Disclaimer: I do not own Robotech; wish I did, but I don't. Harmony Gold does.

Reunion

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember the men and women I served alongside aboard the SDF-1. Those men and women were the real heroes of the First Robotech War, not me. The real heroes are still out there, buried in space, or in the dark waters of Earth's oceans, or Macross' grave. They answered the call to duty, like so many of us, and gave their lives willing so that others could live. Losing friends and comrades is something that always stays with you, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Because, and I know this honestly sounds crazy, sometimes I feel like if I don't stop remembering them they're never truly dead.

- New Chicago Tribune interview with SDF-1 AIRR crew chief Samuel Brocker

They lightly jostled in their seats as the shuttle began to taxi down the runway. "Don't even say it," Lisa Hunter told her husband.

Rick looked back at her with a grin and shrugged his shoulders. "What?"

Lisa narrowed her eyes at him, "You know very well 'what'. Just because you think you're a better pilot doesn't mean you should be flying the shuttle."

With a look of mock hurt he replied, "Think?"

She raised an eyebrow at him, a faint smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "Ok, just because you are a better pilot still doesn't mean you should be flying the shuttle," she corrected herself, crossing her arms and waiting for a response.

After a few moments he replied, "Rather be back here anyways, view's better," signature cocky grin plastered across his face. She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips, involuntarily reaching up with a hand to cover her mouth.

"You're not too bad on the eyes either, Hunter," she told him through a sly smile.

She suddenly felt her stomach sink as the shuttle lifted off, watching Rick as he turned to look out the window next to them. Turning back he folded his arms across his chest as he stretched his long legs out before him, crossing them at his boots. They sat for a few minutes in comfortable silence, occasionally smiling at one another in between glances at the clouds flying past them through the window.

Reaching down beside her Lisa rummaged through her carryon, producing an old paperback book. She shifted in her seat in an attempt to get more comfortable before opening the worn novel. She studied the faded ticket stub she used as a bookmark; a keepsake from their first 'official' date, she was thankful it had survived the journey all these years. She smiled at the memory as she placed it affectionately on the empty seat to her right before turning her attention back to the book.

The sound of his voice broke her reverie. "Any idea if Max and Miriya are gonna be at this shindig?"

She peeked over the top of her book before responding, "You do realize you know more about this meeting than I do, right?"

"For once," he chuckled. "Vince didn't give a heads up either way."

She nodded in understanding, resting the book gently on her lap before casually tucking a loose strand of light brown hair behind her right ear. She was still flustered from earlier that morning; they had packed in a rush with barely enough time to drop Roy off with Jean before catching the shuttle. And on top of being woken in the middle of the night, the lack of information as to the reason for the urgency of the meeting was unsettling to say the least.

Glancing out the window Lisa watched as the shuttle transitioned seamlessly from Earth's atmosphere into space. Turning back to look at her husband she couldn't help but shake her head. Fingers laced together on his lap and chin resting on his chest, he had already managed to fall asleep. She could never understand how sleep came to him so easily. Letting out a contented sigh she returned to her book.

Some twenty minutes later the shuttle pilot announced, "Admirals, we'll be arriving at Liberty in a few minutes." Grabbing the ticket stub Lisa inserted it back into the book before placing it in her carryon. She looked over at Rick who was still slouched down in his seat. She gently nudged him awake with one of her knee-high leather boots, nodding towards the sight of Space Station Liberty quickly approaching in response to his questioning look.

Leaning forward he raised his arms above his head to stretch while yawning. Rick turned to look out the viewport, scanning the myriad of ships docked at the station. Liberty was busy as usual, filled to the brim with vessels of varying sizes making the journey to and from Tirol and various other colonies, outposts and space stations now littered across the galaxy. Thanks to the new pseudojaunt drives space folds had become routine and their near instantaneous travel times had done much to solidify the relationship between Earth, Tirol and the Local Group worlds.

What had started as an informal alliance had quickly grown over the past decade into a formal federation of planets. To say that the crew of the SDF-3 were still adjusting to life in this new age, finally returning to Earthspace some ten years after setting out from Tirol, was an understatement to be sure. Even now, nearly eight months later, the Hunters were still in the process of playing catch-up; both feeling very much overwhelmed with the ongoing transition from admirals in the now defunct REF to officers of the reconstituted RDF.

They had both discussed at length whether to accept the commissions that had been offered to them by the Interworld Council. The prospect of an early retirement that would have afforded her more time to spend with Roy was certainly tempting. Not to say that Rick wasn't conflicted as well; he had explained to her that he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his days in peace with his family. Yet in the end their sense of duty to protect those around them had won out.

Rick stood as the shuttle finished attaching to the docking port alongside the station, offering Lisa his hand. She accepted, allowing herself to be pulled up by her husband's strong grip. The clicking and hissing ceased as the docking umbilical was finally sealed and the pressure within the shuttle paired to that of the station. They shared a quick kiss before grabbing their bags and making their way to the front of the cabin.

Vince Grant lightly tossed the report he had been studying onto his desk and let out a loud sigh; rubbing his tired eyes he wondered if the mountain of paperwork would ever end. He let his gaze drift around the spacious office; numerous family photos sat on the broad oak desk, an assortment of knickknacks picked up during his time in the service adorned the interior, and a permaglass window ran the length of the outer wall, providing him with an exceptional view of ships as they arrived from Tirol.

