Fanfic Name / Nombre del Fanfic: Choices and Aces

Chapter / Capitulo: Chapter 16

Author / Autor: Anonymoose_Au

Rating / Clasificacion: AP15 (For Teenagers = Para Adolescentes)

Romance

Action / Accion

Alternate Universe / Universo Alterno

Fanfic: “The Zentraedi had fought against a plethora of enemies, some of whom were almost as deadly as ourselves. But in all the hundreds of nos in our known history we had never come up against an enemy who overwhelmed our forces by the way they lived. Who beat us without weapons. There were only legends, and now they were coming to fruition” Exedore Formo 'The Zentraedi Question' 
 
 
Sammie, Vanessa and Kim were giggling with excitement. 
 
The reception was almost at its end and all the women assembled knew what that meant. 
 
The party had been a great success, a number of soldiers had spoken to and danced with the Bridge Bunnies and a few had even expressed an interest in seeing them again. 
 
And of course there was the romanticness of the whole occasion, right now Roy and Claudia were still dancing together along with a few other couples on the improvised dance floor in the large conference room of the Prometheus. 
 
Vanessa picked up her bouquet from the table where she’d set it down. “I can’t wait to get these in water; they’ll make our quarters look so much better.” 
 
“I want to dry press some of mine,” Kim replied, “that way we’ll always have something to remember this day.” 
 
“Well, you can do that,” Sammie said, loftily, “but I’m planning to have the Bridal Bouquet to job my memory.” 
 
Vanessa and Kim poked their tongues out at her. 
 
“Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched,” Vanessa warned. 
 
“Or, in your case, eggs,” Kim teased, “I was the Robotech Academy Women’s Softball team’s prime catcher, remember?” 
 
“Yeah and you couldn’t even get on the team!” Vanessa laughed. 
 
Sammie tossed her head. “I could have got in if I’d wanted to, I just didn’t that’s all." 
 
Vanessa and Kim rolled their eyes at one another. 
 
“Besides catching a bouquet is different from catching a softball,” Sammie continued, “it’s all about height.” 
 
“Then you really are doomed,” Vanessa cried, dramatically, which had Kim in gales of laughter. 
 
“Hmpf,” Sammie planted her hands on her hips, “I can jump higher than anyone in this room,” she swore, “you’ll see.” 
 
Vanessa and Kim wisely decided not to egg on their friend any further, instead looking around to see if there were any other possible dance partners for them before the party ended. 
 
“You know who we haven’t seen in weeks?” Vanessa spoke. 
 
The other two hmmmed. 
 
“Those three weird guys, remember? One of them had purple hair.” 
 
“Oh, yeah! They were so great!” Kim clapped her hands together. “Konda was a hoot!” 
 
“Rico was a great dancer,” Sammie recalled. “Well, once he got the rhythm.” 
 
“And Bron was sweet,” Vanessa sighed, “so why haven’t we seen them again? They didn’t even give us their phone numbers!” 
 
“Yeah, it’s weird,” Kim nodded. “I mean, there’s only a little more than fifty-five thousand people on this ship, it’s not that many.” 
 
“I don’t know, it’s not like we’ve asked anyone about them and we don’t get out to Macross City that much.” Sammie pointed out. 
 
“Hmmm,” the three pondered the situation, but not for long as Captain Gloval called for attention. 
 
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr and Mrs Fokker,” he smiled at Roy and Claudia, “I’m sorry to say that the party has come to an end and most of us need to be back on duty in a couple of hours…and I’ll hope you’ll be ready for it.” He gave a few members of the Skull a pointed look. “But before we do end it, would all the unmarried ladies here please step forward?” 
 
There was a cry of excitement from most of the women, who hurried forward to the centre of the room. 
 
As Kim, Sammie and Vanessa hurried forwards, they spotted Lisa lingering towards the back of the room. 
 
They rushed over and took her arms, propelling her forward. 
 
“Oh no, I don’t want to do this, it’s silly,” Lisa objected, blushing. 
 
“Come on, Lisa!” Sammie cajoled. 
 
“Yeah, it’s all in good fun,” Kim added. 
 
“Let your hair down!” Vanessa kidded. 
 
Soon, the three and Lisa were right in the middle of the crush of unmarried women. 
 
Claudia, who had spilt her bouquet in half, turned her back on the crowd and made quite a show of picking up momentum before letting it fly over her head. 
 
