TWO OF A KIND
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The alarm clock on Lisa's nightstand went off. Lisa instinctively raised her arm and hit the button to shut off the alarm. She then sat up in her bed and began to stretch and yawn to get herself awake. She then looked over at the still sleeping Rick and smiled. She cannot believe that she would ever fall in love with any man again, much less a man who is five years younger than her.
Rick is so mature for his young age yet somehow still manages to maintain a boyish quality to him that Lisa loves. He has so many responsibilities placed on his young shoulders being a squadron commander, yet he is handling it with such grace and poise. The RDF Academy really taught him well. They really taught him how to be a good leader and officer. The same way she was taught at Annapolis. She leaned down and kissed him lightly on the lips then she gently placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him.
"Rick...Rick, good morning. I have to get up so I can take a shower and pack my bags for Alaska."
Rick slowly began to blink his eyes and began to stir out of his sleep. He then sat up and began to yawn and stretch himself. Rick then looked at Lisa with a look of loss. He clearly does not want to see Lisa leave. Lisa could see the look on his face and her heart broke at the look of sadness on Rick's face.
"Oh, please Rick, don't look at me that way. Please, do not worry. I will not let my father reassign me off the ship. I'll be back in a few days I promise."
Rick's eyes began to mist up. "Please come back Lisa because I love you so much."
"I love you too Rick and I will come back. Try not to worry, I will be back. I will not let my father reassign me off the ship. Besides, he knows the rules about nepotism."
Rick began to nod his head. "Okay Lisa, I believe you. I must go myself. They have us on immediate launch alert.", Rick said as he kissed Lisa.
Rick then threw the blanket and covers off him and got up out of bed and began to put on his clothes. After he put his shoes on and began to walk out of Lisa's bedroom, a still naked Lisa got out of bed herself.
"Hey Rick, wait a minute."
Rick stopped as Lisa walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Rick then wrapped his arms around Lisa's thin waist, and they began to kiss.
"I love you Rick. I will see you in a few days. Please be careful when you're flying."
"I will Lisa. I love you too.", Rick said as he slowly began to walk away from Lisa's bedroom.
Clearly reluctant to see Lisa leave, Rick turned around and kept looking back at Lisa as he was walking slowly out of Lisa's quarters. Lisa waved good-bye with her fingers and blew a kiss at him and mouthed "I love you" at Rick. Rick mouthed "I love you" back at Lisa and continued to slowly walk out of Lisa's quarters and slowly closed the door.
When she heard the door close, Lisa sat on her bed and began to cry. Even though she was ordered to by Captain Gloval, and it was her duty, she clearly hated to be away from Rick. She did not know how long she will be at Alaska Base and if her father will force her to leave the SDF-1 or even if Rick will still be alive when she does come back.
She began to vigorously shake her head no. She would not allow negative thoughts to enter her mind. She will come back to the SDF-1 and Rick will not be on the KIA list when she comes back. After looking at the alarm clock on her nightstand, she began to pick up the pace. She went to her dresser-drawer to take out several changes of bras, panties, and pantyhose. She then went to the closet to get out her suitcase and enough changes of uniforms to last her several days and her uniform coat. She then carefully packed her suitcase with her uniforms, bathrobe and several changes of bras, panties, and pantyhose. She then went into the bathroom and turned on the water to take her shower.
After taking her shower and drying off the water off her body with a big towel, she then blow-dried her hair. She then brushed her teeth, put on her makeup, and put on her deodorant. She then packed her makeup, hairbrush, and toiletries in a compartment of her suitcase and locked her suitcase. She then grabbed her uniform coat and laid it over her arm, took her suitcase off her bed and rolled it out of her bedroom. She then remembered that Captain Gloval may want her to do some work on the plane, so she grabbed her laptop and briefing papers she used to brief Captain Gloval and the senior officers of the SDF-1 and packed them in a laptop briefcase and slung it over her shoulder. In her living room Lisa grabbed the keys to her quarters, closed and locked the door and walked to Captain Gloval's office.
When she arrived at Gloval's office, she knocked his office door.
"Come in Lisa, the door is unlocked."
Lisa opened the door but instead of walking in, she poked her head inside.
"I'm ready to go when you are captain."
"Alright Lisa, let's go."
Gloval got up from behind his desk and walked out of his office and locked the door. He did not have any luggage or suitcases with him. Someone must have already stowed his suitcase in the plane. Lisa was envious of him. 'It must be nice to be the captain. Lisa said to herself.
On the flight deck of the Prometheus, an executive jet was warming up. A flight desk crewman grabbed Lisa's suitcase and told her he will stow in the cargo hold under the fuselage. Lisa let him take her suitcase so it can be stowed away. Gloval and Lisa walked up the short stairs into the cabin of the jet. A cabin crewmember then closed the door. The pilot came into the cabin from the cockpit.
"Okay Captain Gloval, Commander Hayes, please fasten your seat belts, we'll be taking off in a few minutes. We will have two veritechs escort us to and from Alaska. I think they're from…uh…Vermillion Squadron I believe."
Lisa could not help but smile when she heard the pilot mentioned Vermillion Squadron. 'Good, that means Rick will be escorting us, I hope so. It will be so nice to have someone warm to cuddle up beside me in bed if we have to stay overnight in Alaska.'
The pilot then walked back into the cockpit and closed the door. His voice came over the intercom.
"We're being taxied onto the catapult. We should be taking off in a few minutes."
The pilot then contacted the bridge.
"Control tower this is RDF flight one-two-zero-niner requesting clearance for take-off. Over."
Lieutenant Anderson who is Lisa's replacement for the time she will be in Alaska answered the pilot. "RDF flight one-two-zero-niner this is tower. You can take off once you are cleared from the cat officer. Your call sign is 'Thumper'; your veritech escort flight's call sign is 'Jumbo'. Over."
"Acknowledged tower Thumper out."
The pilot then switched back to the intercom. "Captain Gloval, Commander Hayes, be prepared to brace yourselves. We're going to be shot off the catapult at any second now."
The pilot looked over at the catapult officer and saw him salute to tell him he is ready to be shot off the catapult. The pilot returned the salute and gave the catapult officer the "thumbs-up" sign telling the cat officer he is ready. The cat officer then knelt to one knee and pointed his finger forward telling the "shooter" to press the button to send the magnetic catapult forward thus sending the jet down the short runway at over 160 knots an hour.
Lisa hates this part of flying even though she has gone through this many times. Even though Rick, Roy and other pilots tell her it is the landing and not the take-off that pilots hate, she still does not like taking off in a plane by a catapult. She once told Rick that being shot off a catapult in an airplane was like being "shot out of a cannon." But she admitted that she does not like the landing part either.
Before she had a chance to properly brace herself, she felt the forward momentum of the jet being flung forward by the catapult as she was being pushed back into her seat. Within a few seconds, she felt a momentary dip of the jet before the pilot grabbed the wheel and pointed the jet skyward. It was only then she began to feel less tense. Several minutes later, she looked out the window to see a veritech on the starboard side and another one on the port side of the jet. But something was not right; none of the veritechs escorting the jet is Rick's veritech. She can recognize Rick's veritech instantly. The veritech on the jet's port side is Ben Dixon and Max Sterling is on the starboard side.
'Wait a minute, something's not right here! What is going on? Where's Rick? Why isn't he escorting us?'
