SKULL LEADER'S DOWN!
CHAPTER 14
Lisa walked into the COC from the cafeteria after eating breakfast. She walked in just in time to hear the sounds of screaming and the firing of automatic weapons on the overhead speakers. She immediately assumed the worst and became fearful for Rick. She gasped and immediately clasped her hands as if she was praying. Claudia noticed Lisa's distress and put her arm around Lisa's shoulder and let her rest her head on her chest.
"Stay calm Lisa, stay calm. You need to be strong for Rick." Claudia whispered.
Lisa couldn't do anything else except to nod her head as tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes.
Southern Germany
Rick remembered he has his M4 carbine rifle and M9 pistol in his backpack. He immediately grabbed the backpack off his back, zipped open the pack, reached in and grabbed the M9 pistol and gave it and an extra magazine to Captain Quadrawno.
"Captain, take the pistol off safe, and start firing!"
Rick grabbed the M4 carbine rifle out of the backpack, took the weapon off safe and started firing himself. Trying to not to use up all of his ammunition, Rick fired his M4 is short 3 round bursts as he was taught in pilot training. As the PJ, Rick and Captain Quadrawno were firing their weapons, the door gunner on the Pave Hawk helicopter opened up with the M60 machine gun
Above in the skies flying over the helicopter, a squadron of veritechs led by Captain Lacey, temporary commander of Skull Squadron zoomed in on the trapped rescue team, Rick and Captain Quadrawno.
"Skull Squadron switch to battloid mode and fire at will!"
Immediately, the veritechs transformed to gigantic robots and started firing at the pursuing rebel Zentraedis. Enemy Zentraedi started screaming and dying as bullets from the battloids entered and went through their bodies. The PJ was first to enter the helicopter followed by Rick. Captain Quadrawno however, did not enter the helicopter.
"Captain Quadrawno, get in!" Rick ordered screaming above the noise of the battle.
"I'm sorry Captain Hunter but I'm not! I'm going back to the facility!"
"Captain Hunter! We need to take off now!" The helicopter pilot yelled.
Rick began to rack his brain trying to find some way to get Miriam inside the helicopter but couldn't think of anything.
"Captain Hunter, may I kiss you before you leave? I want to remember you in some way!" Miriam asked as she was at the door.
Rick nodded and immediately saw his chance to get Miriam inside the helicopter. As he was kissing Captain Quadrawno, Rick grabbed her arm and pulled her inside the helicopter and slid the door shut.
"Lieutenant! Take us up and get us out of here! Lieutenant!" Rick yelled.
The helicopter pilot was stunned at what he saw unfold right before his eyes behind him. Rick got him out of his stupor by hitting him on the shoulder.
"Lieutenant! Snap out of it!" Rick ordered.
The helicopter pilot nodded his head and pulled back on the stick. Seconds later, the helicopter began to hover off the ground. The pilot turned and pointed the nose of the helicopter to the north.
RDF Combat Operations Center – Fokker Base
Lisa was anxiously listening to the progress of the battle on the overhead speakers. Her hands were still clasped and Claudia was still holding Lisa close to her body.
"Home Plate, this is Striker. Package is on board. We are now airborne and we're on our way to Stuttgart."
Immediately cheers came up from the throats of everyone in the COC. Lisa was now able to release her pent up emotions by letting her body sag a bit and letting out a sigh of relief. She then buried her head into Claudia's chest and started to cry. Claudia just wrapped her arms around Lisa and let her friend cry on her chest as Claudia was gently rocking Lisa.
"It's ok, Lisa. It's ok. Rick's almost home free. Let it go. Let it all out." Claudia whispered.
"I know, Claudia. But he's not home yet and I'm not going to relax until Rick is in my arms."
"I know, Lisa. I know. Just remember that once he lands in Stuttgart, he's safe."
Lisa just nodded.
Above the skies of southern Germany
"Cease firing!" Captain Lacey ordered over the radio.
