, we were always told that every place and point have a weakness. We just need to find it and"

"And to exploit it.", Lisa finished.

"That's right ma'am. How did you know that?"

"I went through SERE training also. Although not as extensive for you pilots."

"Oh, I see.", Rick said as he continued to feel his way around the glass dome. He went around the dome several times; he reached up as far as he can to try to feel for a crack. He even tried to lift the glass dome, but it was too heavy for him. Rick knew that even with Lisa and Ben helping him, it will not work. He stopped and started to pound the glass with his balled-up fists in frustration and began to cry. Lisa ran up to Rick and put her arms on Rick's shoulders.

"What's wrong Rick?", Lisa asked softly.

"I've failed! I've failed my mission and I failed you!", Rick said with bitterness in his voice.

"Rick, how did you fail your mission and me?"

"I failed to protect you that how! My mission was to protect you and I failed to do it! And because I failed you, you, me, and Ben are POWs, Max is missing, and most likely dead and four other pilots are dead!"

"Rick, it's not your fault and you did not fail your mission. I'm still alive, am I?"

"Yes, you are but we are now POWs, being sent to God knows where and God only knows what these aliens are going to do to us! I failed my mission and I failed you! Just like I failed…"

"Failed who Rick?"

Rick could not answer but his mouth was trembling trying to get the words out of his mouth. Lisa shook his shoulders to try to get to Rick to answer her question.

"Failed who Rick?"

"Just like I failed Cathy! There I said it! Are you happy now that I've said it?", Rick said as he began to weep again as he fell to his knees. Lisa fell with him as she let him cry on her shoulder.

"Hmm, the emotion coming from the Micronian male is very peculiar. He is showing frustration by crying because he thought he has failed his mission and the interaction between the Micronian female, and the male is remarkably interesting. Something I have never seen before.", Breetai observed.

"I agree sir. It is interesting indeed. If I correctly remember sir, that kind of interaction between male and female were abandoned by the Zentraedi eons ago. Sir, I think our scope of knowledge in questioning them is extremely limited. Might I suggest that Lord Dolza question them?"

"How will that help us Exedore? He is even less inexperienced in questioning the Micronians as we are. He hasn't even been exposed to their culture."

"I realize that my lord, but he has more experience in interrogation than we are."

After thinking about it for a moment, Breetai nodded his head. "I see your point Exedore. I must agree with you on that point. Alright then, execute hyperspace fold."

As Lisa was holding Rick, she could feel the pull of space on the ship. 'The ship must have executed a hyperspace fold.' Lisa said to herself. She then turned her attention back to Rick. She gently pulled Rick away from her. "Rick, are you now willing to tell me what happened to your girlfriend?"

Rick shook his head.

'So, we're playing this game again eh. Alright Rick, I'm game if you are.' Lisa said to herself. "Okay Rick, you want to play that game again, I'll play along. What do you want to know?"

"Are you now willing to tell me what was so special about that abandoned room at Sara Base that made you want to kill yourself?"

Lisa knew Rick was going to ask that question sooner or later. She was hoping it was later rather than now.

Lisa began to get up on her feet, began to walk around and started to wring her hands. "I was afraid you were eventually going to ask me that question. That abandoned room…was the room…of my old boyfriend. His name was Karl Riber. He was military like you and me. I was a teenager when he became my boyfriend."

"How did you meet him?"

"Karl was my father's aide-de-camp. We kept running into each other every time he was with my father when my father came home to our farm in New York State. We tried to keep our romance a secret but somehow my father found out about it. At first, he did not mind us dating but Karl was very much against the Global Civil War. Afterwards my father did not want me to keep dating him because of his antiwar views…and he secretly have him transferred to Sara Base on Mars. Karl agreed to the transfer because he would be away from the fighting…but he did not like the thought of him being away from me. I promised him that I would enlist in the military myself…and that my first duty assignment would be at Sara Base. My father somehow found out about my plans…and somehow or the other, he got an appointment for me to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis because he still had some pull with friends who were still at the Naval Academy and…because he was a graduate of Annapolis himself.

While I was a midshipman at Annapolis, that was when…I found out that Sara Base was attacked and everyone on the base was killed. I blamed my father for Karl being killed. Our relationship has been strained ever since…well…not exactly…like I told you before…our relationship was strained after my mother died but Karl's death broke it beyond repair.