SDF-1 CARRIER AIR WING SECTION
CONFERENCE ROOM
SQUADRON COMMANDER'S DAILY OPERATIONAL AND INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING
EARLIER IN THE MORNING
Roy was standing at the podium with the delta RDF symbol in front trying to get everyone to quiet down so he can give them their daily briefing. Everyone was talking all at once. Roy literally had to scream at the top of his lungs to get himself heard above the noise.
"ALL RIGHT! EVERYONE PIPE DOWN SO I CAN GET THIS BRIEFING UNDER WAY!"
Everyone in the room then began to quiet down.
"Thank you! Alright, item one, things are going to be different now that we are back on Earth. We are going to have to do Combat Air Patrols from here on out. I had to switch the flight roster a bit. For today, Falcon and Eagle Squadron will be the low CAP, Hornet and Tomcat will be the mid-level CAP and Ghost and Wolf Squadron will be the high CAP. Skull and Corsair Squadron is on alert 5. Everyone else is either on stand-by or off flight rotation. Vermillion Squadron, you are detailed to escort Captain Gloval to Alaska Base and that is the reason why I had to change the flight roster around, so Rick, detail a pilot along with yourself to…oh wait a minute…belay that." Roy said as he shuffled through his papers. "Uh Rick…you have been detailed to fly on a special mission. I will tell you what it is after we are finished here. So, you will have to detail another pilot to be your replacement.
Okay item number two, J-2 said that RDF Intelligence cannot give us any information on why the enemy allowed us to land on Earth because they do not know other than that they allowed us to land. But they did say to be on alert for sudden attacks so be ready to scramble when the alarm goes off.
Last item. Flying will a lot different for us now that we are back on the gravity of Earth and most especially now that we are in the middle of the ocean. So, if you do get shot down and must eject, please remember to try to untangle yourself from your parachute just as soon as you can, get into your life raft and have your shark repellent with you. Alright, any questions?"
Roy looked around the room. No one raised a hand or spoke up.
"No. Alright then, we are done here. Be safe up there today."
After the briefing was over, Rick ran up to Roy. "Roy what's going on? What's the special mission you have me flying?"
"Oh yeah, right, I almost forgot. Minmei called me last night. She said that her agent is allowing her to fly home to Yokohama, Japan to visit her parents to let her know she is alive and safe. She is still kind of afraid of asking you directly because you will get upset at her for calling you all the time so that is why she asked me. I told her yes, you can fly her home."
'She did it to me again!' "WHAT? Roy! Lisa is flying with Captain Gloval to Alaska Base!"
"WHAT? You're kidding me Rick!"
"NO! I am not kidding you Roy! Lisa is flying with Captain Gloval to Alaska Base because the captain needs Lisa to help convince the Joint Staff, the UN and the UEG to let the civilians off the SDF-1 and help convince the RDF to take seriously the enemy threat and the coming invasion from all those ships we saw while we were POWs!"
Roy then reared his head back in frustration. "Oh! This is great! Rick you should have told me sooner that Lisa was flying with Captain Gloval! I didn't know she was flying with Captain Gloval until you told me!"
"Roy! I did not feel the need to tell you that. I didn't even know my squadron was supposed to be escorting Captain Gloval's jet until you told me during the briefing!"
Roy blew out a breath of frustration. "I'm sorry Rick. Well, I could call her back and tell her you have been ordered by Captain Gloval to escort him to Alaska Base and I will detail another pilot to fly her to Japan, but I have the feeling that she will say no because she told me that you're the only pilot besides me she trusts with her life."
"No, that's okay Roy. I will fly her to Japan. I will have Max and Ben escort Captain Gloval and Lisa to Alaska and back. Besides, Minmei and I have some things to talk over. What time does she want to take off?"
"She said you and her can take-off at any time after the morning briefings. Her agent somehow managed to get a private jet for her. The jet's short enough to just go down the flight deck. You don't need the cat to assist you in taking off."
"Okay, I'll go to my quarters and pack a suitcase. I should be out on the flight line in a couple of minutes."
"Thanks Rick, again I'm sorry I have to do this to you. If I would have known sooner that Lisa was flying with Captain Gloval to Alaska, I would have detailed another pilot to fly her to Japan or I would have flown her myself."
Rick tried not being exasperated but cannot help but being fed up with the whole deal. Once again Minmei has come in the way between him and Lisa. He knows or at least hope that Minmei does not know or suspect that he has a relationship with Lisa, but he cannot help but feel that Minmei is trying to get herself in between him and Lisa.
"No…it's okay Roy. I should have told you sooner that Lisa was flying to Alaska with Captain Gloval. Give me a minute to tell Max and Ben to get suited up and tell Minmei to meet me on the flight line."
"Thanks Rick. I will call Minmei and tell her to meet you at the flight line in a few minutes. I'll be at the flight line to give you your flight information and everything."
"Thanks Roy."
"No problem, Rick."
'Yeah, no problem for you, big brother but it is for me.'
Rick walked down to his squadron's ready room and told Ben and Max to suit up to fly escort for Captain Gloval and Lisa, and to pack an overnight bag. He then walked to his quarters to pack up for what hopefully will be just an overnight trip. After packing a change of clothes and toiletries, Rick zipped up his overnight bag, grabbed his aviator's sunglasses and the keys to his quarters, closed and locked the door. Rick walked onto the flight line to find Roy, Minmei and her agent waiting for him along with several thousand of Minmei's fans screaming and yelling her name. There were so many people on the flight line that the Master at Arms had to detail extra people from the ship to keep the fans back. Roy walked up to Rick with some papers in his hand and began to hand it over to Rick. He literally had to yell to be heard above the screaming fans.
"Alright Rick, here's your flight plan and your flight map! Because you will be flying a civilian, and you are in a civilian aircraft you will not be given a flight call sign! Your flight call sign will just be the jet's identification which is November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo! Other than that, take-off procedures are the same as if you are in your veritech! Contact the tower for take-off clearance! Once you get clearance, you are cleared for take-off! Have a good trip Rick and stay safe!"
"Thanks Roy, I will! We'll probably be back in a day or two!"
Roy then nodded his head and patted Rick on the shoulder and walked away.
Minmei was busy signing autographs when Rick tapped her on the shoulder.
"Minmei I'm ready to take off! We got to go!"
Minmei nodded her head. "Okay Rick."
Minmei's agent Vance Hasselwood walked besides Rick matching him step to step and partially blocking his way towards the plane. "Alright! Now look here young man. I want you to take good care of Minmei and keep her safe. Minmei is a terribly busy young woman and I expect you to take her safely to Japan and bring her back just as safely."
Rick jumped in the agent's face. "Now look you! I do not care who you are but if you do not mind how 'bout getting out of my way because Minmei and I about ready to take off!"
Hasselwood immediately raised up his hands. "Alright, alright, there's no need to get testy."
"Vance, don't worry about me. Rick's a good pilot. I trust him with my life."
"I don't know Minmei, he looks a little too young for me."
"VANCE!"
"Okay, okay. I was just trying to make a little joke here, you know, just trying to lighten the mood and I wanted to make sure you're in good hands that's all." The agent said as he stepped out Rick and Minmei's way.
"Sorry about that Rick. Vance tends to get a little bit overprotective at times."
"Yeah whatever."
