A/N - Sorry about the delay in getting this out there for all of you to read. Life and work gets in the way, as everyone knows. Was having a bit of trouble figuring out where it was appropriate to end this chapter. Otherwise enjoy the read, leave comments and reviews so that I can improve and get more chapters out to all of you.
Tech Notes at the end.
Chi vi diamo dopo.
Here is Chapter 3 - Discoveries and Changes
Earth – Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier patrolling the area around what was once Macros Island in the Pacific Ocean, Cable News Network 15 minutes after SDF-1 disappeared
The Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle had at last finished maneuvering closer to the area of what was once Macross Island. They were recently stationed around 250 kilometers north of the island, marking a patrol area to ensure that no rouge threats came from either North Korea or anti-unification faction from Southeast Asia. When the attack started, they turned toward the island at full speed to enable assistance. Unfortunately, they were unable to reach SDF-1 in time to aid them. At first, they thought that the ship was destroyed until radiation counters on-board and patrolling Osprey read normal background levels. However, one good thing that did come about their arrival was the rescue of various fishermen and news agencies reporters in the air and on boats around the island. One of which was the famous Anderson Cooper, unlike his normal routine of being upfront and next to the current news subject at hand, was in the air at the time heading out to get a wide enough of angle shot of the battle and out of range of SDF-1's Space Fold, thereby avoiding being taken along with the island.
Now currently on the carrier, Anderson was rushing through prep to get back on air as other members of rescued news crews were in process of doing the same. His cinematographer and on scene director silently pointed to him and gave him his countdown. The light went red and a thumb up showing they were on air, Anderson took a breath and began his report. "This is Anderson Cooper reporting to you from the French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Pacific Ocean where mere minutes ago an Alien force started attacking the SDF-1 during its launch ceremony. These spacecraft began to attack the area with what appeared to be pulse laser fire, and strange pod-like fighter craft. Shortly afterwards the SDF-1 took off, and a move commenced a Hyperspace-Fold maneuver in the atmosphere, I was told they were to meet up with the UN Space fleet in orbit of the moon. Their whereabouts are currently unknown along with Macross Island."
Interrupting Cooper's editorial, Soledad O'Brien said, "Wait. Wait a minute, you are telling us Anderson, that Macross Island and the SDF-1 has disappeared, and that no one knows where they are at this moment?"
"That's right Soledad. After the light flash from Fold jump cleared, it seems that both the Aircraft Carriers the Prometheus and Deadalus have disappeared as well. When they performed the fold just a few minutes ago, there was one of the Alien ships were coming down in what seemed intent on dropping off more troops to attack. When the fold occurred, it took a part of that ship with it and what happened to still be there then exploded; raining debris over the water and any ships that happened to be in the area."
"As of right now the people of Macross and the crews of all three ships are being reported as missing by the military. SDF-1 was supposed to rendezvous with the space fleet near the Moon this coming from some of the more senior commanders onboard. Currently the military is not going any further to answer any questions due to what some are saying that they are still battling with Alien forces in-between the Earth and Moon's orbit. Once we can get more from UN Space forces I'll have an update for you on what is going on Soledad. This is Anderson Cooper reporting to you live from the Pacific Ocean onboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
"Thank you Anderson. Hopefully we will get more information to you viewers as soon as we can. "Raising her hand to her ear she continues, "Okay, I'm getting information that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, is about to give a statement on the current situation. Dan, what do have for us?" Dan Lothian appearing on screen, the White House press room in the background with a multitude of news correspondents trying to get more information from their associated news outlets and sources about what has occurred at Macross Island.
"Yes Soledad the President will be on shortly to explain what has occurred in the Pacific ocean just moments ago, and here he comes" Said Dan Lothian.
"My fellow Americans, people's of the world. I come to you today to tell you of the moment that we hoped that would not happen has happened. As you know the Alien ship, SDF-1 crash-landed on our planet some fifteen years ago. Today the Alien race that we believe built it has arrived in orbit over our planet. The UEG ordered all member military services to go to DEFCON One when the aliens arrived; bypassing all sensors that we have placed in and around our solar system. They then attempted to make contact with the unknown ships except that they refuted all forms of communication." Taking a breath and gathering himself to continue, the President went on, "As what our experts about the ship can determine so far, is that a Booby-trap for a better lack of term, hardwired into the SDF-1 systems and set to automatically attack any of the Aliens within a certain range with its main guns." Chaos erupting in the pressroom as reports stand up shouting trying to get their question heard. The President pointing towards one of the reporters attempting to get his attention. "Maureen please go ahead and ask your question."
