Miriya returned the following day alone. This concerned Rick when he saw her land at the base without Lisa.
"Admiral Hunter," Miriya greeted him when she got out of her VT.
"Where's Lisa?"
"She had me take her to the outskirts of New Macross," she said plainly. "She said something about wanting to be alone to think."
Rick knew that wasn't a good sign. And he was concerned that she had no means to get back to the base. He ordered for one VT to be readied for him and called Cindy to locate Commodore Grant. He told Vince that he was going to get Lisa and assigned him as the officer-in-charge. He then went to look for Lisa. He landed his VT on a clearing where Miriya had been previously when she left Lisa there.
"Hey, did you need a ride back to base?" he asked when he approached her. He leaned next to her; she was sitting on a flat boulder.
"I think I failed them," she started, fighting back the tears.
"What happened?"
"Admiral Edwards wants to shut us down. He says there is no point wasting resources to look for the Robotech Masters."
"But Admiral Reinhart stopped him right?" Rick knew that he understood their mission and supported them.
"We need to justify the mission all over again," she said resignedly.
"I'll do everything to help," he promised her. "It'll be alright. We'll make sure they didn't die in vain." He looked out to the remnants of the SDF-1 & 2 that has now become a monument of the First Robotech War.
"My father probably faced the same opposition and chose to delude himself that they were right," she said with deep sadness.
"We won't let them dissuade us," he said with encouragement. He wrapped her in an embrace that gave her strength.
"No, we won't," she said, her spirits picking up. "I guess I'll need you in the next meeting. Will you help me?"
"Anytime, anywhere, I'm there."

Together Rick and Lisa crusaded for the completion of the SDF-3 and its mission. They countered each of the points that Admiral Edwards and his supporters threw at them. With calm strength the two faced their detractors and won more supporters as time went on. In the end, the matter was settled to Admiral Edwards' discontent.
"Congratulations Lisa," Admiral Reinhart said when the dispute was settled. "You would have made your father proud."
Lisa was glad that it was finally over and hoped that Reinhart was right.
"Congratulations to you, too, Rick," he said and shook Rick's hand. "You two make a good team."
"Does he know?" Rick asked when Reinhart was out of earshot.
"No, I don't think so. He probably meant we are a good campaign team."
"I still think this is a mistake," Admiral Edwards said when he approached them. He made sure that Rick and Lisa would hear him.
"Admiral Edwards," Rick began, taking offense. "The matter is settled. It would be nice if we put this to rest."
"I am merely voicing my opinion," Admiral Edwards said, feigning ignorance of offending Rick and Lisa. "You say that you are going on a peace mission and yet the SDF-3 is armed to the teeth."
"We need to be ready for any eventuality," Lisa defended the SDF-3's design.
"Is your new crew even capable of handling such a complex ship?"
"We did fine even when we barely knew how to operate the SDF-1," Lisa reminded him. "With training I'm sure we'll be alright."
"And you," Admiral Edwards motioned to Rick. "Are your pilots ready to defend the SDF-3?"
"They will be," Rick assured him. "Would you like proof of their abilities?" He challenged Edwards pointedly which made Lisa take a sharp inward breath.
"Ahh, I may just do that. How about a friendly wargame in two months? Would that be enough preparation for you?" He eyed Rick condescendingly.
"See you in two months," Rick said with defiance and shook hands with Admiral Edwards to seal the deal.
Admiral Edwards had a smug look on his face when he departed. This worried Lisa.
"Rick, you just put us in a compromising situation," she said, trying to control her temper. "If we lose the wargame, we're back to square one. He can argue that we're inexperienced and …" She trailed off when some of the officers walked past them.
"Have faith in your crew," he replied calmly. "We all know what's at stake and won't let our friends down. Besides, it's what he was already implying so I took preemptive action. We'll prove to him that we are ready."
Lisa knew that most everyone who signed up for this mission believed in it. They had lost loved ones in the First Robotech War and knew that peace was their only option to end the threat on the human race. That was why they all worked so hard to prepare for the mission to Tirol.
"You worry too much," he noted.
"It's my job," she reminded him.
"You need to let me help you. You need to let the crew help you. They'd do anything for this cause."
Lisa knew he was right.
"Besides, it'll give me a chance to show him how much experience we've gained on the field while he sat behind a desk."

Preparation for the wargame was announced to personnel at the base when they returned. The whole place was abuzz with activities and everyone was pulling in extra hours to be ready. Lisa and Miriya concentrated on strategies while Rick and Max worked with the pilots to get them ready.
"Admiral Hayes," Vince announced himself when he entered her office.
"Vince, come in," Lisa acknowledged. "How's the ground crew training coming along?"
"They're ready and able," he replied with a hint of pride. "The men and women won't let you down Admiral."
"This isn't about me, Vince," she reminded him. "This is about all of us as a team."
Vince nodded in agreement. He now saw why Claudia cared so much for Lisa. She was driven but definitely cared for her subordinates.
"Lisa," Rick called her attention as he entered. "You have got to see Max's new maneuver."
"Is it dangerous?" Lisa asked. She knew that look on Rick's face.
Rick couldn't answer because it did have a little hint of danger.
"Rick, please don't do anything wreckless," she cautioned. "We don't want to destroy the VTs before we get into space."
"We'll try not to," Miriya assured her. She apparently knew what maneuver Rick was referring to.