I went on the base hoping I would find him alive. When Captain Gloval ordered me to put the reflex furnace into overdrive…I stumbled onto Karl's room. I went in Karl's room hoping that somehow…he would still be alive so I can take him back with me to the SDF-1. But when I found the room deserted…that was when…I did not want to live anymore. If Karl cannot be with me…there was no reason for me to live anymore. And…that is why…I told you…to leave when…you showed up…to rescue me."

She then began to break down and cry. Rick came up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm…so sorry…I made you…remember…that…terrible time…in your life." he said quietly.

Lisa began to shake her head. "No…you don't have to apologize to me Rick. Besides…you had the right to know."

Rick decided to lighten up the mood and try to make light of the bad situation they are in. "Well…there's one good thing to happen out of that."

"What's that Rick?"

"I got to see you in that white space suit.", Rick said with a mischievous smile.

Lisa was shocked Rick would say something like that. "Rick! I can't believe you would say something like that at a time like this!"

"Why? You look hot in this suit. It does fill you out nicely."

"Rick! Can we talk about something else besides my space suit that won't aid your surging libido?"

Rick then got serious then nodded. He sat down leaning his back against the wall of the glass dome. Lisa sat next to him. "Okay Lisa. I think it is now time to tell you what happened to my girlfriend. You told me what happened to your boyfriend so…it is only fair…that I tell you what happened to my girlfriend.

Well…as I told you earlier after we first met, my father who we all called "Pop"

"Excuse me for interrupting you Rick but why was your father called "Pop?" Was "Pop" his call sign when he was a pilot in the Air Force?"

Rick nodded his head. "Pop was in his late-20's when he finally became a pilot. Anyway…Pop raised Catherine Bateman…she always liked to be called Cathy…as his own daughter after her father was killed doing a stunt at an air show when Cathy's father was a pilot in my father's air circus. I think Cathy was six, seven or eight years old when her father died so we practically grew up together almost like brother and sister. As we gotten older…we started to look at each other more than just surrogate brother and sister. We started to grow…really close to each other...and we began to…fall in love. Believe it or not, Pop encouraged our romance. I guess he wanted it to happen because I think he hoped that one day we will marry, and he would have grandchildren.

After Roy joined the service and Pop died. The only people who were able to keep the air circus going were me, Cathy, another pilot and Timmy, our mechanic. Usually when we do a show it was me with Cathy in the back seat and the other pilot. The summer before I went to the academy, our pilot was injured in an auto accident in Kansas. I was about to cancel the rest of the season when Cathy convinced me to keep the air circus going and let her pilot the other plane even though she was not a licensed pilot because we needed the money to keep the circus going. Most of the time we just did some loops, barrel rolls, dives, and simple crossing stunts because we were doing it at small air shows.

We were invited to participate at the Waterfront Air Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is one of the biggest air shows in the States. Cathy thought that it would be a good idea for us to finish our part in the air show to do a stunt that we hardly ever done because it was so dangerous. As a matter of fact, Roy and I rarely ever did it. It was a stunt where we would climb to 6,000 feet, go into a dive and a loop and at the bottom of the loop we would turn belly to belly and turn again to look like our wings were touching even though we were a relatively safe distance apart then we would break off. As we were going into our dive, I noticed that Cathy was going too slowly.

You see, when you go into a dive you must be at a certain air speed otherwise, you would stall and crash. Cathy said she was going at the correct speed, but I did not like how slow she was going so I told her to break off. Cathy said she could not break off because the engine stalled and she could not get out of the dive. She…she…she crashed into…the ground…nose first. I tried to land as…fast as I could…but by the time…I had landed…the crash crew and paramedics…already got Cathy out…of the wreaked plane…and took her…to the hospital. The ER doctor said...there was nothing…he could do. She was dead…when her airplane…impacted the ground. He said…Cathy most likely…would not have felt a thing.