"Sir, you are saying that after all the changes and rebuilding of the ship, we managed to miss something that could have possibly staved off this conflict?" Maureen Dowd of the New York Times asked.
"Maureen, it's not something that we missed - it's something that seems to have been permanently ingrained into the systems of SDF-1." The President explained, as the pressroom went quiet once again, continuing. "As I am speaking to you now, the UN space forces are fighting against the Alien armada of some one hundred thousand ships. Far more space vessels than we could have ever guessed possible for any one species to create."
More reporters clamoring for more information on the current attack, another reporter asked, "Mr. President is there any sign of them possibly invading the planet? Are our forces winning against the aliens?" Wendell Goler of FOX news asked.
"There was a force that landed near the area of SDF-1, but that ship and the forces associated with it was destroyed, along with reports of another that was coming in when the ship folded out." Stopping as an aide walked up next to the President, reading the note that was handed to him, and listening to the explanation from the aide, then nodding he continued giving the most recent information to the reports and world. "So far Mr. Goler, we have destroyed about five dozen of the enemy ships. The orbital stations have also powered up their weapons and have also fired against what we hoped to call possible friends but are labeling as an enemy force."
"Sir! Sir, you are telling us that the orbital stations are not just habitats and space yards, but actually battlestations?!" Sam Stein of the Huffington Post shouted out in accusation towards the President for keeping such a secret.
"It was decided by the UEG council that there should be weapons placed on board all stations to repel invaders and attackers, which would fall under the jurisdiction of the Military commanders on board each one. With that ladies and gentlemen, I take my leave of you to plan and prepare for the next steps this nation will undertake to help contribute to the defense of this world and nation. Thank you." Waving, the President turned and left through the side entrance, as the members of the press corps yelled and pushed forward into the arms of waiting secret service agents, preventing them from further access into the White House.
UEG Inner Council chambers New York, New York USA two hours after Alien fleet disappeared
The members of the inner council were seated around the council chamber room reviewing the video footage and data from sensors from the battle with the aliens. To say that they were not surprised would be an understatement; they were astounded at the amount of ships that were present in the alien fleet. To believe that any species was capable of building and fielding a force of spaceships that large was something all members of the council had a hard time wrapping their minds around the concept. They were having troubles with just managing to gather enough of the resources together for the stations and home defense fleet, which at this moment was partly devastated. The butchers' bill for this battle was seventeen ships with all hands a complete loss; two stations that were attacked and damaged, the Excalibur stations port side a cooling slagged mess. Estimates for repairs were almost six months, and to take up to fifteen percent of the total tug fleet. Along with the unknown status of SDF-1, Macross Island and the two carriers, they were looking at a significant loss of people and material. Oh sure there were plans for the future defense of the solar system, but they had yet to get far enough in building the massive infrastructure to support it. The orbital stations themselves were just on the verge of being just self-sustainable with producing enough foodstuffs for those onboard, and an appreciable reserve for power and munitions.
"What do we know so far about the force that appeared intent on recovering the SDF-1?" Michele Dou'touard the councilor from France said.
"Well Michele, from what we have gathered is that the force sent down to SDF-1 was what comparable to a force recon group. The data some of our military analysts have decoded shows that there was one ship in charge of the fleet that attacked." Admiral Paul Stevenson for the UN Space defense said. "Also what telemetry we have managed to recover from data feeds from SDF-1 shows that the attack was an automated response. It seems that even with what changes and modifications we made this was hard-coded into the ships systems. When rebuilding we stayed as much as possible along the original design lines, so even with our changes with computers and expansion this was still going to occur."
"So then we were doomed to this course of action no matter what we did?" Rolph Hendersen of Germany asked.
Paul turned towards Rolph, "Sir, from the lack of response and the unprovoked attack on both our ships and the island it would be apparent from what information we have gathered that it seems this race appears to be very aggressive and possibly extremely violent. There was no discrimination between both military targets and non-military ones, as that they opened fire upon the Macross city. There is also the distinct possibility that they are highly xenophobic as well, due to the lack of communication."