The battloids stopped firing. Captain Lacey scanned at the scene of carnage below. What he saw almost made him throw up. Dead bodies were lying everywhere. The bodies were ripped open by the force of accelerating bullets. Pools of blood were everywhere. Zentraedi body parts, pieces of arms, legs were mixed in with tree limbs, pine needles and leaves that were scattered on the ground. Pieces of dirt were everywhere when the bullets hit the ground as if the ground was aerated. There was nothing but a dead silence and not a Zentraedi were alive on the pasture and in tree line below. The veritechs did their job with a deadly proficiency.
"Skull Squadron, switch back to fighter mode and let's escort the helicopter to Stuttgart."
Inside the helicopter, Rick put the headset so he can talk with the PJ and the helicopter pilot above the noise of the helicopter's rotor blades. Rick ordered the PJ to take a look at Captain Quadrawno's bullet wound to her right arm.
"Airman, take a look at her right arm. Her right arm was wounded by a bullet."
"Yes sir." The PJ said as he opened up his medic bag and took out a pair of medic shears to cut away the gauze dressing that was covering the wound. After the PJ cut away the dressing and took a look at the wound, he clinched his teeth and made a sound like he just saw something that grossed him out. Rick made the same noise.
"I've never seen a wound infected this bad."
"Is there anything you can do, airman?"
"No sir. The only thing I can do is to clean the wound as best as I can by irrigating it and put a fresh dressing on the wound."
"Ma'am, your wound is too serious for me to deal with. Once we land in Stuttgart, you need to be taken to the hospital and let a doctor take a look at the wound. I'm going to have to call ahead to make sure an ambulance is ready to take you to the hospital."
"Go ahead airman."
"I'm sorry to do that to you, Miriam. But it was the only way I knew how to get you into the helicopter."
Captain Quadrawno did not say a word but instead gave a hard look at Rick.
"Captain, I'm going to take your vital signs. Can you be still as you possibly can?"
"Yes airman."
The PJ reached into his medic bag and took out a blood pressure cuff. After taking Miriam's blood pressure, the PJ took her pulse and respiration. He then relayed the information to the hospital via the radio after starting an IV line by inserting an IV needle in the antecubital fossa of her right arm. After a minute, the PJ tapped Captain Quadrawno on the shoulder.
"Ma'am, Lord Breetai and Minister Exedore want to speak to you. They're on the SATCOM radio uplink to the factory satellite waiting to talk to you."
"Thank you, airman." Miriam said as the airman assisted her in putting the headset on her head.
"Lord Breetai, Minister Exedore, sirs."
"Captain Quadrawno, how are you doing?"
"I am wounded in my right arm, my lord. But that is the extent of my injuries."
"Captain Quadrawno, we apologize for not allowing you to complete your mission. You did not fail your mission. But please understand we had to do it not only out of concern for your health but to make sure that the facility is destroyed for certain."
"I understand Minister Exedore. There is no need to apologize."
"What was the status of the clones when you escaped from the facility?"
"My lord, the facility was already on line. The timetable was moved up because the start of the battle. I would say that the cloning process was 25 to 40 percent complete when Captain Hunter and I had to escape the facility."
"That is not good news, my lord. The cloning facility needs to be destroyed immediately."
"I agree my friend. But that decision is left up to General Maistroff. How much longer will you be in the air, captain?"
Miriam asked the PJ who in turn asked the pilot. After getting the answer from the PJ, Miriam spoke.
"My lord, the pilot said we will be in the air for less than an hour."
"Thank you, captain. We'll let you go so the medic can treat you. We will expect a full report from you in the near future."
"You and Minister Exedore will receive a full report from me once I receive clearance from the doctor to return to duty."
"Very well, captain. Captain Quadrawno, please be assured, you did not fail your mission." Breetai said before he broke the connection.
After the connection was broken, Miriam bowed her head and quietly sigh a sigh of resignation. She felt she had failed in accomplishing her mission.