After Cathy died…I had to declare bankruptcy. The planes were auctioned off and everything else was sold. I wanted to keep flying…but I did not know how. When an information packet came from the RDF Academy saying that I had won an appointment to attend the academy because Pop was a Medal of Honor winner in the Vietnam War, I accepted the appointment. When I was a cadet at the academy…I could not get Cathy out of my mind. I just became a book worm and a study freak. After I graduated and came here…all I could think was…to do my job…and to think of nothing else. Cathy was my whole life. I loved her even though we grew up…almost as brother and sister even though…she never was officially adopted. I was even thinking about asking her to marry me when we were old enough…and now…that chance is gone forever!"

Rick then broke down and cried very bitterly. Lisa let him again cry on his shoulder. She then realized just how selfish she has been in her grief. She always thought she was the only one who knew how it felt to lose someone you loved. It was then she realized that Claudia and Roy were right; she has much more in common with Rick than she first thought, and she found herself growing increasingly fond of Rick and looking at him than more than just a friend. The things he said to her about herself were slowly giving back the confidence in herself that she lost a long time ago and she is slowly coming out of her shell. She wanted to tell him that she is falling in love with him, but she did not want to say it outright to him afraid it might scare him off and put him deeper into his shell.

"Rick…I think you will have another chance to fall in love."

"You think so?"

Lisa nodded her head. "Umm-hmm. Listen Rick, I know what it is like to lose someone you love…and afterwards to think about just your job and nothing else. It's so easy to withdraw from others and from the world when you think your whole world has ended."

"It does. You know Lisa, in some strange way I am glad we ended up in this situation, because if we did not, we would have never known that both of us went through similar tragedies. Most people don't know or understand what someone has gone through or is going through unless you been there yourself."

Lisa nodded her head in agreement but felt that Rick was still holding back on something and she wanted to try to get it out of Rick but before she could, Ben began to wake up, stretched and yawned.

"Has lunch been served yet? How long have I been out?"

Lisa looked at her watch. "Ten days."

"YIKES! I've been out that long?"

"Well in reality lieutenant, you have only been asleep for about an hour, but the ship is in a hyperspace fold. When the ship is in hyperspace operations, time does go by very quickly."

Just as soon as she said that she could feel the pull of space on the ship beginning to decrease. "I think we're about to come out of hyperspace."

"We are ma'am?", Ben asked.

Lisa nodded her head. "I can feel the pull of space on the ship easing up."

They were held on a tabletop of the bridge of Breetai's flagship, they looked out at the window and their jaws dropped at the sight of hundreds of thousands of Zentraedi ships that were sailing by. Lisa pulled a video camera out of space suit pocket.

"Look at all those ships!", Rick exclaimed.

"It must be the enemy fleet.", Lisa said.

"Hey, how you were able to keep that camera hidden ma'am? The enemy had taken everything we could use as a weapon when they gassed us.", Rick asked.

"This camera is so small the enemy must have overlooked it.", Lisa said with a smirk.

"Just goes to show size isn't everything.", Ben said.

Just then Breetai, Exedore and three Zentraedi soldiers came in. One of the soldiers lifted the glass dome off them and warned them not to try to escape. A fearsome looking alien walked into the bridge. Lisa secretly flipped the camera to record.

"Welcome your majesty. The Micronians are ready for your questions.", Breetai said as the six alien giants sat down.

"Greetings Earthlings, my name is Dolza commander-in-chief of all of the forces of the Zentraedi. You now must submit to my interrogation."

The three humans looked at each other in amazement. "He speaks our language.", Lisa said quietly to the others remembering back to when the Zentraedi first contacted the ship after they destroyed the radar domes.

Then Ben became incensed of what the giant alien was telling him to do. "Oh no! The Hell I am going to submit to your interrogation you damn freak! Benjamin Dixon, second lieutenant, service number"

Rick then stopped Ben. "Ben, I don't think they know, recognize or even care about the Geneva Convention rules so I think we should just answer their questions."

"I agree with your commanding officer lieutenant.", Lisa said.

"Then what do we do if they ask us something of military importance?"

"Then we'll just refuse to tell them."

Lisa spoke as the leader of the group. "We will answer any questions you have."

The three Zentraedi officials then began to bombard the three human captives with questions about protoculture, Zor's ship, and why they, the humans attacked them. The three tried to answer their questions as best they could but the questions came at them so fast that they could not answer them fast enough or long enough to satisfy them.

