Lisa was on the bridge of the Enterprise space carrier. Today was the last of the scheduled training in space. Not only for the pilots but the flight control officers and the LSOs. Things had gone pretty good considering all the pilots but the nugget squadron have never been in space. With Rick Hunter leading the training, things had gone really well. He was tuff on the pilots but fair and he did a good job of helping them through transitioning to space combat. He was a good teacher and squadron commander. Not that she would be telling him after the comment he made when he arrived. Claudia and Roy had not let it rest either.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Commander O'Conner the SDF-1's new XO and the Enterprise Battle Group commander walked up and stood by her station.
Admiral Avery the Battle Group commander spoke. "They are doing a lot better. Even with them losing the fight they are making my airwing work for it. Commander Hunter has done a great job. I was on Earth shortly after he started teaching. I tried to get him for Air Wing commander, but your father would not allow it. He said Hunter was where he was needed if we were ever going to be able to stand toe to toe with whatever was out there. I was surprised Hunter was transferred to the SDF-1. I figured your father would have kept him teaching."
"I didn't know that. I was not even awar my father even knew who Hunter was." replied Lisa.
"Oh, he knows who Hunter is. Your father had him placed at the academy and personally approved all the changes Hunter introduced. He also signed off on Hunter's last promotion. Your father knows good talent when he sees it. I know he is really proud of you and as much as he would like to see you at RDF Headquarters, he knows you are where your most needed." Admiral Avery said to a surprised Lisa.
"I didn't realize my father spoke of me like that. Nor that Hunter had got my father's attention."
Chuckling Avery replied. "He as bragged more than once about you. Said you were a future Fleet Admiral. As for Hunter, there were those who were not sure about all the changes Hunter introduced. Hunter made a name of himself in flight school. So much so, he came to your father's attention when he was visiting the academy. Your father had him assigned to the academy."
Commander O'Conner Spoke up bringing the current discussion to an end. Looks like Hunter pulled a last-minute victory. Glad he is with the SDF-1. With him with us as we start exploring the universe, we stand a better chance of making it back home. Commander Fokker is a good Airwing Commander, but Hunter is a whole new level."
Further discussion came to a stop when Roy called in. "Enterprise Command, training mission complete all SDF-1 fighters returning to Earth and Macross Command. Thanks for the hospitality and aid in our training."
Admiral Avery replied. "Your welcome Skull Leader. It has been a pleasure having you and your squadrons this last week. Congratulations on your victory today. It was well earned."
"Thank you, sir. It was not easy and not for my little brother's last rally, not possible. You have some of the best pilots in the RDF. It was a pleasure to train with them. Skull Leader out."
Avery turned to Commander O'Conner and Hayes. "It has been a pleasure having you here and good luck. Look forward when the SDF-1 joins us in space."
Both saluted the admiral and thanked him and his crew for the hospitality before gathering all the SDF-1 personal and heading to their shuttles so they could return home.
R/L
Rick was sitting in the Captain's briefing room next to Roy with all the SDF-1's senior officers. They were waiting on the Captain. It was the day before they launched. This was to be the last meeting before they headed to space.
It had been a long busy month getting ready for the launch. With all the extra training Rick had to lead to get the SDF-1's airwing ready for what was to come and get the airwing moved on the SDF-1, he had little sleep.
But it had been worth it in the end. The airwing was in high spirits after their last training mission. They had barely won the engagement but won they had. Of course, a few pilots had run their mouths when they got back. Rick had jumped the whole airwings ass. Reminding them they barely won and lost 95% of the airwing in the process. He also reminded the idiot pilots that popped of they had been killed and had nothing to do with it. Rick had turned the airwing back over to Roy after that. Roy had a meeting with the squadron commanders after that and reminded them they were not anywhere were they needed to be if they planned to survive space combat. Himself included. After that they had doubled the sim training.
The room was called to attention as the captain the too everyone's surprise Admiral Hayes walked into the room. The Admiral told everyone to have a seat while he stood at the head of the table.
"One of the things I like about my job is when I get to come around and visit the troops. A task I don't get to do as much as I would like. Some of you I have had the pleasure in meeting before others I look forward to meeting you all over the next couple days I'm here. Every man and woman on this ship is the best the UN Spacy Navy has. You have worked hard to get the SDF-1 ready for its launch. You even manage to get it ready ahead of schedule. Now to business. Captain Gloval step forward. Room attention. Henery you are out of uniform Admiral. On behalf of the Defense Counsel and the UN Spacy Navel you are now promoted to Rear Admiral. Congratulations Admiral Gloval."
Admiral Hayes presented Gloval with his new rank. Once that was done the group all applauded the new admiral.
"Thank you everyone. I could not have got this without all of you. Thanks Admiral Hayes I will do everything to show it is well earned." Gloval told everyone.