Robotech Factory Satellite
Breetai picked up the telephone that is in his office.
"Lieutenant Garcia."
"Yes sir."
"Call the communications office and have them set up a telephonic link with General Maistroff."
"I'll get on it right away sir."
Breetai held the telephone to his ear as the Hispanic female lieutenant junior grade contacted the communications office. Breetai heard a series of clicks as his call was being connected. Several seconds later, Maistroff's voice came into his ear.
"Lord Breetai, what can I do for you?"
"General Maistroff, I'm calling to find out when you are sending out a team to destroy the cloning facility?"
"Once I am certain that Captain Hunter has landed safely, Operation Clean Sweep will commence. You get an audio feed of the mission piped into your office."
"Thank you, general." Breetai said before hanging up.
"I hope the operation will not start too late in destroying the facility, my lord."
"I agree, my friend. I agree."
RDF Combat Operation Center – Fokker Base
Lisa listened to the radio conversation between the rescue helicopter and the forward base in Stuttgart with bated breath. Lisa held her clasped hands close to her chest. Claudia could feel Lisa's body being tense and tight as she held Lisa close to her. Claudia kept whispering encouraging words to her.
"Try to stay calm, Lisa. Try to stay calm. The helicopter should be landing in Stuttgart at any minute."
Lisa didn't do anything except nod her head. She then heard something over the loudspeakers that were music to her ears.
"Home Plate, this is Striker. We have touch downed at the airfield and we have now landed."
"Roger, Striker. Captain Hunter, are you there?"
"Yes I am, Home Plate. I'm here and I'm not hurt." Rick said calmly.
"Welcome back, Skull Leader. We're thankful you're safe."
"Thank you, Home Plate."
A rousing cheer came up from everyone in the COC. Lisa let her body sag and relax.
"Oh thank God." Lisa whispered in relief as she buried her face into Claudia's chest and cried. Claudia patted her hand on her friend's back and gently rocked her at the same time.
"He's safe now, Lisa, Rick's almost home."
Lisa couldn't say anything because she was crying and heaving out sobs. But she was nodding her head and crying tears of joy knowing that Rick is safe and is now out of danger.
After a while, Claudia pulled Lisa away from her.
"Let me tell Admiral Gloval the good news. Rick might want to talk to you very soon."
"Thanks Claudia."
Claudia walked to Admiral Gloval's office with a smile on her face. She knocked on Gloval's office door.
"Enter."
Claudia opened the door but as her habit, she does not enter into the room.
"Admiral Gloval, I just want to tell you that Captain Hunter has just landed in Stuttgart safe and unhurt."
"That is indeed good news, Claudia. Thanks for telling me."
"You're welcome, sir."
After Claudia closed his office door, Admiral Gloval closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank you, God for bringing him home safe and sound.'
RDF airfield – Stuttgart, Germany
Rick decided it was best if he didn't try to talk anymore to Captain Quadrawno. Besides, she wasn't in the mood to talk much less listen to Rick. As soon as the helicopter landed and the engines went silent, the helicopter's door slid open. A paramedic was waiting to assist Captain Quadrawno out of the helicopter. As Miriam was being assisted to a waiting ambulance, Miriya came running up to Captain Quadrawno. After exchanging greetings and hugging each other. The Zentraedi women spoke to each other for a moment. The ambulance's door then closed and drove away from the airfield to the hospital. Miriya then walked up to Rick.
"Miriya, what are you doing here? I thought you're flying."
"I wish I was Rick."
"What happened?"
Miriya then went on to tell Rick about her being called on the carpet by General Maistroff for letting Rick get shot down and she was being punished for Rick being shot down and almost being captured by the rebel Zentraedi by being Rick's replacement as air commander. Rick was surprised because that wasn't something General Maistroff would usually do.
"Rick, could you please talk to General Maistroff and convince him to reinstate my flying status?"