Lisa then raised her voice being fed up with the constant questioning and having no time to answer them. "Enough of this! We will no longer submit to your interrogation and we will no longer answer any of your questions!"

"So, the female is the leader of the group.", Dolza said with sarcastically.

"I am their superior officer."

"You think you're invincible just because you're in procession of Zor's ship? I do not think you are fully aware, comprehend, understand, or even appreciate young lady the magnitude and the seriousness of the situation you are in. We have the power to destroy more than just the SDF-1 and Macross City in a blink of an eye. Keep your eyes on that planet.", Dolza said as Zentraedi ships begin to align up to target the planet. The ships then began to barrage the planet with high energy laser fire. In a matter of seconds, the planet became an uninhabitable moon like planet full of craters. The three humans gasped in shock at the demonstration and the destruction it unleashed.

"Why did you destroy that planet?", a shocked Lisa asked Dolza.

"Hmm, now you will answer our questions?"

"NO!", Lisa yelled.

An enraged Dolza then picked up Lisa and began to squeeze her very tightly. Lisa began to scream in agony.

"LISA! COMMANDER HAYES! HEY STOP IT! YOU'RE HURTING HER! PUT HER DOWN!", a terrified Rick screamed.

"NOW WILL YOU ANSWER MY QUESTIONS? HOW WERE YOU BORN MICRONIAN?"

'WE CAME OUT OF OUR MOTHER'S WOMB THAT WAY! WE WERE BORN MICRONIAN THAT'S HOW!"

"You expect us to believe that you came out of a female? How is that possible?", Dolza asked.

"It's quite simple! A guy and a girl meet, if they like each other, they fall in love, marry, and have children! It's that simple!", a surprised Ben said.

"How do they fall in love?", Exedore asked.

"You have got to be kidding me, right? Oh boy! This is just like trying to explain sex to an eight-year-old! You take over sir.", an exasperated Ben said to Rick.

"I guess it all starts with a kiss.", Rick said.

"What is a kiss?", Breetai asked.

"Well, if you let Commander Hayes down, we'll show you."

"Very well, but don't any of you try to escape.", Dolza warned as he let Lisa down.

"I'm sorry I have to do that Lisa, but it was the only way I could think of for him to stop hurting you.", Rick whispered in a concerned tone of voice.

"You don't have to apologize to me Rick. You did what you have to do to save me."

"You're okay Lisa? Are you hurt?"

Lisa shook her head. "No, I'm not hurt. I am okay although my arms and ribs are aching. I know they will be sore and have bruises in the morning. Sometimes I let my mouth get the best of me."

Rick chuckled. "That you do. Are you ready to do it?"

Lisa nodded her head.''Our first kiss, I just wish it didn't have to be in front of giant aliens who want to destroy us.' Lisa said to herself as she parted her lips and closed her eyes.

As soon as Rick touched Lisa's lips and they began to kiss, the six Zentraedi recoiled back in shock and horror. Rick and Lisa stopped kissing and looked at the six aliens in amazement.

"What would cause them to react like that?", Rick asked Lisa.

"I don't know."

"I've seen enough of this! I'm leaving!", a shocked and terrified Dolza said.

After Dolza left, Rick, Lisa and Ben were carried off the table and onto a cart with the glass dome put on top of them again. Soon it was just Breetai, Exedore and the three Zentraedi soldiers. Breetai and Exedore began to discuss amongst themselves on what to make of what they just saw and over the past weeks leading up to the three Micronians beings captured and to go over on what their next move should be. It was hard for them to figure out considering what they saw barely several minutes ago. They still were not completely over the shock.

"My lord, the Micronians have to know more about protoculture than what they are letting on. What else can explain what we've seen just now and over the past weeks; especially with the different Micronian girls in various uniforms and the one young girl and her strange chanting."

"Do you think protoculture caused the Micronians to do that?"

"I do not know my lord, but we have to find out if it is."

"How do you propose we do that my friend?"

"I suggest we micronized some of our soldiers and have them delivered onto the SDF-1 so they can spy on the Micronians and find out whether or not it is protoculture that makes them behave the way they do."

"That is impossible Exedore, none of our soldiers are trained in espionage."

"Then we will have to train them my lord."