Minmei followed Rick to the jet and walked up the stairs. At the doorway of the jet, Minmei turned around and waved and blew kisses to the cheering crowd then went into the cabin. A flight deck crewman folded up the stairs, stowed it away and closed the door. Minmei was helped to her seat by a cabin steward. Rick walked into the cockpit and did a preflight check of the instrument panel, radars, flight wheel, pedals, and gears. After being satisfied with everything, Rick turned on the intercom.
"Okay everyone, go ahead and buckle yourselves in. I'm about to turn the engines on and contact the tower to ask permission to take off."
"Okay Rick, we're buckled in.", he heard Minmei say from the cabin.
Rick then contacted the tower. "Tower, this is November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo, request permission to take off over."
"November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo, runway is clear. You are cleared for takeoff, have a safe trip sir over."
"Thank you tower, November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo, out."
Rick turned on the engines to the jet, turned off the brakes and opened the throttle. The jet then went down the runway and it cleared the runway and went up in the air with several meters to spare. Rick then banked the jet to the northwest towards Japan. The jet clawed its way through the sky until Rick got the jet at 30,000 feet. Rick then turned on the intercom.
"Alright everyone, we're at cruising attitude now. You can unfasten your seat belts but be ready to buckle yourselves in again just in case we hit turbulence."
Rick knew this would be the time to talk to Minmei, but he had to think of a way to get her into the cockpit without the cabin steward getting suspicious.
"Minmei, you can come into the cockpit now if you want me to show you how to fly a plane."
Seconds later, there was a knock at the door separating the cockpit from the cabin.
"Come on in Minmei. The door is open."
Minmei opened the door and sat in the co-pilot's seat.
"Minmei, we need to talk."
Minmei nodded her head. "I had an idea you wanted to talk with me when you came over the intercom saying you wanted show me how to fly a plane when really I never remembered asking you that."
"First of all, Minmei, I'm glad you called me asking me how I was doing after me and my friends made it back to the ship after escaping from the enemy and I'm sorry I never returned your phone calls. But Minmei…you cannot keep calling me almost every other day asking me to do something with you. I cannot just drop what I am doing at the time just because you need me, or you want me to do something with you. I have a life of my own that I want to live. My life cannot revolve around you all the time. It doesn't work that way."
"I'm sorry Rick. It is just that I want to get to know you better. When we were trapped in that cargo hold, we spent most of our time trying to find a way out of the cargo hold and trying to survive. Now that you are a squadron commander and me being Miss Macross, singing, doing concerts, and looking at movie scripts and taking acting lessons, we are spending even less time together. I am glad I'm your friend, but we hardly know anything about each other. But I think you know more about me than I do about you."
"Well…what do you want to know about me?"
Before Minmei could answer Rick's question, there was knock at the door.
"Come in, the doors unlocked."
The door opened. It was the cabin steward.
"Excuse me Lieutenant Hunter, Miss Minmei, do the both of you want anything to drink?"
"A cup of coffee will be fine for me for now. I'll take it black no cream or sugar.", Rick said.
"I'll have a cup of green tea.", Minmei said.
The steward nodded and closed the door.
"Well, what do you want to know about me Minmei?"
"Well, where you're from, your parents, what do you enjoy doing, your hobbies…you know the usual."
Rick shrugged his shoulders. "Okay that's fair enough. Well…to begin with, I am from Windham, New York. My father was an Air Force pilot. He won the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War after he was shot over North Vietnam while on a mission. He was able to elude the enemy with help from a Marine pilot in an OV-10 Bronco. That is how I was able to attend the RDF Academy. After he retired from the Air Force, he took over our family's air circus. My uncle who is a retired naval pilot did not want to have anything to with the air circus, that's why my father took over the air circus."
"What about your mom?"
"My mom died when I was seven years old. She died of breast cancer."
"Oh Rick, I'm so sorry. To have your mom die when you were so young, it must have been hard on you."
Rick solemnly nodded his head. "It hurt for long time. It took me a while to get over my mom's death. But I think it affected my dad the most because my mom and dad loved each other."
"Is your dad still alive?"
Rick shook his head. "Pop died when I was in my early teens. He died of a heart attack, but I think he really died of a broken heart because like I said before my dad and mom loved each other very much."
"Can someone please open the door? My hands are full.", the cabin steward said from the other side.
Minmei opened the door. The cabin steward entered the cockpit with hot mugs filled with black coffee for Rick and green tea for Minmei.
For the next hour Rick told Minmei just about everything about his life including the accident that killed Cathy and spurred him to attend the RDF Academy and join the RDF. Minmei then began to understand Rick better.
"I'm sorry I did all those things to you Rick. Really, I really didn't mean to bother you all the time but"
"You don't have to apologize to me Minmei. I don't mind doing things with you…it's I don't want to do it all the time."
"I understand Rick.", Minmei said as she got up to leave to go back to the cabin.
"I'm glad Minmei."
"Oh Rick."
"Yes Minmei."
"You said you're having a relationship with someone. I saw you leave the concert with Commander Hayes. Are you in a relationship with her?"
"No Minmei and it's the truth.", Rick said as he was looking straight at her.
"Okay Rick, I believe you." But her mind was telling him something else. 'Yeah, sure Rick, you're not in a relationship with her and I'm not Miss Macross.'
Minmei then left the cockpit to go back to her seat. After Minmei left the cockpit, Rick began to wonder if Minmei suspects Rick is in a romantic relationship with Lisa. He thought about it for a minute and let the thought pass. If Minmei suspects that he is having a romantic relationship with Lisa, there is nothing he can do to stop her suspicions. If she does not know, that is fine with Rick. The steward then knocked on the door asking Rick if he wanted lunch. Rick said yes and a half an hour later, the steward served Rick his lunch. Rick set the auto pilot so he can eat his lunch.
Several hours later, Rick knew they are in Japan because he saw Mount Fujiyama. This was the first time he ever saw the famous mountain in person, and it looked even more beautiful seeing it in person than it did looking at it in schoolbooks. Rick flipped on the intercom switch.
"Minmei, we're in Japan now. I see Mount Fuji. It's off to your left."
Rick can hear Minmei's voice became extremely excited. "Mount Fuji, it means I'm almost home!"
Rick then contacted the control tower. "Tokyo International tower, this is November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo requesting clearance and landing instructions over."
A heavily Japanese accented voice came over Rick's headset. "November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo, this is Tokyo International tower. You are cleared to land on runway 16R. Please be informed you are required to still clear customs. Over."
"Tokyo International tower, this is November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo, acknowledged landing instructions and we will clear customs once we land November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo out."
Rick then flipped on the intercom. "Alright everyone, I hope you're all buckled in because we'll be landing in a couple of minutes. We still have to clear customs after we land."
Rick guided the jet to a picture-perfect landing. After telling the steward to get a hotel room for the night just in case they will have to stay overnight, Rick and Minmei cleared customs Rick and Minmei grabbed their luggage and went to the train station. As soon as they entered the station, a bullet train was entering the station. They took the train from the airport to Minmei's hometown of Yokohama. Minmei was excited to be home. As they were walking through the city on their way to Yokohama's Chinatown, Minmei showed Rick all the places that were familiar to her. When she and Rick reached Minmei's parents' home, she knocked on the door.