"Sure Miriya, I'll talk to General Maistroff and try to convince him to reinstate your flying status. But I need to take a quick shower first and change my uniform."
"Could you please make it quick, Rick? I heard of a rumor that Captain Lacey is getting a briefing on flying a special mission."
"Yes Miriya, I will. Give me 15 minutes to shower, freshen up and put on a fresh uniform."
"Thank you, Rick." Miriya said as she hugged Rick, which is something Miriya usually doesn't do. There is nothing worse for a pilot than being grounded. Rick then walked to his office.
When Rick opened the door to his office, his assistant, Corporal Okumba was at her desk. Her face lit up when she saw Rick.
"Captain Hunter, thank God you're safe!" Mary said as she threw her arms around Rick.
"Thank you, CPL Okumba. I need to see General Maistroff but I need take a shower first and change my uniform." Rick said as he put his arms around Mary's thin waist.
"There is a fresh change of clothes and your uniform in your office sir. You can go to the shower from a back door in your office. The shower is next door to your office. There are towels in the shower room."
"You're the best, Mary." Rick said with a relieved smile.
"Thank you, sir." CPL Okumba said with her own smile.
Rick closed the door to his office, grabbed his change of clothes and uniform and walked to the shower room.
After showering and changing into a fresh uniform, Rick began walking towards General Maistroff's office. As he was almost at General Maistroff's office door, Rick saw General Maistroff leave his office walking towards the conference room.
"General Maistroff, wait for me!"
Maistroff turned his head around and saw Rick running up to him. Maistroff had a look of relief on his face.
"Rick, Captain Hunter, thank God you're safe."
"Thank you, sir. General Maistroff, LT Sterling met me at the airfield and told me that you have grounded her over what happened to me. Sir, no one could have foreseen what would have happened to me. Nobody knew that the rebel Zentraedi had SAMs, much less Miriya. Could you please reinstate her flying status?"
Maistroff nodded his head. "Of course her flying status is reinstated. Now that you're back here safe and sound, Lieutenant Sterling's flying status is reinstated. She's no longer grounded."
"Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome, captain. You're just in time to hear the briefing to destroy the cloning facility. I assume that you know about the cloning facility?"
"Yes sir." Rick said dryly.
"What do you know about the plan in destroying the cloning facility?"
"Not much, sir. What I do know is that Lord Breetai and Exedore came up with a plan in destroying the cloning facility. A special operations team is to HALO in to laser designate the holographic projectors, the projectors will be destroyed by laser guided bombs and from there the facility will be destroyed."
"Ok, so you don't know the whole operation. Well, follow me then. You're about to get a complete briefing on the operation from Lord Breetai and Exedore."
"Yes sir."
At the conference room a video teleconference link to Admiral Gloval's office at Fokker Base and the factory satellite was up. At a conference table sate Rick, General Maistroff, Forsythe, Miriya, Captain Lacey and Reinhardt.
"Ah, Captain Hunter, let me be the first to tell you that myself and Lord Breetai are glad to see you safe and unharmed."
"Thank you, Exedore."
"Captain Hunter, I'm glad to see you safe and sound."
"Thank you, Admiral Gloval."
"Well, now that everyone is here, let's get this mission briefing started. The operational name for this mission is Operation Clean Sweep. Minister Exedore, since you're the one who devised this operation, why don't you tell us the details."
"Yes, Admiral Gloval. Here's how the operation will proceed. A RDF special operations team will be inserted a kilometer away from the cloning facility via HALO jump from a HC-130 aircraft. Immediately after landing, they will hike the kilometer to the facility. They will use laser targeting designators to 'paint' the holographic projectors which are situated several meters apart. A small flight of veritechs armed with laser guided missiles will destroy the holographic projectors. After receiving confirmation that the holographic projectors are destroyed, the flight will immediately return to base. From there, another larger flight of veritechs armed with saturation bombs will carpet bomb the facility, thus destroying the facility."