The Zentraedi soldier with the spiked black hair overheard Breetai and Exedore's conversation. He motioned with his hand for his friends to come in close so they can talk in private.

"Hey guys have you heard what Exedore wants to do?"

The rotund Zentraedi soldier nodded his head. "Yes, I have. So?"

"I think we should volunteer for the mission."

"Are you crazy Rico? We're soldiers not spies.", the soldier with the purple hair said.

"Didn't you hear what Exedore said Konda? They will train us. Besides, we know a little bit of Micronian culture from what we've seen over the past weeks and months."

"So, what if we fail in our mission?"

"Then we will have to face the consequences of our failure. Besides, I do not know about the two of you, but I would rather do something else besides being a guard for Breetai and Exedore for the rest of my life. What do say…you're in with me?"

After a moment hesitation, his compatriots nodded their heads.

"I do not know if it will work. It is a very risky proposition Exedore. Not many of our people were exposed to their culture."

"I agree my lord, but it is the only way I know how we can find out for sure. We have looked at them from a distance and up close and we still don't have a clue on whether or not the Micronians have any connection to protoculture so I think the only way we will know for sure is to insert our people into their culture."

"Can you guarantee this plan of yours will even work Exedore?"

"No, my lord but we will not know if it will work if we do not try."

"Uh…excuse me Lord Breetai, Minister Exedore."

"Yes, Rico what is it?"

"We didn't mean to overhear your conversation but…my friends and I we volunteer for the mission."

"Are you sure the three of you want to do it?"

All three nodded their heads.

Breetai could do nothing but sigh. He still has his doubts about Exedore's plan, but he had no choice but to approve the mission. Nothing else seems to work. "Very well then, you three report to the resizing room. Exedore notify the resizing room and tell them to start up three resizing chambers. I'll notify Lord Dolza of your plan."

"Yes, my lord.", all four Zentraedi said at once as they snapped to attention and saluted.

After Rick, Lisa and Ben were carried out of the conference room on a cart, the three were then being led into an empty room under armed guard. As they were being carried away, Max who somehow survived being sucked out of Breetai's ship and disguised himself in a Zentraedi soldier's cloak followed them. A guard lifted the glass dome off them, put the three in the empty room and closed the door. Rick and Ben looked around trying to find a button or anything that could help them escape but could find nothing. In the empty room, the three human captives began to ponder what will happen to them next and what happened between them and the aliens a short time ago.

"I don't get it.", Ben said.

"What is it Ben?", Rick asked.

"They have all this fire power to completely destroy our world ten times over, yet they freak out when they see the two of you kiss. What gives? I mean...what would cause them to react like that?"

"And what's with this protoculture business they keep talking about?", Rick asked.

"I think these types of questions are more suitable for Dr. Lang to answer than me and I know this videotape will help them. But from I can gather by looking around this place, they do have an idea of what a female is, but it seems to me for some unknown reason the sexes are segregated, they are a strictly military based culture because I cannot find any civilians around and they have no children.", Lisa said.

"And that's strange considering the fact that they know what a female is and look like from you Lisa.", Rick surmised.

"Yes, that it strange.", Lisa said.

"There has to be some way to escape from this room and off this ship.", Ben said.

Rick was standing thinking with his gloved hand on his chin. "You know, I've been thinking everyone. Remember Lisa when you and I kissed and the way they reacted?

"Boy how can I forget. It's like they never seen two people kiss before and it was something repulsive to them."

"Well why don't we kiss again? Only this time we use it as a diversion to distract our guards when they come to give us our meal."

"Do you think it will work again Rick?"

"Well why can't it work a second time? There were only six at the table and as far as I know the guards never seen us 'demonstrating'."

"I don't know Rick."

"What's wrong? You don't like the idea of me kissing you?"

"Of course not, Rick! It's just that kissing is something I would rather not do in front of a group of people that's all."

Rick then gently laid his hands upon Lisa's shoulders. "Now listen to me Lisa! Unless you can come up with a better plan than what I have, this is our only way to get out of here! We need to find some way to get off this ship and warn Captain Gloval and the RDF. I don't know about you but I'm not about to stay a prisoner of war on this ship just to see my home planet get vaporized!"