It soared high into the air right towards the centre of the group. Kim held up her hands as if preparing to catch a ball, Vanessa tried to calculate where the flowers would fall so she could be there to grab them and Sammie prepared to leap the highest she’d ever had. 
 
As the bouquet started to fall Sammie leapt up, her hands reaching high for the flowers. 
 
Her fingertips gazed the bouquet, but she wasn’t fast enough in closing her fingers, to catch it. 
 
It fell down...down... 
 
Right into the hands Lisa was holding half-heartedly out. 
 
*** 
 
Excited cheers and giggles and shrieks of congratulations clamoured around Lisa as she stared in disbelief at the red roses in her hands. 
 
'How did this happen?' She wondered. 
 
Suddenly, she was hugged from all sides as the Bridge Bunnies chanted. “You caught it! You caught it!” 
 
Lisa noticed a few of the women around her looking quite sour, but most were full of good wishes for her. 
 
The Bridge Bunnies in particular seemed to think the whole thing was almost as good as the Wedding itself. 
 
As the crowd of women dispensed, they were still clustered around. 
 
“This is really good luck!” Kim chatted. 
 
“Yeah! Now all we need is for Commander Fokker to throw the garter.” Vanessa added. 
 
“Does Claudia even have a garter on?” Sammie wondered. 
 
It turned out she didn’t, but for the sake of tradition she cajoled Roy into throwing something. 
 
“It really should be something of yours,” she said, “after all I lost half my bouquet to the cause.” 
 
After some thought, Roy decided to throw his uniform tie. 
 
“I’ve always hated these things,” he remarked as he untied it from his neck. 
 
Lisa watched as Claudia herded most of the men in the room towards the centre, even those who protested and even Captain Gloval! 
 
“Oh no, I don’t think so,” he told her, shaking his head. 
 
“Now, sir,” Claudia beamed at him, “it’s tradition, all single girls and all single men have to join in.” 
 
There was a chorus of catcalls and chants of “Do it! Do it! Do it!” Lisa felt sorry for the Captain. 
 
But being the good sport he was, Gloval finally agreed and soon a hush fell as Roy prepared to throw his tie. 
 
As his new wife had done, he made a big deal out of doing a wind up before letting the tie fly. 
 
It soared through the air and in contrast to the bouquet-throwing a fair number of men seemed to be jostling to get out of the line of fire. 
 
One man seemed to have a different idea and reaching up as quick as lightning to snatch the tie from the air. 
 
All the ladies craned to see who it was, especially the Bridge Bunnies, but Lisa was not quite as desperate to see who it was. 
 
The men dispersed leaving a sheepish Max Sterling standing with the tie in hand. 
 
The Bridge Bunnies shrieked with laughter and pushed Lisa towards him. “You have to leave the party together with the Bride and Groom!” Sammie insisted. 
 
There were more wolf-whistles and Lisa wished more than anything that she could sink through a hole in the floor. But there was no luck to be had and she found herself walking across the floor to take Max Sterling’s arm. 
 
“Hey there, Commander,” he greeted her warmly. 
 
“Lieutenant,” she couldn’t help smiling at his easy-going manner. 
 
Claudia gave her a wink as she and Roy received one more cheer and headed out the double doors of the room, with Lisa and Max following. 
 
As they left the room Lisa thought she saw Rick looking at them slightly miffed. 
 
'Hmmm, perhaps this isn’t so bad after all.' 
 
*** 
 
Khyron was making the final preparations for the assault on the battle fortress. 
 
Captain Gerao had ‘volunteered’ his cruiser for the job of decoy. Whilst nowhere near the size of Khyron’s battle ship, it was sturdy enough to withstand the frontal assault of the Daedeleus providing Khyron and his Battalions halted the mecha within from firing. 
 
Breetai’s 1st Division had arrived in their Battle pods seeming less numerous than Khyron expected, but it didn’t really matter, if fate was with him, there’d be a lot less of them when he returned triumphant having bested the micronians as he’d been destined to do. 
 
Khyron also recalled with relish the transmission he had made to Azonia. 
 
She had been speechless, no doubt with envy, when Khyron told him of his orders. 
 
“I would have asked to include you,” he had said, pleasantly, “but I thought you’d object to my command.” 
 
Azonia’s face had gone dark and her eyes had flashed furiously, but she had been unable to come up with any response. 
 