"Captain Lacey," Admiral Gloval continued. "You are in charge of the flight that will destroy the holographic imagining projectors. Lieutenant Sterling will be in charge of the flight of VTs that will destroy the cloning facility. Lieutenant Sterling, your main target is the long rectangular building which is housing the cloning chambers. Any other buildings are secondary targets and targets of opportunity. Captain Lacey, your flight's call sign is Red Baron. Lieutenant Sterling's flight's call sign is Harrier As soon as this briefing is over, you will go to your veritechs in preparation for take off. As soon as the HC-130 is airborne, the veritechs will take off soon after. Lieutenant Lacey, your flight will take off first. Lieutenant Sterling, your flight will take off immediately after. Are they any questions?"
No one at the table raised their hand.
"In that case then, this video teleconference is over."
Everyone then walked out of the conference room. Rick followed General Maistroff, Forsythe and Reinhardt to the command bunker and the Command Center to listen to the progress of the mission.
"Home Plate, this is Eagle. We're about to take-off stand-by."
"Home Plate's standing by Eagle."
"Home Pate, this is Eagle. We're now airborne and climbing. We'll inform you when we reach working altitude."
Several minutes went by before the voice of pilot of the HC-130 came over the loudspeakers. "Home Plate, this is Eagle. We're now at 30,000 feet and we're less than half an hour away from target."
"Roger, Eagle. Home Plate is standing by." An enlisted tech in the Command Center said.
Rick thought it would be a good time to call Lisa and to tell her he's ok. He went up to General Maistroff and leaned into his ear.
"General Maistroff, I'm going to take the time to call Fokker Base and call Captain Hayes. Let her know I'm ok."
"I was wondering when you're going to do that, Rick. Go ahead and call her. I doubt anything will happen for a while."
"Thank you, sir."
Rick went into a vacant side office, closed the door and picked up the telephone.
Combat Operations Center – Fokker Base
Lisa's aide walked into the COC and tapped Lisa on the shoulder.
"Ma'am, there is a telephone call for you from Captain Hunter. Do you want me to transfer the call to here or will you take it in your office?"
"I'll take the call in my office, Julia."
"Yes ma'am."
Lisa tapped Claudia on the shoulder.
"Rick's waiting to talk to me on the telephone. I'm taking his call in my office."
"Well, it's about time he has called. What are you waiting for? Go!" Claudia commanded with a smile on her face.
Lisa hugged her friend and ran out of the COC. Lisa ran into her office and closed the door. She anxiously picked up the telephone as her heart was racing and her breathing was labored.
"Rick?"
"Hi Lisa, how're you doing baby?"
"I'm doing good now that I am hearing your sweet voice and knowing you're now safe and not hurt, Rick. I miss you so much."
"I miss you too."
Rick and Lisa talked until both were told that the HC-130 was over the target area. They quickly said their good-byes and hung up. Radio communication was being transmitted not only to Fokker Base, but to the factory satellite and to the forward Command Center in Stuttgart as well.
"Home Plate, this is Eagle. We're about over the target area. Stand by while we put on O2 masks, aircraft is about to be depressurized. Back cargo door is now open; team is about ready to jump out. Home Plate, the eaglets has left the nest. Back cargo door is now closing. Plane is being pressurized again; our oxygen masks are now off. Home Plate, back cargo door is now closed and insertion is now complete. Eagle is returning to base."
Roger, Eagle. Good work."
"Thanks for the compliments, Home Plate. Eagle out."
Several minutes, the special operations team leader's voice came over the loudspeakers.
"Home Plate, this is Snoopy. We've landed on target and we're now walking towards the target."
"Home Plate, we're now hearing humming noises, which must be coming from the holographic projectors. We must be close to the target. Can you still hear us, Home Plate over?"
"We can still hear you, Snoopy over."
"Roger, Home Plate."
There was nothing coming from the special operations team for several minutes.