Lisa slowly nodded her head. "Okay Rick, I'll do it." But in the back of her mind Lisa was relishing the thought of kissing Rick again. She remembered him having the warmest lips she ever felt. 'Hmm, Cathy must have like locking lips with him.' Lisa said to herself evilly then mentally shaking her head in disbelief not believing she would think something like that at a time like this.

The three then heard a commotion outside. "Okay Ben run to the side of the door and get ready to make a run for it! Are you ready for our diversion ma'am?"

"Start puckering up lieutenant.", Lisa said with a smile.

As soon as they started kissing, Ben started to run when they head a familiar voice. "Hey don't run everyone! It's me Max!"

"Max! I thought you're dead ole buddy!", Rick exclaimed.

"How the heck did you get that enemy uniform?", Ben asked.

"It's a long story. I'll tell it to you later, but first, we got to get out of here!" Max said as he laid the knocked-out guard on the floor. He then lowered one hand and let Rick and Lisa climb on it. He put them in one of the uniform pockets while he put Ben in the other.

"Why were the two of you kissing?"

"It's long story too Max and it's not what you think it is so don't even think about blabbing it around the ship when we get back!", Rick warned. Lisa put her hand to her mouth to try to stifle a giggle that was escaping her mouth.

"Oh…okay. I won't tell boss.", Max said winking his eye.

As they were going down a corridor, they came upon a Zentraedi soldier. Everyone held their breath as they passed. Rick and Lisa collapsed inside the pocket and let out a sigh of relief.

"Good, he didn't notice us."

"Hey you! Stop!", the soldier said as he began to fire his rifle.

Bullets began to make holes in the uniform.

"I don't know how long I can outrun him Rick!"

"Then switch to guardian mode Max!"

"Yes sir!"

Max slid the toggle for the veritech to transform into guardian mode. The veritech began flying down the corridor with the soldier in hot pursuit.

Meanwhile on the bridge of Breetai's ship, a soldier came on the view screen.

"Lord Breetai."

"Yes, what is it?"

"The prisoners have escaped!"

"What! How"

Before Breetai could finish the question, Max's veritech crashed through the view screen. Max kept flying the veritech until it reached the elevator which was closed. Fortunately for the four, a soldier was just coming out of the elevator. By the time they reached the elevator, the veritech was overheating.

"The veritech's overheating! It is about to blow at any second! Try to close the door!"

"I'll try Max.", Rick said as he jumped over and pulled down the lever.

When they reached the bottom, the four ran out of the elevator. A Zentraedi soldier surprised them by yelling and leaping at them.

"Split up everyone!", Rick ordered.

Rick and Lisa ran in one direction while Max and Ben went in the other. After the four had split up and got away, the soldier noticed something smoking in the elevator. Before he even tried to figure out what it was that was causing the smoke, the veritech exploded instantly vaporizing and killing him.

Rick and Lisa ran into a room to catch their breath. As they were catching their breath, they looked around and were surprised at what they saw. They saw three Zentraedi soldiers being shrunk down. They were in a cloning chamber. As Lisa was videotaping, they were trying to figure out what was going on in the room. However, they did not have a chance to find out because a Zentraedi soldier came in and they had to make a run for it.

As they were running Lisa began to go over in her mind of what going on in the room they had just left and then a light turned on in her brain, it is all starting to make sense to her now. In another room, Lisa began to share with Rick her hypothesis. At first, Rick did believe her but as they continued to talk and as Lisa began to theorize that somehow the Zentraedi race was once the same size and height as humans but through genetic engineering and cloning, they were able to achieve any size they want, Rick started to believe her.

As they were talking, a Zentraedi soldier surprised them and grabbed Lisa. Lisa tried to keep a grip on the video camera but lost her grip and the camera fell to the floor smashing into many tiny pieces. Lisa started to cry; she had failed her mission. Rick tried to rescue her but was kicked by the solider and was knocked against a stack of rifles. Lisa yelled at Rick to run and save himself but Rick somehow managed to wrestle one of the rifles up and with all his strength despite the pain he was in; Rick pulled the trigger of the rifle with his arms. The solider fell dead after three shots. Rick rushed to see if Lisa was hurt.

"Commander, you're okay?"