He had broken off the connection while laughing mockingly and was pleased to think of her stewing in her hapless fury. 
 
Running through his final checks, he climbed into his Officer’s Pod and rubbing his hands together in anticipation opened the comm. line. “Gerao, patch me through to Breetai, the assault is almost ready to begin!” 
 
*** 
 
The wedding was well and truly over. 
 
Out of her Wedding dress and back in uniform Claudia was on duty at her station. She peered thoughtfully at the field of stars, wondering if she and Roy would ever have a honeymoon. 
 
As if reading her thoughts, Sammie called out. “I can’t believe you’re on duty! You don’t even get a honeymoon or anything!” 
 
Looking over her shoulder with a smile, Claudia took it in good humour. “Well, it’s not as though there’s a lot of fabulous places to go,” she gave a wink, “there’s not a palm tree in sight on board!” 
 
The Bridge Bunnies laughed. 
 
“Seriously, thought, I hope when my wedding comes we won’t be at war,” Sammie said. 
 
“I’m sure it won’t,” Claudia assured her before either Vanessa or Kim could poke fun at the girl. 
 
Claudia looked over at Lisa, who had beat a hasty retreat from the Prometheus once the festivities were over. All traces of her sophisticated up-do obliterated her hair was styled as normal and her uniform crisp and pressed as ever. Lisa was clearly relieved to be back where she belonged. 
 
“The Minmei Birthday Concert is on tonight,” Vanessa remarked, “a guy asked me to it, but I had to turn him down.” 
 
“Oh no!’ Cried Kim. 
 
“That’s so unfair!” Sammie agreed. 
 
“It’s totally pathetic,” Vanessa shook her head. 
 
Lisa cleared her throat slightly warningly, while Claudia gave the girls a sympathetic look, she could image how Vanessa felt. 
 
Lisa’s look came not a moment too soon as Captain Gloval entered the Bridge from a meeting with Dr. Lang and Colonels Maistroff and Caruthers. 
 
“How was the meeting, sir?” Lisa asked. 
 
The Captain sat down in his command chair and fiddled with his cap, a sure sign he was annoyed. 
 
“Dr. Lang thinks he can work out the problems with the omni-directional barrier, but Maistroff and Caruthers are not eager. Despite the fact we are now in space and despite the fact that it may be our only hope against all-out war with the aliens.” He shook his head then looked at Claudia. “Has there been any movement from the alien fleet?” 
 
Claudia shook her head. “Three ships seemed to have docked with one another, but aside from that, nothing.” 
 
“Hmmm, what are the playing at?” Gloval murmured to himself. 
 
No-one on the Bridge had even a suggestion, so nothing was said. 
 
“Well, with things bee so quiet,” the Captain spoke after a moment, “I don’t see why we can’t listen to the concert. It is about to start, isn’t it?” 
 
The Bridge Bunnies nodded enthusiastically. 
 
“Patch it through, Claudia,” Gloval nodded at her and she complied. 
 
The last strains of thousands of people singing Happy Birthday came through the speakers. 
 
Then came Minmei’s voice. “Oh, thank you, thank you! Standing before you all today is the best present I could get!” 
 
There was thunderous applause. 
 
“And now, I dedicate this song to all of you,” Minmei told them as the strains of the 'Small White Dragon' theme filled the Bridge, followed by Minmei’s clear voice. 
 
'You have to say one thing for that girl,' Claudia thought, 'she certainly has the crowd eating out of her hand!' 
 
*** 
 
As the oriental sounds of 'Small White Dragon' died away the temp when straight into 'To Be In Love', Minmei’s most successful hit. 
 
“To be my love, 
To share a dream, 
With somebody you care about 
Like no-one else. 
A special man, 
A dearest man-“ 
 
Lisa’s eyes became unfocused and before her was a vision of Kyle. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t get rid of his image; it now came to her more than Rick’s, even more than Karl’s. 
 
She could hear his calls for the war to stop and they seemed to resonate more and more strongly within her… 
 
'No!' She told herself. 'It can’t happen, it won’t happen, I stand for everything he hates, he can never care for me.' Holding her arms around herself, tightly, she shook her head as if to shake the image from her mind. 'I mustn’t think about him anymore. I musn’t...' 
 
At that moment an alert spilt the air. 
 
“What?” Lisa’s eyes snapped back into focus, sirens started to chime and messages flooded into the Bridge, cutting off Minmei in mid-note. 
 