ALASKA BASE
It had taken over half the day to fly to the RDF base in Alaska. While they were in the air, Gloval had Lisa type up on the laptop; the briefings he and Lisa will give to Admiral Hayes and the other brass of the RDF in between shots of vodka Captain Gloval was downing. While they were in the air, Gloval was informed earlier that a teleconference link will be hooked up with UEG and UN officials who are hidden away in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Colorado ramping up the pressure on Captain Gloval and Lisa to give a convincing argument to the brass and bureaucrats. After Lisa typed and retyped the briefings numerous times, Gloval and Lisa did several dry runs of the briefings. Lisa's fingers were getting tired and sore.
"Sir, I think this is the best we can do."
Gloval blew a breath of frustration. "I guess you're right Lisa. We do what we can, the rest is up to the brass and the bureaucrats. I am taking a short rest to sleep off the vodka. You can get some lunch if you want." He said and he lowered his cover over his eyes.
"Thank you, sir." Lisa said as she turned off the laptop and put it back in her laptop briefcase. She then got up to go to the other side of the cabin so Gloval can sleep in private and raised her hand to signal the cabin crewmember that she wants to order lunch. 30 minutes later, her lunch arrived, and Lisa ate her lunch while the captain still slept. Soon afterwards, Lisa fell asleep herself.
It was several hours later when the cabin crewmember shook Lisa and Captain Gloval from their sleep because they were about to land at Alaska Base. Lisa awoke fine but Gloval groaned. His head was still aching and spinning from all the vodka he drank. And to top it all off, he did not eat. He will have to wait until they land and find out when they can brief the brass and politicians before he can even think about eating. It was already getting dark, and a cold wind was whipping when they landed.
"Well, time to put on your coat Lisa."
"Yes sir."
The door was already open, and the stairs were placed even before Gloval and Lisa entered the doorway. A car pulled up and the driver got out, opened the back door, and saluted when Gloval and Lisa entered the back seat with Gloval returning the enlisted driver's salute.
After the drive closed the door and started the car, the driver told Gloval and Lisa some news. "Sir, ma'am, I've been told to tell you that your presentation to the brass and the representatives of the UN and UEG will be given at 0900 hours tomorrow morning. It is getting late in the day and the brass do not like to sit through a briefing going into the late evening or early night. So, you will be spending the night here, present your briefings in the morning and fly back immediately after you made your briefings."
For Gloval, that means good news. That means he can finally eat a meal. "Thank you, sergeant."
"You're welcome sir."
But for Lisa, that was not good news. 'Great, I will be spending the night in bed alone and without Rick to keep me warm.'
The driver dropped off Gloval and Lisa at the Visiting Officer's Lodge, but because Gloval is a senior officer, the driver carried his bags in while Lisa had to carry her own. Lisa sighed to herself. 'Rank certainly does have its privileges.'
Gloval and Lisa checked in and the desk clerk gave them their room cards. Gloval, Lisa and the driver entered the elevator. Gloval's room is in a section reserved for senior officers which is on the upper floor while Lisa's room is in s section for lower grade officers on the lower floor. After saying good night to Gloval and getting off the elevator, Lisa walked down the hall until she reached her room. She put her card in the slot and waited until the light turned green. When the light turned green, she turned the knob and opened the door. She searched for the light switch until she found it and then turned on the light. She looked around the room. It looked like any other hotel room she stayed in. It had a bed, desk, chaise lounge chair, two nightstands, lamps, alarm clock radio and a television set that was on top of a long dresser-drawer..
After setting her luggage down, Lisa sat down in the chaise lounge chair. She really felt wiped out and tired. The jet lag was catching up with her. She did not want to go to sleep because it was only early evening, but the jet lag was killing her, so she decided to take a short nap before deciding on what to eat for dinner.
When she finally opened her eyes, she looked at the alarm clock radio. It read 8:00pm. Lisa hoped the lodge's restaurant is still opened. She looked around until she found the lodge's information book. The restaurant closes at 2100 hours. She has time left to eat dinner. She left her room and took the elevator down to the lobby to the restaurant. After eating dinner and leaving a tip for the waiter she walked back to her room and get ready to go to bed. She was still wiped out by the jet lag. After taking off her uniform and put on a hanger, she put on her bathrobe and went in the bathroom to brush her teeth. After finishing brushing her teeth and calling the front desk for a 0600 wake up call, Lisa took off her bathrobe, she then absentmindedly took off her bra and panties' not realizing Rick was not with her. Instead of putting her panties back on, she just threw back the blanket and covers and went to bed naked. She then turned off the light that was on one of the nightstands. She was asleep in a matter of minutes.
MR. AND MRS. LYNN'S HOME
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
Minmei's mother opened the door. When she saw Minmei, a look of surprise and shock came across her face and immediately, she began to cry.
"Hello mother.", Minmei said in a hesitant voice with her own eyes tearing up.
"Minmei…it is you?"
"Yes mother…it is me."
"Oh, my daughter…your father and I have been so worried about you. When we heard on the news that Macross Island somehow disappeared, we feared the worse. We thought you were dead!"
"No mother, I'm alive. Is father here?"
"Yes, yes he is. Come in my child.", Minmei's mother said as she put her hand on her daughter's shoulder with Rick following close behind.
"Chang! Chang! Come downstairs now!"
Minmei's father came downstairs to see Minmei standing in the middle of the living room. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Minmei…it is you? Is it really you?"
"Yes father…it is me."
"Oh, my daughter we thought you're dead!", Minmei's father said as he ran towards Minmei and threw his arms around Minmei's neck and began to hug her very tightly.
"No father, I'm very much alive."
After a while, Minmei and her father separated. He then looked over at Rick.
"And who are you, young man?"
"Oh…mother, father, this is my friend, Rick Hunter. He saved my life once and he is a pilot in the military. He's the one who flew me home to so I can see you."
Minmei's mother and father shook hands to Rick.
"Minmei, what have you doing since you left home?", Minmei father asked as they sat down on the couch and Rick sat down in a chair.
Minmei began to tell her mother and father about seeing the SDF-1 being rebuilt, the alien attack, the hyperspace jump that put them on the far end of the solar system, being stranded in space, almost dying after being trapped in a cargo hold on the ship for almost two weeks without eating, entering the Miss Macross Pageant, and winning it, becoming an overnight singing sensation and instant celebrity. She is even looking at movie scripts. After finishing her story, Minmei's parents became very frightened.
"Minmei, I think you should not go back to the ship. You should stay here with us." Minmei's father told her.
"I must agree with your father Minmei."
"Father, I can't. I have a new life now. I am a singing star and a celebrity. I am not going to leave it all behind to live with you again. I want to live a different life than owning a Chinese restaurant like you and Uncle Max."
"Minmei don't disobey me!"
"I don't want to father but I must!"
"Minmei you are disappointing us!", Minmei's mother said with tears in her eyes.
"Hey what's with all the yelling? I can't study.", a slim young man with long black hair said as he was walking down the stairs. He then stopped when he saw Minmei.
"Minmei…it is really you?"
"Hello Kyle.", Minmei said very coldly as she stood up.
Kyle ran to hug Minmei, but she only let him hug her for a second before pushing him away.
"Minmei, I thought you're dead."
"Well Kyle, it's obvious I'm not."
Kyle looked over at Rick. "And who are you?"
Rick extended his hand. "I'm Rick Hunter."
"Rick's a friend of mine Kyle. He's a pilot in the military."
"Oh, I see.", Kyle said very coldly not reaching to shake Rick's hand.