"Mon Dieu, how can we know that? This is an alien race we are dealing with!" An excited Michele announced. "It's not like they are human. Unlike that coward Leonard, so that nothing we know can be applied to them."
"Sir, Fleet Captain Leonard made a tactical decision in the middle of a battle, one that he was severely outnumbered, and two the aliens also retreated more than likely to go after the SDF-1. How Captain Gloval is going to make it back here where ever he is, God will only know."
"If you have forgotten Michele you were here when the information garnered from the different size proportion of the ship and manning stations on the SDF-1 before we started resizing it for our use; would infer that they were somewhat similar to a humanoid shape and about some six to ten times larger than us. This is some footage from one of the gun camera's that was uploaded in a constant data feed from the ship prior to its disappearance." Playing the gun camera video file that was from Rick Hunters Veritech as shot the Giant Zentraedi male walking towards the fighter, it then picks up at the view from Skull one as he delivers the kill shot, finally killing the giant of a man. Turning back towards the rest on the people around the council table he continues, "As you all can see, these aliens for all intense purposes are human. How and why there are humans in space, how long they have been out there, and why they are so tall having yet to be answered."
"Humph… Then comrades, this means that we have a few things that we can use against these 'Humans'." As Vladimir Milov, the appointed representative of the Russian Federation spoke out. All turned toward Vladimir as if to beg an explanation to what he meant. "Ahhh, you see if they are humans or at least human-like, then that means they can fear and can be tempted by things that all of we are tempted by, Da?"
"How would you manage to tempt them or even make them feel fear, as if you didn't just notice they outnumbered us two thousand to one! Even if we completely put ourselves into a wartime footing we still would not have enough ships to fight them."
"You are looking at this the wrong way comrade. We do not need to expend ourselves in producing mass amounts of ships to fight them. Just need to be sneaky about it, we overwhelming them with enough cannons to surround the space around earth and destroy them in at least an alpha strike."
"That would mean just focusing all our military production for at least a year to build this." Amanda Rodriguez of the South American Confederation said, "It would be better in my opinion to spend a few months expanding the fleet needed to gather the resources and building new manufacturing facilities. Each new space factory we build can assist in constructing the next one until we have doubled our current production." Some of those sitting around the table nodding their heads in agreement. "Then we start the buildup of these satellite weapons that Milov wants to build. While we have the surface factories start on stockpiling parts and supplies for each of our focus areas at the same time. That could feasibly allow us to quadruple our output, making sure we can ensure the planets survival."
"I would second that idea if anyone would have objections to it, please say so that we can get this started as soon as possible." Sam Seaborn from the US stated. "I know that we would all like to be able to fight them on a one for one basis, but right now we still can't do that. What's the time estimate on the completion of the other two ships Paul?"
"Currently the second ship of the Dimensional class is ninety-three percent complete and should be ready by the end of the summer. It was awaiting the data from the fold test jump of the SDF-1 before we connected their fold drives and completed armor placement. While the third is thirty-five percent complete, inner hull, framework, engines, and power plant are all completed and waiting for the next phase of construction." Taking a breath Paul continued with the information. "Dr. Lazo says that he can improve on the protoculture plant and make a stable fold drive that can exceed the original design specs of SDF-1. However, I would rather like him to stay on specification and not experiment until we have a large enough force to handle our current crisis. Though that is up to this council if you would allow him do that."
The debate continued long into the night and into the next day as the council continued discussing strategy, making designs, and arguing amongst each other. After two days of working through the information gathered from the battle itself and finishing the debate on what to do next. It was decided to spend the next four months expanding space based construction until they had three times their current amount, then start construction of the quarter sized BFSG's until there was enough to fill the space between the planets with them, hopefully preventing another incursion into the space around Earth.