Lisa began to cry. "Yes, I am but I lost my grip on the video camera and now it's destroyed!"

"Don't be worried about that Lisa they still have us for information! We got to get out of here!"

"After them!", a Zentraedi soldier yelled.

As they were running down a corridor, two Zentraedi soldiers began firing at the floor. One of the bullets created a huge hole and Rick and Lisa fell through the floor.

Rick then saw a vision of Cathy waving good-bye to him. 'Good-bye Rick. I love you.' 'Cathy, Cathy please don't leave me.' "Huh? Where am I? What happened to me?" Rick blurry vision began to clear, and he looked up to see a wet Lisa looking down at him and smiling. 'She has the most wonderful and warm smile I have even seen.', Rick said to himself cannot believing he is falling for his commanding officer in a time like this.

"So, I see you're coming around lieutenant."

"Yes, but where are we? How long have I been out?"

"You were only out for a couple of minutes. As to where we are, it must be a reservoir of some kind. It must have broken our fall when we fell through the floor."

"Yes, but I have you to thank for saving me from drowning."

"Well…let's just say we're even for you saving my life a while ago."

"Agreed…but still we need to find a way to get out of here and warn the RDF."

"Let's go down this corridor.", Lisa said.

As they were running, Lisa felt a breeze. At the end of the corridor, they came upon a loading dock. They were amazed at the number of ships they saw.

"This must be the enemy armada we saw earlier.", Rick said in amazement.

"I think you're right."

They heard voices so they hid along the outside wall. It was Ben and Max. Max noticed a cruiser loading so they decided to sneak onboard he cruiser. Just as soon they made it on board, the cruiser and its escort fleet went into hyperspace.

"Well, we're now in hyperspace but what are we going to do once we de-fold?", Ben asked.

Lisa looked around and saw several battle pods. "Think you fly boys can fly a battle pod?"

"I don't know ma'am, but I'll try anything once.", Rick said.

MACROSS CITY

The last few weeks have been of a whirlwind blur for Minmei. After she won the Miss Macross Pageant, she became a client of super-agent Vance Hasselwood. After she became his number one client, Vance managed to get her a recording contract with one of Macross' major record labels. She was in the recording studio in a matter of days. The CD was released to huge sales. Her CD was certified gold within days after it was released, and it was well on its way to becoming platinum. She participated in an ad campaign for the RDF in trying to get new people to join up. She did two photo shoots for the RDF. One had her in an RDF uniform standing in front of the nose of a veritech and saluting. The other had her in the same RDF uniform pointing her finger in an Uncle Sam like pose with the words imprinted; "I WANT YOU FOR THE UN SPACY". Those posters became an instant hit with young men and a big collector's item. He even has her looking at movie scripts and considering movie roles. And to top it all off, her first concert would be tonight.

However, one person is not there to share in her sudden success and fame: Rick Hunter. It has been over two weeks since Rick, his pilot friends and the Cat's Eye pilot and co-pilot were reported missing and not a word has been heard from them since. On her visits to the ship's hospital where she met many of the wounded and injured pilots and military people, her heart went out to the people who were missing arms, legs, were paralyzed, missing body parts such as eyes, ears, nose, fingers, and toes. Some were even missing almost half of their faces. She cannot help but to be thankful that one of the wounded pilots was not Rick but still Rick was listed as MIA.

On the night of her first big concert at the Macross Amphitheatre, the same place where she won the Miss Macross Pageant, Minmei was in her dressing room putting on her makeup. But she cannot help but keep thinking about Rick. She looked at the picture of her and Rick at the park on the night before his first mission that she inserted on the top of the dressing table mirror. She looked at the picture and tears came to her eyes.

'Oh Rick, where are you? I hope you're alive."

A stagehand knocked on her dressing room door. "Come in, the door is unlocked."

"Miss Minmei, you're on.", the stagehand said.

"Thank you. I'll be there in a minute."

She then walked on stage to loud applause. She waved, smiled, and blew kisses to the crowd. She stepped up to the microphone stand and took the microphone out of its stand. A spotlight shone down on her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to my first concert. Before I begin my concert, I would like to say a few words. I would like to dedicate this concert to a good friend of mine who has been listed as Missing in Action for over two weeks. His name is Lieutenant junior grade Richard Hunter, and he is one of the bravest, kindest, and gentlest man I have ever known.