'What a bastard., Minmei said to herself.
"What's all the arguing about uncle?", Kyle asked.
Minmei's father began to tell his nephew about Minmei sudden stardom and success on the SDF-1 and the dangers she faced in space and that he and her mother wants her not to go back to the ship and to stay with them. Kyle thought for a moment then spoke up.
"Uncle, I think I know of a way to solve both your problems. Why don't I travel back with Minmei back to the ship so I can keep an eye on her? That way Minmei can still enjoy her success and I can tell you how she's doing."
"NO! I am not going to agree to that. C'mon Rick! We're leaving!"
Everyone including Rick was surprised with what Minmei said.
"Minmei we just got here!", Rick said.
"I don't care Rick! We're leaving!", Minmei said as she got up to leave at the same time grabbing her luggage.
"Minmei don't disobey us!", Her father shouted.
But Minmei was not listening. She stormed out the house and immediately began walking back to the train station. Rick turned to face Minmei's parents. Minmei's mother began to cry while her father put his arm around his wife trying to comfort her.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lynn…I…don't know what to say…I'm sorry for all this. I didn't know she was going to do that."
"Mr. Hunter, you have no need to apologize to us. It is not your fault. Please…just look after our daughter for us."
"I will sir. It was nice meeting the both of you."
Rick immediately ran to catch up with Minmei. "Minmei! Minmei wait up for me!"
"Minmei, why did you do that for? They're your parents."
"Rick! I have a life of my own I want to live now! I am not going to give up everything that I have worked hard for these past months just because my parents are frightened for me. I am not going to go back to living the rest of my life being a no body, married to a guy my parents arranged with another family and owning another Chinese restaurant in Yokohama's Chinatown! I won't do it!"
"What's with your cousin?"
"He says he's an anti-war activist but he's more of an anti-military nut as you probably saw. He is also in love with me the freak. He even tried to have sex with me one time shortly before we left for Macross. Uncle Max, Aunt Lena, Jason, and myself was staying at my parent's house because all our furniture and most of our belongings had already been shipped to Macross Island. He crept into my bedroom one night while I was sleeping and tried to pull my panties down. Luckily, I had awakened just in time to find out what he was trying to do. I hit him in his nuts with my knee."
"Oh my gosh! Did you tell your parents, Uncle Max or Aunt Lena that he tried to rape you?"
"No. I didn't because we were leaving Yokohama for Macross Island in several days, so I never thought it was worth the trouble to tell them, but I did warn him after I hit his genitals that if he ever tried to rape me again, I'll cut his balls off! Father would have approved of what Kyle suggested and there was no way in Hell I would want him anywhere near me not after what he tried to do to me! That was really the last straw for me."
"Why is he staying with your parents?"
"Uncle Max kicked him out years ago because he was more interested in protesting than studying. He says he is now back being a college student majoring in political science at Yokohama National University, but I think he is really mooching off my parents because he has no other place to live. Even his anti-war friends won't let him live with them because he's too damned lazy to get a job."
When they got the train station and brought their tickets back to the airport, a bullet train was just approaching the station. After finding a seat and sitting down, Minmei broke down and began to cry. Rick could do nothing but to let her cry on his shoulder and try to protect her from wondering eyes. The train then reached the airport.
"Minmei, how about we get a hotel room for tonight because we told the steward to get a room. So instead of making the steward waste money by having to cancel the room, why do not we both get a hotel room and spend the night here. Besides, I am wiped out and I want to get some rest before I have fly us back to the SDF-1 tomorrow morning. It will also give you a chance to think things over."
Minmei nodded her head. "No problem Rick. I understand you needing rest and all but I'm not going to change my mind about my parents and cousin."
"Well…it's your decision Minmei. I can't make it for you."
"I know Rick."
Rick and Minmei got rooms in the same hotel the steward was staying in. The next morning, Rick met up with Minmei in the restaurant for breakfast.
"I take it we're going back to the ship by ourselves?"
Minmei nodded her head.
After eating breakfast, checking out of the hotel, and clearing customs, Rick, Minmei and the cabin steward entered the jet. After doing his preflight checks, starting up the engines and contacting the tower for departure instructions, Rick taxied the jet onto the runway. Minutes later, Rick had the jet up in the air and pointed the jet in a southeasterly direction back to the SDF-1.
ALASKA BASE
THE NEXT MORNING
Lisa was in bed dreaming that she was on a deserted tropical island with Rick. She was naked and Rick, who was also naked, was chasing her on the beach and he caught her. He then laid her gently down on the sand and they began to kiss and make love on the sand as the surf came crashing in around them. She was smiling as her mind was sending her signals that Rick was really kissing and making love to her. Then the telephone began to ring bringing Lisa out of her erotic dream. It was then she realized that she was not on a deserted tropical island with Rick but in Alaska. She groaned in disgust, turned on the light that was on the nightstand and answered the telephone.
"Yes…thank you."
Lisa then sat up in bed and began to stretch and yawn to get herself awake. She then threw the blanket and covers off her and began the daily grind of getting ready for the duty day. Only except this duty day she, and Captain Gloval will have to meet her father and the other brass of the RDF and the bureaucrats and politicians of the UN and the UEG. It was something she was not looking forward to, especially meeting her father considering how their last meeting ended but it was something she simply could not avoid.
She went to the closet to get her suitcase, laid it on the bed and opened it. She reached in and grabbed her toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, hair conditioner and soap. Even though the lodge supplies soap, shampoo and hair conditioner, Lisa does not like using them because the soap dries out her skin and the shampoo and hair conditioner somehow makes her hair either oily or dry depending on the shampoo and conditioner. She then went into the bathroom and closed the door, turned on the shower and stepped in.
After she finished taking her shower, Lisa towel dried her body off and used another towel to damp dry her hair. She then used the hair dryer the lodge supplied with to blow dry her hair. As she was using her hairbrush to straighten out and detangle her hair, Lisa began to remember the times Rick ran his fingers through her hair saying how beautiful and sexy her hair is. Tears began to well up in her eyes; she misses Rick and wishes he were with her to at least give moral support to her even though he cannot be in the room with her and Captain Gloval.
After she finished brushing her hair, she put deodorant on her under arms. She then walked into the main room and picked out her bra, panties and pantyhose and put them on. She then took out a small bag containing her makeup and went to the desk where there was a mirror and used the mirror to help put on her makeup. After finishing putting on her makeup, she got her uniform out of her suitcase and put it on. After putting on her uniform and putting her dirty clothes in a plastic bag and put it in her suitcase. She locked up her suitcase and put it on the floor, grabbed her uniform coat and laptop briefcase, grabbed her room card, and left the room.
Lisa went downstairs to the restaurant. A waitress led her to a table and gave her a menu and told her the breakfast specials and asked Lisa what she wanted to drink. After ordering a cup of coffee, she began to look at the menu. As she was looking at the menu, Captain Gloval walked up and sat next to her. After ordering a cup of coffee himself, he began to look at the menu.
"So how was your night Lisa?"
"It wasn't bad sir, but it could have been better." 'Especially if Rick was with me.'
"I understand Lisa."
After ordering breakfast and their breakfast arrived, they ate their breakfast in silence. After they finished eating their breakfast, Gloval looked at his watch.
"Well, it's time to face the music Lisa. You're ready?"