Marine Scout Recon team 'White Wraith" power-armor suit armory – SDF-1 - One hour post Fold
The White Wraiths armory was full of noise and activity as the members of the scout recon team filed in from the recent briefing they received from Colonel Zach 'Armstrong' Bradnicoft. They were suiting up in their Mk. 2 personal Battleoid suits. The Mk.2's are a vast improvement over the first generation. Standing at over three meters tall each and weighing in at just over 1.5tonnes, the suits had a full environmental protection rated for a CBR environment for 48hours and either 150 atmospheres or vacuum usage for the same time. With a fusion/Protoculture power pack, they were able to use the LAZ-23 pulse laser rifle for an estimated 300 rounds before changing out the focusing matrix due to burn out. Twice the strength enhancement of the Mk1, for just over 3.8tonnes of carry weight, and a rocket booster pack allowing them to either hover for over 100meters, or jump some 60meters at a time.
Sgt. Julio 'DeSanto' Portena was pulling out one of the weapons racks with a display of his normal vocal tirade of choice words as usual. "These pockers, always making the biggest mess I can see of nythne. And, what do I get other than a pocking 'nother 'signmnt, dhese pockers." Turning around and noticing the company Captain Lance 'Stretch' Armstrong, standing at a third of a meter taller than Portena, he turns and says, "Oh its dou again, dou going to ruin my armor again, Sir?"
Smirking with a look that says what else do you expect, "Sgt. What do you expect from a unit that's usually sent on some of the worst types of missions? We were lucky enough those whack-a-moles only had a half-dozen tanks instead of any power armor or a HYT. Then you would have a real mess to fix."
"I'd still not done fixin' thed last bunch of crap you guys brought in" Magically brandishing a wrench near the Captains face that he pulled out of nowhere.
"I got ya' on that, but we got a special mission from the Colonel." Lance blinking and wondering where and how Portena manages to hide and brandish a wrench that is half his size. "We are going to board the alien ship and do a recon before they bring in the big guns. If we find anything of note we're to mark it and if need be blow it. So, you got 30 minutes to finish up whatever you need to do before we have to suit up and get over there."
"Okay, okay I'ded get dou. I have 'nother six suits to finish calibrating. Unless I get a's hand, Id on't get all of d'hm done fer dour mission."
Half an hour later, the White Wraiths were suited up and loaded in the transport to the Alien ship. Transiting to it was uneventful, the escort with them was pulling two Apollo class Destroids to give cover in case they ran into a battle ostrich or two onboard. The transport ship pulled up to one of the larger passageways that were bisected by the fold. Receding into the darkness of the ship nothing could be seen until both Destroids turned on their lights along with the transports spot-lights there was enough to see an emergency bulkhead about fifteen meters ahead of them.
White Wraiths scout shuttle approaching Alien ship
The team approached the bulkhead assessing the ability to breach it without causing too much damage to possible intelligence and artifacts inside the ship. Seeing no access or readout panels on this side they decide to use one Apollo of the lasers to cut a test opening to the other side big enough for the squad to pass a sensor probe through. Once the hole bored and pushed out-of-the-way, they noticed there was no air rushing through the cut, which suggested that the other side suffered more damage or connected to another compartment that was exposed to space. The sensor probe was a small eight-centime wide drone with hover capabilities, HD stereoscopic video cameras, infrared sensors, uv, and audio sensors to pinpoint and find anything of interest to the user. The probe flew through the hole and into a green lit hallway that was some ten meters wide and twenty-five meters tall, down to the right was a hatch going to a space that appeared to be a office. The marines all sharing a platoon data channel saw this, and one commented 'even the aliens have paperwork and their slackers, look at the mess of papers in there.' As papers floated around the room from being disturbed by the probes motion.
Further along the probe went, space after space seeing no presence of any of the giant alien combatants that crewed the ship. After fifteen minutes of searching, it came to a hatch that showed power was available on the door panel. Deciding that it was time to enter, Capt. Armstrong ordered the Apollo's to open the door, provide transport, and cover for the team. When they reached the powered hatch, Armstrong ordered PFC Milkensen to try to hack the computer controls to open the door. Releasing the mag-clamps from his suits boots, he squatted down and then leapt to the panel. Seeing some of the same alien script that was leftovers onboard the SDF-1 and part of the training course once he joined the UN defense forces, PFC Tom Milkensen proceeded to pry open the panel and connect his personnel minicomp that was standard issue to all cyber tech personnel in service. The translation program decrypting what was known about the language
During the scouting of the Zentraedi ship the investigation team discovered many things that would cause them to gasp in amazement and be bewildered. One of the first things that they discovered was the cryo-pod stasis room, which would normally hold hundreds of alien soldiers in a cryogenic suspension. This room was on part of the level that was sliced in half during the fold. When one of the security team members floated up to look inside he was so startled, he screamed like a little child as he proceeded to empty the charge of his pulse rifle into the view port, shattering it and destroying the head of the alien in stasis. With further investigation, they discovered even more cryo-pods that due to the power loss caused those that were in stasis to die to the uncontrolled freezing that came from being frozen by the cold depths of space. A few of the pods and bodies were tagged with RF tag markers for study by the medical teams back onboard the SDF-1.