"Team Snoopy, call out when you're in position and ready."
"This is Charlie Brown, I'm ready."
"This is Schroeder; I'm ready to rock and roll."
"This is Linus, I'm ready to paint."
"Red Baron, this is Snoopy. Can you hear us over?"
Captain Lacey's voice came over the radio. "Snoopy, this is Red Baron. Yes I can hear you above the humming noise over."
"Stand by, Red Baron. Snoopy Team light up your canvas and call out when you are painting your assigned target."
"This is Charlie Brown, I'm painting."
"This is Schroeder, same here."
"This is Linus, ditto."
"Red Baron, this is Snoopy. We're painting the canvas."
"Roger, Snoopy. Red Baron Flight, drop your brushes."
Immediately, 4 veritechs let go of a laser guided bomb from the pylon railing underneath the wing. The bombs stalled in the air for a second while its wings unfolded. After its wings unfolded, the bombs began their descent to their laser designated target. Less than a minute later 4 holographic imagining projectors blew up in a brilliant fireball. Part of the cloning facility came into view.
"Home Plate, Red Baron, this is Snoopy. Targets have been destroyed."
"Roger, Snoopy Red Baron and flight returning to base."
Cloning Facility
"Lord Berrak, sir! 4 of the imagining projectors have been destroyed!"
"They've been destroyed how?!"
"No one knows sir!"
"Find out how now! The process is almost complete! We are now unmasked to the Micronians!"
"Yes sir."
Outside the Cloning Facility
"Harrier Leader, this is Snoopy. 4 of the targets are now destroyed and the humming noise has stopped. You should be able to see the main target now."
"Affirmative, Snoopy. We are now ready to go on the bombing run."
Inside the Cloning Facility
"Lord Berrak, sir! A flight of veritechs is approaching us low at a high rate of speed!"
"Can we send up a flight of battle pods or missiles to intercept the veritechs?"
"No sir! It's too late!"
"May we, the true Zentraedi warriors live for…"
Berrak's last word was cut off as the building he and Garrak in blew up in a brilliant fireball.
Miriya's flight came in on the cloning facility low and fast. Miriya aligned up the target crosshairs on the HUD with the building that was housing the cloning chambers. She dropped her bombs. Two other veritechs targeted the same building. The building blew up in brilliant flashes of fireballs and loud booms. Pieces of metal, wood, glass, liquid and Zentraedi body parts went up in the air. Other veritechs picked and choose buildings to bomb at random. Rebel Zentraedi were running everywhere around the facility trying to dodge falling debris. Screams of agony and pain could be heard through the loudspeakers. The special operations team leader could clearly see the scene of carnage unfolding through his binoculars even though he was far away and well hidden.
"Home Plate, Harrier Leader, this is Snoopy. Main target has been destroyed." The leader said quietly trying to keep his emotions in check.
"Roger, Snoopy Harrier Flight is returning to base."
RDF Forward Command Center – Stuttgart, Germany
No one in the command center, the COC or on the factory satellite was cheering.
"Colonel Reinhardt, order the destroids in to mop up and to wipe out any resistance." Maistroff said quietly.
"Yes sir."
Rick couldn't take anymore of the death and destruction he has heard. He went up to General Maistroff.
"General Maistroff, sir. I need to take a break. I'm stepping outside to get a breath of fresh air."
"No problem, Rick. Have you eaten since you came back?"
"No sir."
"Why don't you go to the mess hall and eat. After you eat, take the rest of the day off. Try to enjoy the rest of the day. Oh, and one more thing, captain. I need you here with me for the duration this operation. For the rest of this operation, you are hereby grounded. You are not to fly in any combat mission from here on out. That's not a request, that's an order."
"Yes sir." Rick answered nodding his head.