Lisa sighed. "To tell you the truth sir, no I'm not but let's get this over with."
"I agree Lisa. Let us go."
Another driver came to the lodge to help Gloval with his luggage while Lisa had to carry her own again. After loading their suitcase in the trunk of the sedan, the driver opened the back door and saluted as Gloval and Lisa went into the back seat and Gloval returned the salute. The driver drove Gloval and Lisa to a fenced off and heavily guarded part of the base. A guard armed with an M-16 rifle and a Beretta 9mm pistol raised up his hand. The driver stopped the car, and the guard approached the car and leaned in as the driver automatically rolled down the windows.
"I need to see your identification please."
Gloval and Lisa showed the guard their RDF ID cards.
The guard then stood up and saluted. "Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am."
Gloval and Lisa returned the salute and the driver drove on as the guard signaled the other guard to raise the barrier. The car drove on and stopped at another fenced off and guarded shed. Gloval and Lisa got out of the car when the driver opened the back door and stopped at the entrance of the shed.
"I need to see your identification please."
Again, Gloval and Lisa showed the guard their identification cards. The guards then saluted.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am."
Gloval and Lisa returned the salute as the guard opened the fence and the door. The two then walked down a flight of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a capsule shaped tramcar mounted on magnetic-lift rails with its top open. Gloval and Lisa entered the tramcar and sat down. The top automatically came down and latched. The car immediately began to move down at a downward incline slope. Gloval immediately knew where they are at and where they are going.
"They know more than what they're letting on Lisa."
"How do you know that captain?"
"We're in the barrel of the Grand Cannon."
"Grand Cannon…what's that sir?"
"I might as well tell you this since I let the cat out of the bag. Shortly after the SDF-1 crash landed on Earth, your father, Senator Russo, and others in the RDF and the UEG somehow knew that the original owners of the ship will be coming back wanting to reclaim it and they were bringing some heavy firepower with them, so while the SDF-1 was being rebuilt, construction started on the Grand Cannon."
"But what is the Grand Cannon captain?"
"It is a laser fired weapon that uses the Earth's gravitational field as its main power source. It swings in an arc for almost 180 degrees, and it can swing around 360 degrees."
"How do you know that sir?"
"Your father told me this before I assumed command of the SDF-1. If the SDF-1 was unable to protect Earth from a gigantic alien assault, the Grand Cannon was supposed to be used as a last resort."
"How big is the Grand Cannon sir?"
"I don't know the exact dimensions, but I do know that the barrel is six miles long, so it is a huge weapon. We have a long way to travel down until we reach the chambers where we will meet your father and the other brass."
Gloval reached inside his coat pocket and got his pipe. He stuffed a wad of pipe tobacco in the bowl of the pipe and was about to strike a match to light it when a voice came on. "ATTENTION! ATTENTION! SMOKING IN THIS CAPSULE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED! PLEASE EXTINGUISH ALL SMOKING MATERIALS IMMEDIATELY!"
Gloval yanked the pipe out of his mouth and put the pipe back into his coat pocket with a frustrated look on his face. "Ah! Can't I smoke anywhere? If it is not my bridge crew that is after me about my smoking, it is now these infernal computers telling me I cannot smoke. Humph!"
Lisa covered her mouth with her hand to try to stifle a laugh that was trying to escape her lips.
It had taken the tramcar several minutes to reach the bottom. By the time they have reached the bottom, Gloval and Lisa were in the deepest bowels of Alaska Base. They walked a short distance to the entrance of the conference room where a sergeant was outside sitting at a desk. She stood up and snapped to attention.
"At ease sergeant.", Gloval commanded.
"Thank you, sir. Admiral Hayes and the rest of the Joint Staff are waiting for you. You can enter at any time.
"Thank you, sergeant." He then turned to look at Lisa. "Are you ready Lisa?"
"Ready as I'll ever be sir."
"Okay, here we go."
Gloval knocked on the door. Immediately a voice that was familiar to Lisa answered. "Come in!"
Gloval opened the door and began marching in. Lisa was close behind him and closed the door and began to march closely behind him. They continued to march to a long table. They made a right turn and marched to the middle of the conference table and stopped. Gloval and Lisa saluted. Sitting at the other side of the table was Admiral Donald Hayes and 5 other senior RDF officers.
"Captain Henry J. Gloval reporting to Admiral Hayes as ordered sir."
"Commander Lisa Hayes, I am here at this board at the request of Captain Henry J. Gloval sir."
Admiral Hayes returned the salutes.
"Have a seat captain, commander. Welcome home Henry. It's been a long time since you reported to us in person."
"It's good to be home sir."
Admiral Hayes looked over at his daughter with a neutral look. "And it's good seeing you Commander Hayes. I've been hearing you have been making quite a name for yourself on the SDF-1."
"It's good seeing you admiral.", Lisa said with no emotion in her voice.
Immediately, the faces of the representatives of the UN and the UEG appeared on the widescreen HD view screens.
"Alright, I believe all of us are here. Captain Gloval, I believe you have a report to give to us first?", Admiral Hayes asked.
"Yes, I do sir. It is more of a summation of a more concise report that I have recorded and transcribed. You should all have copies of the report."
"Yes, we do captain.", Admiral Hayes answered.
Captain Gloval spent about 30 minutes reading his report he had Lisa typed up on the laptop on their way to Alaska Base. After he was finished, no one said a word.
"Commander Hayes, I believe you have a briefing to read to us?", Admiral Hayes asked his daughter.
"Actually, it's more a statement but yes, I do have a briefing to give to you sir."
Lisa then read her briefing she gave to the senior officers of the SDF-1. After she was finished, there was dead silence in the conference room. That is until a middle-aged woman who is the U.S. Representative to the U.N. Security Counsel spoke up. "Captain Gloval, are you correct in assuming that the enemy has somewhere between 4 to 5 million ships?"
"That is what RDF Intelligence estimates Madam Ambassador."
"And where is your proof to substantiate your claims?", the woman continued questioning.
"I did have video tape evidence to help prove our claims, but it was destroyed when I was surprised by an enemy solider and the camcorder accidentally slipped out of my hands and fell to the floor. But my claims have been backed up and verified by Lieutenant Rick Hunter, First Lieutenants Benjamin Dixon and Max Sterling Madam Ambassador.", Lisa answered.
"Can it be that much? That is impossible for the enemy to have that many ships! Four to five million ships, that is inconceivable! How can someone be in possession of that many war ships?", an RDF Air Force general said.
"As I said before sir that is only an estimate from RDF Intelligence. The officers didn't have time to stand around and count ships sir."
"There is no need to be sarcastic captain."
"I was not being sarcastic sir. I was just stating a fact."
"Captain Gloval, why wasn't the RDF and we in the U.N. and the UEG notified of this threat earlier?", the Canadian representative asked.
"It's because Madam Ambassador, my first concern was to land on Earth and to try to get the civilians off the ship. Civilians are not supposed to be on a military vessel."
"But Captain Gloval, you were ordered to stay in space. Why did you disobey a direct order?", an RDF Marine general asked.
"Because sir, in your message to us you said, 'we request', you did not say; 'we order you'."
"Be that as it may, Admiral Hayes, do you believe that the Grand Cannon can handle that many ships if it comes down to the enemy attacking Earth?", the British Representative to the U.N. asked.
"I do believe so Mr. Ambassador."