Continuing their exploration further into the ship they found the forward mecha hanger bay, were they saw the hundreds of ostrich battlepods that were lined up all awaiting usage. Once making it to the bridge and discovering the simplicity of it, seeing how this large of a vessel could be controlled by only two beings and a single commander surprised both Dr. Lang and the command staff once they reviewed the footage and data from the ships computers.
The vessel was towed alongside the SDF-1 to remove the battlepods, and other various equipment that was deemed for further study. The bodies were taken in for study to determine the physiology of the aliens and how closely related they were to humans due to their extreme likeness to themselves while the rest were disposed off in the forges of the ship as they had no place to store them and had no knowledge of funeral rites, if even they had said rites for their peoples. The strangest thing that was discovered was that every body onboard was male; no females were onboard making them all wonder as to why that was.
In the end, teams of technicians, Destroids, and Valkyires spent time breaking down the ship for extra materials and removal of weapons systems to added onto the SDF-1 itself.
Six days since mis Hyperspace-Fold SDF-1
In the following days, the crew of SDF-1 continued making repairs, Dr. Lang, after two days of investigation he gave his report to the Captain on the Fold drives and how they managed to bring them here. In his report, the discovery of the secondary power runs from the back-up Fusion reactors had blown due to shoddy power relays, along with part of the primary power runs, specifically along that part of the ships expansion construction and rebuild. He explained that prior to them blowing, an extra surge of power rushed towards the fold drives instead of shunting the breakers. Instead the increasing energy coming in, caused a supercharge effect to the Fold drives. Where they should have just folded to the moon, there was enough of a power charge to the fold drive allowing the ship to fold along with the carriers and island that was transported them light years away from any known reference.
The Captain and command staff were furious that such an important job could have been done so poorly, both in shoddy materials, equipment, along with the 'supposed sign off inspections' that ended up with them in this situation. Back on Earth, several people shuddered as they felt what some would say the shadow of death walking across their grave.
Work continued with moving the remaining crew from the two carriers to barracks onboard the ship, along with moving of all the civilians from the Macross Island shelters to the secondary cargo hold of the ship. When the last of the shelters was evacuated and the citizens of Macross accounted for, they discovered that there were only two missing people, Rick Hunter and Linn Minmei. At first, it was thought that they were left on Earth, but a crew chief remembered that they took off shortly before the SDF-1 took off heading towards the city. Roy wanted nothing more than to go out and search for them, but permission for him to go on that mission was denied, as the reasoning was that they were most likely already dead. In addition, the possibility of finding something as small as the stunt flyer in space was a challenge even with the best of knowledge of what direction they went in and equipment as well.
For the military side of the house, it was a more somber story. Out of both carriers they lost both bridge and pri-fly teams off the Prometheus and part of the bridge team of the Deadalus; this being because it was not a space rated vehicle, partly due to it being a submersible carrier and that their captain was actually strapped into his chair. Along with both ships suffering more losses among their flight deck crews, along with whatever flight deck equipment that was on deck at the time. Overall, there was a loss of fifteen percent the total crew from both carriers.
Contingency plans made by the command staff for when the Aliens that first attacked either Earth or the ones whose star systems that they were now in visited them. Two full squadrons were on constant patrol with another one in hot standby. Once all the civilians were inside the ship, they set about placing half the Destroid squadrons in critical junctions as point defense stations around the ship, along with setting them up as an automatic system remnant like the old CIWS system used on surface ships. Those Destroids that weren't used for defense was used in the deconstruction of Macross Island city to make room for the civilians onboard instead of placing them in barracks around the ship.