You know…after I became Miss Macross and when I visit the hospitals and visit the wounded and injured pilots and soldiers, I am thankful that it is not Rick in that hospital bed…but still I cannot help but to think about Rick when I see those injured pilots because he could have been one of them. So tonight...it should not matter whether if you are for this war or if you are against this war, you should never forget who is fighting this war; and that is our military. So, if you know of someone who is in the military or even if you do not know them, you go up to them, shake their hand and say to them; 'Thank you for serving us.'" The audience started to applaud her comments. She then nodded to the orchestra conductor to start playing.

Roy was standing up on an upper tier of the ship looking down at the concert. Roy cannot help but smile and nod at Minmei's comments. As Minmei started to sing; "Stage Fright", Claudia walked up to Roy and rested her head on Roy's shoulder.

ON BOARD THE ZENTRAEDI CRUISER

Lisa can feel the pull of space against the ship beginning to ease.

"Uh-oh, we're beginning to de-fold."

"Damn it that's too soon!", Rick cursed. "Max, Ben looks like we will have to fly this thing by the seat of our pants. I think the start button to this thing in on my side. Let me try this button."

Instead of starting the engine, it opened the peephole to the battle pod. Rick was looking at two surprised Zentraedi soldiers.

"Oh, great! Wrong button! Max! The gun is on your side! Start firing!"

"Yes sir."

Max began firing. Instead of firing a burst, Max could not control his firing and kept on firing. Hot bullets instantly killed the two soldiers and soon created a hole on top of the cruiser. Soon the battle pod got sucked out the cruiser. Rick managed to start the engine and just in time because they were heading into a field of bullets and missiles, exploding veritechs and battle pods. He barely managed to steer the battle pod without being shot at.

"Oh man! That was close.", Rick said sweeping the sweat off his brow.

"Max you're picking up anything on the radio?", Lisa asked.

"Not yet ma'am.", Max said as he kept turning the knob.

However, very soon Max picked the sound of Minmei's concert.

"Wait a minute that voice sounds familiar.", Rick said. "It's"

"It's Minmei!", Ben finished. "This means we must be close to the ship!"

"Commander, I think I found an open frequency, but I don't know if it's an RDF frequency or not.", Max said.

"Well, we have to give it a try. Anyone within the sound of my voice, this is Commander Lisa Hayes of the SDF-1. Can anyone hear me?"

"This is Lieutenant Nikki Anderson of the SDF-1. Is that you Commander Hayes?"

"Yes, Nikki it's me. I am in a captured Zentraedi battle pod with Lieutenant j.g. Hunter and Second Lieutenants Max Sterling and Ben Dixon of Vermillion Squadron. I think we are away from the main enemy fleet. We need to be escorted home."

"Roger ma'am, I have you on radar and I have dispatched a flight of veritechs to give you an escort home. You should see them coming at you at your two o'clock."

Max and Rick looked up to try to find the flight of veritechs. Suddenly Max called out; "I see them commander! They're coming around to give us a push home!"

"Roger Nikki. We see them and they are giving us a push home."

"I copy you commander. Welcome home. We've been worried sick about you and the pilots' ma'am."

"Thank you, Nikki. It's good to be home.", Lisa said with tears in her eyes.

Lisa broke off the connection and the four of them begin the cheer and hug each other as the four veritechs begin to push them to the SDF-1.

AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTES:

MILITARY ACRONYMS

TCC – Telecommunications Center. Military facility where military, NATO, and U.S. Government messages from unclassified to TOP SECRET are transmitted and received. This was my job when I was in the U.S. military.

EFTO – Encrypted for Transmission Only. Sub classification used by the TCC for sensitive unclassified information that needs to be encrypted when transmitted so there is no chance of the message being intercepted by the enemy or an unfriendly nation.

SERE – Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape. Specialized survival and escape training for military pilots and special operations forces such as the Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces (the Green Berets) and Delta Force, and Air Force and Marine Corps special operations groups. It was devised by U.S. Army Special Forces colonel Nick Rowe after he was captured by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War when he was captured and was sent to Hanoi to serve time at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prison camp.

NVA – North Vietnamese Army.