"What do you say captain? Can the Grand Cannon protect Earth?" The French Representative to the U.N. asked Captain Gloval.
"In my honest opinion Monsieur Ambassador…my answer will have to be no. There is no way the Grand Cannon can destroy that many ships in one sweep."
"Then what do you suggest we do Captain Gloval?", an RDF Army general asked.
"I think we should at least negotiate with them."
An audible gasp came from the brass and the bureaucrats.
"Captain you must be out of your mind! Have you read your executive officer's and your other officer's eyewitness accounts of what the enemy did! They laser blasted a planet until it looks liked the moon! What makes you think that the enemy will talk with us?", Admiral Hayes said.
"I realize that sir. But if we do not at least try to negotiate with the enemy and try to at least come to an understanding of each other, we will blast ourselves into oblivion!"
"Captain Gloval, I respect your opinion, but I think what you said was way out of line!", Admiral Hayes said.
"I agree with you Admiral Hayes. I think we should go ahead with the use of the Grand Cannon.", Senator Russo said.
"Captain Gloval, you are hereby ordered to take the SDF-1 and leave Earth orbit and to be stationed somewhere around lunar orbit. You will receive final orders when you return to your ship.", Admiral Hayes said.
"But what about the over 70,000 displaced civilians that are on the ship admiral? Don't they matter in all this?"
"I'm sorry captain but no, the civilians do not matter considering the present situation. The military takes priority in this. The civilians are not to be taken off the ship. When the SDF-1 disappeared, we imposed a news blackout about the disappearance of the SDF-1 and the citizens of Macross. For what the world knows, nothing happened on Macross Island when you went into space. And if the SDF-1 gets attacked…I am sorry Captain Gloval, but the civilians are expendable. If any civilians are injured or killed, they are to be considered as collateral damage."
"But that is impossible admiral! Many of the citizens of Macross called friends and loved ones saying they are alive, and they expect to be reunited with them!"
"YOU DID WHAT CAPTAIN? You allowed civilians to tie up government and military phone lines!"
"Those civilians had the right to call their loved ones and friends to tell them they're alive and I had no right to stop them! And if I were given an order to stop them from calling; I wouldn't have out of common courtesy and decency!"
"Captain Gloval do you realize how much you have complicated matters for us?"
"No sir I do not and if I may be perfectly frank with you, I don't care! But what I do know is that if the civilians are not allowed to leave the ship, I will have a riot on my hands!"
"Captain, if I were you, I would watch what you say and your tone of speaking! You are close to being charged with insubordination! As for the civilians, that is not our problem it is yours! The civilians are not allowed to leave the SDF-1!"
Lisa could not take it anymore. She stood up and pounded her fists on the table. "FATHER, that is too much to ask for of these civilians!"
Admiral Hayes looked at his daughter with a stern look. "Commander Hayes you maybe my daughter but during these proceedings I expect to be addressed by my rank and last name! Is that understood?"
"Yes sir.", Lisa said spitting out the words as she was looking at her father with icy contempt in her eyes.
Admiral Hayes chose to ignore Lisa's icy glare. "Is there anything else you have to tell us Captain Gloval or Commander Hayes?"
"No sir.", Both said.
"Very well, then these proceedings are closed. You're both dismissed."
Captain Gloval and Lisa then stood and saluted. Admiral Hayes returned the salute and both Gloval and Lisa marched out of the conference room. As they were leaving the conference room, Lisa heard her father calling for her by her rank and last name, but she ignored him. Admiral Hayes then thought about chasing after her to try to explain to her why he made the decision to not let the civilians off the SDF-1 but choose not to, deciding it was best to let her simmer down and not cause a scene in front of Gloval. Outside the conference room the capsule tramcar was waiting for them. Gloval and Lisa went into the tramcar, the top automatically closed, and the tramcar slowly began its trip back up to the top.
"Captain, how are we ever going to explain this to the people on the ship? They are expecting to let off the ship when we come back."
"I don't know Lisa…I do not know. Lisa, would you like to spend some time with your father while you are still here? I could authorize a brief leave for you."
"No sir. I have no particular interest in seeing him right now. I just want to get back to the ship." 'And back to Rick.', Lisa said to herself.
"I understand my dear."
When Lisa and Gloval reached the top and the guard let them out, the driver was waiting for them. He opened the back door and saluted. Gloval returned the salute as he and Lisa climbed into the back seat.
"Where do you want to go to sir?"
"We're going to the airfield sergeant. Tell our escort flight to be ready to take off when we reach the airfield."
"Yes sir.", the driver said as he reached into his pocket and got his smart phone. He called the airfield to the pilot of the jet to get the jet ready for take-off and to tell Max and Ben to get ready to escort Captain Gloval and Lisa back to the SDF-1.
At the airfield after the luggage was stowed away and as they were about ready to board the jet, an enlisted aide of Admiral Hayes approached Lisa with an envelope. He saluted as he came up to Lisa.
"Commander Hayes."
"Yes, petty officer."
"I have a personal message for you ma'am, it's from Admiral Hayes."
"Thank you, petty officer."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
Lisa looked at the envelope that had "Commander Hayes" written on the outside and knew immediately that the envelope contained a note from her father even without the navy petty officer telling her so. She tore open the envelope and begins to read.
"My dearest Lisa,
I know you are angry about my decision regarding the SDF-1 and the civilians and for that I am sorry. I do not blame you for being angry. But please try to understand the position regarding the circumstances I am under. I want you to try to understand that I am only concerned about your safety and welfare. Intelligence has uncovered new and frightening information about the enemy and their plans that I cannot share with you because you do not have a need to know. The battle fortress is a dangerous place to be at right now, and I cannot guarantee your safety when the enemy launches an attack. I am working to get you reassigned to another ship or possibly here to Alaska Base before the SDF-1 is ordered to"
'You're such a liar father! You were never concerned about my safety or welfare! All you're concerned about is keeping me under your thumb because of your guilt!'
Lisa became so angry at what her father written that she stopped reading the note. She then folded the note in half and tore it into little pieces and let the wind carry the torn-up pieces of paper away. She then went up the stairs and entered the plane. After she sat down in her chair, she shook her head in disgust because her father violated OPSEC protocols when he told her about RDF Intelligence having new information about the Zentraedi.
PACIFIC OCEAN
As Rick was piloting the jet down from the clouds, he could see the SDF-1 way off in the distance. He turned on the intercom.
"Alright everyone, buckle yourselves in. We are approaching the SDF-1. I'm about to contact the tower for landing instructions."
"We're buckled in Rick.", Minmei said from the cabin.
"SDF-1 this is November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo requesting landing clearance and instructions. Over."
Lieutenant Anderson's voice came over the radio. "November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo this is the SDF-1. You are cleared for landing once I hand you over to the landing signal officer. Over."
"Roger SDF-1. Request that someone notify Miss Minmei's agent and tell him that his client will be back on board the ship in a matter of minutes. Over."
"Acknowledged November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo, someone will notify Mr. Hasselwood very shortly. Welcome home Lieutenant Hunter. Over."
"It's good to be home SDF-1 November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo out."
"November-one-seven-four-Whiskey-Romeo you're less than 5 kilometers away call the ball."
"Roger LSO, I have the ball.
"Roger ball. Your glide path is fine."
Once Rick hit the flight deck, he reversed thrusters and flipped up his flaps to slow his air speed. The jet stopped with several feet to spare.