Leaning forward in his chair Vince returned to the report in front of him, but try as he might he couldn't seem to concentrate; his mind continued to replay the cryptic conversation with Councilor Sterling, searching for answers he knew weren't there. He looked up as a soft knock came at the door to his office. "Enter," he told the visitor. The door swung open quickly and his aide entered the room.

The middle-aged sergeant closed the distance between them to stand at ease in front of Vince's desk. "Sir, the Admiral's shuttle has arrived from Earth," the aide informed his superior.

Vince nodded and pushed himself up from behind the desk. "Good, good. Tell Captain Hara to prepare for departure."

"Yes sir." The Brit snapped him a crisp salute before turning and hurriedly leaving the room. Vince followed, grabbing his blue winter overcoat from the coat rack next to the door before exiting his office. He closed the door and turned to the left, heading towards the Planetside Concourse.

Rick watched as his wife placed her right hand gently against the translucent viewport, her thin athletic frame silhouetted against the brilliant display of Earth visible through the permaglass visage of Liberty's Planetside Concourse. He had observed this ritual several times; whenever they traveled without Roy she would stop and stare at Earth as if she would somehow catch a glimpse of him before leaving Sol.

He walked up to her from behind and dropped the bag slung over his shoulder onto the ground. Placing his arms around her waist he gently pulled her back against him. In response she placed her own arms on his and tilted her head back to rest against his chest. "Hey, we're only gonna be gone for a day, maybe two. He'll be fine, you know he loves staying with Jean," he told her, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Lisa sighed and slowly nodded her head. "I know, I know. Doesn't make it any easier."

He hummed his response, nodding in understanding as he took in the view of Earth with her. They both traveled quite frequently, but rarely did it involve both of them at the same time. So on those rare occasions Roy would stay with one of their close friends, and much to their chagrin their son quite rather enjoyed his time away from mom and dad.

"Besides, kind of nice to have you all to myself for once," he whispered, trying to lighten the mood.

His wife let out a small mischievous laugh, "Still haven't gotten enough of me after all these years, Hunter?"

"No ma'am," he replied, placing a kiss on her neck just below the ear.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caused Rick to slightly turn his head, glancing over his shoulder to find Vince Grant looking awkwardly at the two of them. Rick chuckled, still holding on to Lisa as he acknowledged their friend's presence. "Vince, you sure know how to kill the mood don't you?"

"Frankly sir, you do an excellent job of that all by yourself," Vince retorted. Lisa moved out of her husband's embrace as Rick turned fully towards his friend. A few moments passed as both men sized each other up before they burst into laughter and clasped hands. Vince then nodded in greeting towards Lisa who returned his gesture with a warm smile.

Rick returned to Lisa, grabbing his bag from the ground and slinging it over his shoulder as she did the same. Vince motioned for them to follow and began to walk towards the southern end of the terminal. The Hunters caught up with him, Rick falling in beside the bulkier man with Lisa to his right.

"Sorry to make this little visit brief. I've arranged for you to travel with Captain Hara aboard the Tiber and you know how impatient she can be to get underway before a jump," Vince spoke as the three made their way through Liberty, weaving in and out of the throng of passengers congregating within the corridors of the space station.

"So, what are we getting ourselves into here Vince," Rick asked, ignoring his friend's banter.

"Honestly Rick, I'm not sure. Councilor Sterling wouldn't say, just that she wanted the both of you there," Vince responded truthfully. Rick looked over at Lisa who shook her head, still very much annoyed at being kept in the dark.

"Aurora didn't mention any reason at all for the urgency, or all this secrecy?" Lisa asked from beside Rick, her frustration clearly audible.

"Unfortunately no, she said she couldn't divulge the reason for the meeting. Believe me, I tried," Vince answered, his own frustration coming through.

They continued through the long corridor that connected the central atrium to the Tirolian Concourse. Rick turned his head from side to side as he took in the sights of numerous shuttles and starships passing the observation windows. He marveled at just how much Liberty had changed over the years; hardly any trace remained of its old structure or layout as a Zentraedi factory. So much so that Lisa had remarked at how surreal the experience had been during their first trip back to Tirol.

Arriving at the Tirolian Concourse Vince led them to the eastern side of the terminal towards the gate that provided access to where the Tiber was currently docked. Vince stopped just outside the umbilical door that lead to the ship.

"Well, this is where I leave you. Captain Hara should be ready to push off once the two of you are aboard. Give my regards to the Sterlings," he told the Hunters, accepting the hand that Rick offered, shaking it vigorously. He then embraced Lisa, who had become somewhat of a surrogate sister to him over the years. As they parted he gave them a salute before turning and making his way back through the Concourse.

The couple turned towards the umbilical door, Lisa opening it and allowing her husband to move into the tunnel before she entered. They quickly made their way to the other side of the docking umbilical and boarded the Tiber, returning the salutes of several personnel awaiting their arrival. A young ensign then lead them to their seats in the passenger cabin of the vessel.

Finally seated and bags stowed, Rick watched through the window beside them as the ship undocked from the space station and began to pull away. After several minutes the voice of their Garudan captain announced, "All hands, prepare for immediate fold." Rick shifted nervously in his seat as he tried to prepare himself for the disorientation that always accompanied a jump. A few moments later he felt the world around him slow down as the Tiber entered hyperspace.