With the promotion out of the way Admiral Hayes went over the next month's schedule for the SDF-1. They would be busy testing all the systems including the reflex cannon, fold drive and the barrier system that has been handed to all the ships in the fleet. He also explained when the SDF-1 reached space, it would be joined by a new fleet of ships that would be tasked as the SDF-1's escort. There would be 4 heavy cruisers and missile destroyers and 6 anti-mega destroyers. After the meeting was over Admiral Hayes ask Gloval, O'Conner, Lisa, Roy, Dr Lang and Rick to stay.
R/L
Once the door was closed and the room posted with guards to make sure no one entered or overheard what was said.
"Have a seat everyone. This is going to be an informal meeting. What I'm about to say is only know till now by 3 people. All three of them are in this room. What I'm to stay is not to leave this room without mine or Ricks approval." That got everyone's attention. "Rick maybe you should introduce yourself."
This confused everyone but Rick and Dr. Lang. They both knew what the Admiral Hayes was asking.
"If your sure Admiral?" asked Rick.
"As much as I would like to keep it a secret because of the issues it could cause I believe it's necessary. Especially what will happen in a couple weeks." explained Hayes.
Lisa asked before Rick could respond. "What will happen in 2 weeks father?"
"War Lisa, War." That caused everyone to get quiet. Giving Rick a chance to respond.
Rick stood up coming to attention and using what his wife use to call his admiral's voice. "At the time of my death over 30 years from now I was Fleet Admiral Richard Hunter, commander of the SDF-3 and the RDF Expedition fleet. Upon my death all my memories were sent back till I was 17 years old. I was not aware of any others till my father's funeral when Admiral Hayes came to pay his respect. I was told that He and Dr. Lang had already been back and started making changes. Admiral."
Everyone was stun silent which gave Admiral Hayes time to continue. "My memories don't go that far into the future. Both Rick and Dr. Lang know more of our future then I do. I died 2 years from now."
"NOOO" screamed a shocked Lisa.
Donald walked up to his daughter and took both her hands in his. "Yes Lisa. I died along with all but a few hundred thousand survivors of the Earth's population."
Admiral Hayes and Rick explained the first Robotech War. Everyone was shocked at what they heard. Several questions were asked.
Gloval after listening spoke. "I assume each of you had a specific task to complete to get us here."
"Yes Henry, Emil was to improve our technology enough to get us through the first war. Mine was to get the fleet reading and to get us a defense council that was not corrupted like the one I had to work with last time. Rick was to get the airwings ready for space combat. As the fighter squadrons will face the blunt of the fighting and suffered the most casualties." Replied Admiral Hayes.
"You orchestrated Commander Hunters advancement and his placement at the academy." asked Lisa. "Admiral Avery said you were well aware of Hunter and made sure he taught and stayed at the academy. He was surprised when he heard Hunter was transferred to the SDF-1."
Looking at his daughter. "Yes, in a way I did. Rick earned all his promotions. I had him placed at the academy to get the new training introduced and the pilots we have better trained. He was also to get the academy use to the new system and all the instructors up to speed before he had to join the SDF-1."
It was Dr. Lang who spoke next. "Rick was one of the 3 best pilots the RDF ever had. He thought for a few years as the SDF-3 was build, after the destruction of the SDF-1 and SDF-2. The new tactics that you all are seeing for the first time. Our tactics he came up with after the first Robotech War. After lessons learned during the war. A lot of pilots lost their lives before we learned how to fight in space."
Commander O'Conner asked. "Why tell us why now."
Rick replied. "Because in 2 weeks Commander Breeti and a thousand Zentraedi fleet will be arriving."
"What" everyone yelled. It was Rick that restored order. "Listen up people. Admiral."
"Now we know when he will arrive and where is fleet will fold in. The problem we have is that. There is a trojan horse programed in the main computer of the SDF-1 that we don't know where it is or how to remove it. It will cause the SDF-1's main gun to fire, starting the war. The second problem the SDF-1 needs to be seen here and seen folding out."
"Why is that, Donald?" asked Gloval.
Because we need the Zentraedi to try to follow the SDF-1 to help give us time to keep building up the fleet and Earth's defenses. So that incase Dolza shows up with the main Zentraedi fleet and bombards the planet, it won't be as bad and we can save more lives."
"Why all the civilians, if you know this will happen?" asked O'Conner.
Rick replied. "Because we will be out in space for a couple years or more and the SDF-1 will be like an ark in case we fall to save the Earth. Once we leave with the Zentraedi on our tail we will start recruiting and training pilots fo the fighters and other mecha we have and that we will build. We will need to try to bring our fighter squadrons to full strength as much as possible. We will also need some normalcy that we can only get with a mini city on board. Our people will need to have something to remind them why they fight."
"The area around the civilian section is reinforced and cannot be breached by enemy force without a lot of fighting to get there. We have made them as safe as we possible could." replied Dr. Lang.
"I know we have given you a lot to think about. I got a few more things to go over before we finish." Admiral Hayes spent the next couple hours explaining the next step in the Earth's defense and what the fleet will do during the battle and after the SDF-1 leaves. He also had a few more promotions.
This the last prewritten chapter I had. I am going to try to rotate stories to update. Hopefully it will work better in getting new chapters out.