Before walking to the mess hall, Rick walked back to his office and let CPL Okumba off for the rest of the day. He then walked to the flight line to welcome Skull Squadron back and to congratulate them for a job well done. After eating dinner, Rick decided to go to his BOQ room and try to relax. He didn't felt like doing any sight seeing after what he has been through the past several days and what he heard earlier in the day. As he was sitting in an easy chair, he couldn't get the sounds of death, destruction, devastation and agony out of his brain. Even though the Zentraedi were aliens from another solar system and galaxy, they were still living, breathing beings, capable of feelings and emotions.
Rick knew if he didn't get those feelings off his chest, it will eat at him for the rest of the day and he will not be able to sleep at night. And he was dead tired. He needed someone to talk to and he knew of only one person he could talk to about his concerns, feelings and worries, his sweetheart and fiancée; Lisa Hayes. He knew they were separated by thousands of miles of ocean and land, but he needed to talk to her. He allowed himself to relax a bit and envision Lisa in his mind. In his mind, he could see her perfect figure and the way her figure fits her uniform or anything she wears like a glove, her beautiful face, her lovely auburn hair. He could almost feel her smooth skin, the softness of her lips whenever they kiss, the way her emerald green eyes would sparkle and shine whenever she laughs, smiles and cries. He misses her terribly but he knew if he couldn't see her, he could at least hear her sweet voice.
Rick looked at his watch. After doing some simple mathematics in his head, he knew that it would be early afternoon in Macross. Depending on how busy they are, Lisa would either be in the COC, at the cafeteria eating a late lunch, or could be resting on the couch in her office. He risked calling Lisa's office.
"Captain Hayes' office, this is Lisa Hayes."
Rick's face brightened and a smile immediately came to his face once he heard Lisa's sweet voice.
"Hi Lisa, I was hoping you are in your office."
Lisa immediately became concerned when she heard Rick's tone of voice. "Rick, what's wrong sweetheart?"
"I needed someone to talk to and right away, I thought of you."
Rick and Lisa only talked for several minutes because she had to leave to attend a meeting. Lisa told Rick to call her later at home so they can talk as long as they like without being worried about being interrupted.
After hanging up, Rick leaned back in the easy chair and closed his eyes. He feels lonely and misses Lisa terribly, but hearing Lisa's sweet voice even for only a few minutes, made the loneliness more bearable. Before he knew it, he fell asleep in the easy chair.
Rick decided to go to an all night cafe to get something light to eat before he called Lisa. It was late at night in Stuttgart when Rick called Lisa. Rick laid his heart out on the table and poured everything out to Lisa. Lisa didn't do much except listen to Rick and to let him pour everything out and let him get everything off his mind, just like they did when they were just mutual friends. Lisa was always a good listener. She's never judgmental or condescending. She just let Rick get all of his concerns off his mind. After for what seemed to be an eternity, Rick was feeling better. He was able to get everything off his chest. Before he knew it, Rick was yawning and stretching. He was tired and was getting sleepy. Lisa heard him yawning and suggested that they hang up, so Rick can go to bed. He didn't want to say good-bye to Lisa because he cannot hear Lisa's voice again for a while. But he knew he should go to bed.
"Thanks Lisa. I can go to sleep tonight knowing I was able to get everything out of me."
"I'm glad I'm here for you Rick."
"When I go to sleep tonight, I will be dreaming sweet dreams of you."
"I will too, Rick. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Always?"
"Always."
After reluctantly saying good-bye and hanging up, Rick turned off the lights to his BOQ room, and went to bed. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He did sleep through the night and during the night; he dreamed sweet dreams of Lisa.
The next morning
Rick walked into the command center after eating breakfast at the mess hall, looking for General Maistroff. General Maistroff was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's General Maistroff?"
An enlisted tech answered Rick's question. "He's out, sir. He's in Munich to negotiate a surrender of surviving rebel Zentraedi. During the night, a group of rebel Zentraedi came to our lines carrying a white flag. They want to talk to General Maistroff about surrendering."
"That's good news. Maybe we can go home soon."
"Unfortunately sir, the news is not all good."