After attaching both of the carriers to SDF-1, the construction of a more permanent living area for the civilians was built using the supplies and remains of buildings salvaged from Macross Island. Those buildings that managed to survive the transition to space during the fold were brought in, while those that were no longer usable were broken down and used as supplies to build new ones of the former island city inside the depths of the ship.
Constructing part of Macross city, a freak accident caused by a construction crew in the building process resulted in a deckplate coming loose and crashing onto the deck below. When they investigated, it resulted in the discovery and rescue of the two lost youths. Both Rick and Rick's adopted brother and the friends and family of Minmei celebrated the return of both people. Especially one worried pilot, who was quite relieved that his adopted little brother was still alive and well.
Sixth Day since Fold – Captain Glovals' Ready room
In the Captains ready room, two men sat discussing plans "Well Captain, I do think that you have managed to make up for your mistake of taking all of us into space." The portly former earth bound governor of Macross Island said to Gloval with a smirk. "The town is coming along nicely; you even managed to find those two missing kids. Do you think that you will be able to protect us this time instead of doing something rash, Hmmm?"
Fuming inside and covering his eyes with his ever-present cover, Bruno wanted nothing more than to beat the snot out of him for his snide remarks and lack of appreciation to the hard work of the crew. Taking a moment before letting something out that would ruin his chances of ensuring the ship and its passengers got back to Earth. Standing up he replied, "Governor, the crew of the SDF-1 and the carriers have done an excellent job in setting up the city in as little time as we have. However, I would like to take some longer time to at least remove as many as possible resources from the island as possible. We do not know how long it will be until we have a manufacturing capability to supply both the ship and the civilians onboard. We also still have to yet to conclusively figure out why the Fold drives brought us out this far and why they still do not work."
"Captain, we need to move from here as quickly as possible, before those aliens that originally attacked you" Vehemently poking a finger into Bruno's' chest, spittle flying from his mouth as he continued his triad "before they come back and finish the job. Or the possibility of having these other aliens attack us, especially since we've trespassed into their territory."
Shaking his head, and visibly calming, "I swear they should have approved Captain Grant Yamahira instead of you as the commander. The UEG was even going to promote you to Admiral after the ceremony for 'your hard work and dedication' on this project." Tossing a box at Gloval, catching it, he opened the box and looked upon the pair of silver stars. "I guess we'll make it official since I can't rescind the order, and you are the only ranking officer here that could possibly get us back. I will be in the stateroom that was assigned to me if you want to give those back. If not, I expect to at the minimum, be kept informed of what is going on. Goodbye Admiral"
Looking at the back of the departing governor as he left his ready room, Captain Henry J. Gloval, no, now Admiral of the SDF-1 and responsible for over 70,000 people wondered as to what other surprises the universe had in store for him today.
Somewhere in the greater Universe the god called 'Murphy' smiling, obliged a once said Captain, now Admiral Henry Gloval.
Tech Notes
Sensor Probe - The sensor probe was a recent work by the US military in miniature drones used by field forces for recon and targeting information. With the discovery and technology coming out of the visitor, it was updated to have even more sensors and an ability to be self directed within certain parameters. All branches of the UN forces as well as police use larger and smaller models for intel and recon. Most commonly a eight-centimeter probe that has audio and visual sensors they can be made to carry UV, Infrared, thermal, and sonar as well has been a boon to all scout teams.
MK. 2 Battlesuit - In the words of anti-unification armies, 'It's a walking main battle tank'. Issued in 2008 as the MK. 1 which a few of the current features of the mark two. The second version is much more capable to handle various tasks assigned to it. Able to carry over a tone in equipment and fully encasing a soldier with a protective six centimeter armor layer of alien and human alloys; allowing them to take an abusive amount of punishment that even a previous generations main battle tank could take and survive. Capable of lasting forty-eight hours on their internal power supply in either space or an underwater environment up to 150 atmospheres.
LAZ-23 - The main laser battle rifle used by armored troops in the UN forces. Capable of firing upwards of 300 rounds of focused particle laser, or five minutes of a solid beam before having to change out the focusing matrix elements from burnout as power is usually supplied by suit power. A non-suit version used by security forces with a wider selection of focusing functions powered by a protoculture battery cell for two thousand rounds before change out.