“Thirty enemy cruisers are heading straight for us!” Vanessa reported. “They’re moving in fast and all ready releasing attack squads.” 
 
“Call out the veritechs,” Gloval ordered. 
 
Lisa opened the comm. net. “Attention all veritech squadrons, attention, we are under attack. All pilots to your veritechs, all pilots to veritechs. The alien forces are coming from Sector Beta-three, move to intercept.” 
 
Lisa watched as the thirty alien cruisers came into view. 
 
“Energy sensors detect they’re aiming for us, sir!” Vanessa warned. 
 
“Activate, pin-point barrier, now!” Gloval ordered. 
 
“Roger,” Claudia relayed the order and confirmed that three movable discs had been activated and were now hovering across the SDF-1, ready to intercept any high energy fire. 
 
The veritech squadrons had begun taking-off. 
 
“This is Skull Leader,” Roy radioed, “following co-ordinates to attack zone.” 
 
“Roger, Skull Leader,” Lisa affirmed. 
 
The other squadron leaders also confirmed their status, right up to... 
 
“This is Vermillion Leader,” Rick’s voice sent a shiver of fear through Lisa. 
 
'Oh, please, come back all right...' 
 
“Moving to intercept attack groups four, five and six.” 
 
“Roger,” Lisa all but whispered, then repeated herself, louder. She had to clear her mind of individuals, it was the only way. 
 
“All veritech squadrons have made contact,” she report, her voice devoid of all emotion. 
 
*** 
 
Miriya, to her annoyance had been unable to get a ticket to the ‘concert’ nor trick an unsuspecting micronian out of theirs. 
 
However, far be it for a Zentraedi to give up just because of unexpected problems. 
 
The Star Bowl as it was called was at the centre of the first tier of the multi-layered city and was fortunately surrounded by some rather tall buildings. 
 
In typically unthinking style, the micronians provided easy access to their bases, not only through unlocked doors, but by a series of ladders and balconies on the outside. 
 
It was via these last two that Miriya reached the top of a building directly across from the Bowl and had a clear sight of the concert. 
 
It turned out to be a good thing she hadn’t actually got a ticket, as Minmei was displaying the micronian weapon of song to full effect. But from her vantage point Miriya could only hear muffled sounds. 
 
With the sharp eyes, she squinted looking for her quarry, was he not there? 
 
Miriya was startled by a sudden shaking of the entire vessel and almost tipped head over heels to the street below so far she had been leaning over the half-wall of the top of the building to see the concert. 
 
Those in the Star Bowl seemed fearful and Minmei had stopped singing. 
 
At that moment, the micronian she sought appeared, hurrying to Minmei and putting his hand on her arm. 
 
Growing used to such disgusting displays, Miriya did not flinch, but watched as the male spoke to the female. 
 
Then in a tremulous voice the ‘song’ began again, the male nodding in encouragement and the crowd beginning to join in. 
 
Miriya’s eyes widened, she had never seen the non-combatants of Zor’s Fortress engage in weapons training before, but now... 
 
And this song was a weapon that all but the baby micronians could engage in. 
 
'We are in greater danger than we ever feared.' Miriya thought with a shudder. 
 
*** 
 
In amongst the 1st and 17th Battalions at the front of Gerao’s ship, the three spies and twenty Zentraedi defectors all micronised hid, three of four to a battle pod. 
 
Bron seemed be having second thoughts. “How can we be so sure the micronians can defeat Khyron? They’ve never been up against him properly, he won’t hold back this time.” 
 
“Look,” Konda said, firmly, “it’s too late to turn back now, this is the only chance we’ve got.” 
 
“That’s right,” Rico nodded, “we have to take it.” 
 
Bron convinced by his friends’ words steeled his nerve. 
 
*** 
 
At the back of the group, Khyron listened as reports flooded in. 
 
“Our fellow ships are firing on the fortress and our attack teams are keeping their mecha from assisting. We should be in range of the Daedeleus in twenty mil.” 
 
Khyron gave an impatient grunt, but did not demand that Gerao pick up the pace of his cruiser. He had learned from the disaster of his first battle with the micronians on this solar system's red planet. 
 
“All soldiers prepared for battle?” He asked instead for the fourth time. 
 
There was a chorus of “Yes, m’lord”s and Khyron nodded, satisfied for the time being. 
 
'Soon micronians, very, very soon.'

Continue / Continua: Yes / Si