"Great landing Rick as always. Welcome home."
"Thanks. It's great to be home.", Rick said as he shut off the engines and took off his headset.
Just as soon as he left the cockpit, the door to the jet opened. Rick, Minmei and the cabin steward walked down the stairs. Minmei turned and hugged Rick.
"Thanks, Rick, for flying me home and back again."
"It's no problem Minmei. I'm sorry things didn't work out between you and your parents."
"You don't have to apologize to me Rick. It is not your problem. It's something that I will have to work out with my parents."
"I hope you will Minmei because there are no people more important in our lives than our parents. I should know. You're lucky Minmei, your parents are both alive and mine aren't."
"I know Rick. I do not know what my agent will have me doing for the next few weeks so I will not be seeing you very much, but I will try to stay in touch with you. But I will try to be good and not call you all the time."
"That's all I ask, Minmei. But don't call me so rarely that I don't know how you're doing so don't be a stranger alright?"
"I won't Rick."
As she turned and walked away, Minmei's agent came running up to her. "Minmei, I'm glad you're home. We have a lot of work to do."
Minmei was exasperated. She could not believe that Vance wants her work after just arriving back home. "Vance! I cannot believe you would even suggest something like that! I just got back home. I am tired from the jet lag and my reunion with my parents did not go exactly the way I planned, so I am not in the mood for working right now. Can we start fresh tomorrow morning?"
"Uh…yeah…sure Minmei, it's no problem."
PACIFIC OCEAN
LATE EVENING
It was dark when the jet carrying Captain Gloval and Lisa was making its approach to the SDF-1. The pilot's voice came on the intercom.
"Alright Captain Gloval, Commander Hayes, we're less than six kilometers away from the ship. If you have not buckled yourselves in yet, do it now. I'm about to contact the ship for landing instructions."
Lisa buckled herself in and made sure it was clinched in tight. Not only does she hate taking off from the ship, but like the pilots, she also hates the landing part. The pilots tell her that landing on the ship is like a "controlled crash" and she believes it. But what makes this part of flying even more dangerous is that they will be landing in pitch darkness.
"Thumper, you're less than five kilometers away. Call the ball.", the Landing Signal Officer said over the radio.
"Roger LSO, Thumper has the ball."
"Roger ball. You glide path approach is good."
As the jet continued its descent to the ship, Lisa can hear the landing gear going down and locking then the jet's tail hook going down and locking. Lisa was tense and was sweating. But before she even realized what was going on, Lisa felt the wheels hitting the deck of the Prometheus and the pilot throwing the engine to full power. Within seconds, the jet stopped inches away from the other end of the flight deck. Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. At last, she is home. She unbuckled her seat belt and followed Captain Gloval out of the cabin. An aide of Captain Gloval met him outside the jet to take his luggage to his quarters. A flight deck crewmember helped get Lisa's luggage out of the cargo holds and handed it to her. Lisa thanked the crewmember and started walking off the flight deck. As she and Gloval was walking off the flight deck, Gloval turned to her.
"Lisa, why don't you take tomorrow off? You deserve it."
"Thank you, sir."
As soon as he said that a smile came to Lisa's lips. As soon as she left the flight deck, she reached in her uniform jacket and pulled out her smart phone. She pressed the phone app and speed-dialed a number. She waited while the phone was ringing until she heard a voice.
"Hi Roy, it's Lisa. I'm back onboard ship."
"Hey Lisa! Welcome home!"
"Oh, thank you, it is good to be home. Roy, I have a question for you; is Rick and Vermillion Squadron on flight rotation tomorrow?"
"Yes, they are. They're on stand-by"
"They are. Can you do me a big favor?"
"Sure Lisa, what is it?"
"Can you switch them with another squadron that will be off flight rotation? Captain Gloval is letting me have tomorrow off and I would like to spend it with Rick."
"Yeah, sure. I can."
"You can?"
"Umm-hmm. I'll just switch them with Fury Squadron."
"Thanks Roy, I owe you one."
"Ah, it's no problem Lisa. Don't mention it."
"Say, do you know if Rick's in his quarters or is he out with his friends?"
"That I do not know."
"You do not know. Well, that is okay; I will just call the front desk to the BOQ to see if he is in. Oh, and before we hang up, can you mark Rick down as an excused absence tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure. No problem Lisa. I will do that. Enjoy your day off with Rick."
"Oh, I will, Roy. I will. Hee-hee!", Lisa giggled with a mischievous tone of voice and smile.
"Alright Lisa, you nymphomaniac! I am giving you a fair warning! Do not wear Rick out! I need him to be refreshed and alert the next morning. If he comes to the briefing all tired and worn out, I'll be looking for you!"
"Oh now, don't worry about that Roy. I will not ride him too hard. Hee-hee! Okay Roy, I will see you when I can. Bye."
"Bye Lisa. You nymphomaniac.", Roy said jokingly as he hung up.
Lisa's jaw dropped and she gave a loud bug-eyed laugh at Roy's playful jab at her. 'Great. Now I am going to be known as a sex fiend. Oh well, better to be called that than to be called "Ice Queen" Hayes.', Lisa said to herself as she was shaking her head. After pressing the end call button to disconnect, she called the front desk to the BOQ.
"Hi, this is Commander Hayes, is Lieutenant Rick Hunter in his quarters?"
"Let me check ma'am. Yes, he is ma'am."
"He is. Thank you for telling me."
"You're welcome commander. Do you want me to forward your call?"
"No…no. Please do not forward my call; I will just knock on his door. I want to surprise him. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome ma'am."
"Good-bye."
"Good-bye commander."
Lisa then pressed the end call button on her smart phone to break the connection. She then began walking towards Rick's quarters as fast as she could. Lisa walked as quickly as her white high heeled shoes would allow her to even though she was also weighed down by her wheeled suitcase, her laptop briefcase and uniform coat. Her heart was beating fast, and she cannot walk to Rick's door fast enough. Several minutes later, she reached the door to Rick's quarters and immediately began to knock on the door. Lisa can hear the door unlocking and the chain to the door being unlatched and the door opening. Rick opened the door and was shocked to see Lisa standing at his front door.
"Hi Rick…I told you I'll be back.", Lisa said softly as tears began misting up in her eyes.
Rick could not say or do anything but approach Lisa and start to kiss her. Rick began to run his hands up and down Lisa' arms remembering that whenever he does that, it makes Lisa go crazy with desire. Just as soon as he began to do just that, Lisa could feel Rick's hands going up and down her arms despite her arms being covered by her uniform. She began to moan in erotic pleasure. After a long kiss, they broke it off. Lisa looked at Rick with lust in her eyes.
"Umm, you know how to press my buttons Rick Hunter."
Rick did not say anything, but a smile came on his lips as he put his hands in front of Lisa's uniform and yanked her into his quarters. Surprised Rick did that, Lisa said a short and surprised "OH!" as Rick pulled her into his quarters. He then slammed and locked the door to his quarters.
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTES
MILITARY ACRONYMS.
OPSEC – Operational Security.
LSO – Landing Signal Officer. Military naval pilot that usually stands at the bow end of the flight deck of an aircraft carrier whose job it is to assist his or her fellow pilots in landing their plane on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
BOQ – Bachelor (Bachelorette) Officers Quarters. Military apartment style housing for unmarried or unaccompanied officers.