fanfic_name = Rick's Rain

chapter = 20

author = Adam Scott

dedicate = Every one who loves RT

Rating = AP

Type = Alternative Universe

fanfic = Chapter 20

        I awoke from my troubled slumber to the sound of heavy rain on the roof and the clang of hail against the gutters. The house was dark and empty. Roy was with JoJo and Lisa was at a meeting with Leonard and Emerson. The last 6 months I've been lucky to get out of bed. The stress I had put myself under caused a near nervous breakdown. Today though I had to get up, today was the commissioning ceremony for the SDF-3. Today I am to take my first steps toward facing the demon. Today is my day. I don't care about the rain. Nothing will stop me now.

        I shower and put my dress uniform on with a black over coat. I'm still not used to seeing myself in full admirals' garb. I'm a pilot, always have been, always will be. Admirals are not pilots, their paper pushers. That's all I have been for the last 2 years, a paper pusher, a boss, a project manager. I'm really a pilot in admirals clothing, nothing more or rather that's what I want to be. But I can't avoid it any longer. I have to be responsible now. I was always more comfortable with Lisa fulfilling that role.

        My driver is waiting when I step outside. He rushes up to the door with an umbrella. I wave him off and step out into the weather. I close my eyes and tilt my head back. I want to feel the rain and cold on my face. I pause for a few moments reveling in the small bits of hail biting into my skin. "Today is my day" I think to myself, "nothing will stop me". I hear the driver clear his throat. He isn't as tolerant of today's weather as I am it seems. I grin a little and get into the car.

        We make a beeline for the base. Lisa's meeting is already finished and she will be waiting. As we roll up, I see her slender figure standing under the awning to UEG headquarters. She's smiling, that's a good sign; she must have convinced them to go with our plan. The driver hurry's out of the car and then escorts Lisa back, under the umbrella. She scrambles in and practically giggles as she situates herself. "Went that well I take it?" I ask her. She looks over at me with a grin as big as a Cheshire cat. "Better!" she says with wink. Then she leans over and kisses me, hard! This was a surprise; Lisa has never been this forward. After the kiss she saddles up to me and lays her head on my shoulder. Then she takes my hand and we interlace our fingers.

I haven't seen her, this happy, in a while. The last few months have been a struggle for both of us. She had to take care of our family as well as take over a lot of my responsibilities. She has been so supportive though. I couldn't have made it with out her. She won't admit it but she has always been the strong one. I kiss the top of her head with that thought. She responds with snuggling closer to me, her own little way to say I love you too.

The rain continues to fall as we travel to the ceremony. With Lisa bringing the good news that they are willing to work with our plan I start to feel a bit anxious. The SDF-3 is the largest ship ever constructed by earth and she is going to be landing just out side the city. We are planning on leaving immediately after the ceremony for the home of the Robotech Masters. Everything we will ever need is already onboard, including our son Roy. JoJo took Roy there last night in hopes that our plan would be approved. They will be waiting for us when we board.

We pull into the space port and towards the grand stands; even in this weather the seats are full. Any of the REF personnel that wasn't essential to operating a ship are standing in ranks, according to division, in front of the grand stands. It seems as if they go on forever from our lowered angle in the car. How many people will we be commanding? How many lives are now entrusted into our hands? Hundreds, Thousands? No, hundreds of thousands and possibly a million since we are taking mostly families.

The driver takes us to a small stage and podium in front of the crew and the crowd. The rain has slowed and the sun is trying to peek through the clouds. The driver lets us out and as I reach in to help out Lisa the crowd erupts into applause, whistles and screams. The SDF-3 was descending and was breaking through the clouds. It was a beautiful sight, the grand achievement of 2 and half years of work. I felt like a proud papa. Its twin reflex cannon's gleamed as it passed through the sparse rays of the sun. As it descends a dust cloud forms and its massive size dwarfs the skyline of Monument City. Soon it settles to earth, just beyond the space port on the west edge of town. At this moment in time it is the tallest and largest man made object on the planet.

Lisa steps out and I help her stand. We walk up the short flight of stairs to the top of the podium and take our seats to the left of center, soon there after Supreme Commander Leonard and General Emerson arrived. Emerson sat to the right of center, Leonard took the podium. Now the attention is focused on us.

Leonard begins: "Today we celebrate the beginning of a new adventure for mankind, an adventure with the gravest of importance." I was shocked to hear him say this. As far as I knew the true purpose of our mission was going to be kept secret until after we left. Leonard continues: "The mission of this ship and its crew will be spoken of for years to come and will be reflected in history as one the most ambitious endeavors ever attempted by mankind. For those of you who do not know, all will be revealed in due time. But for now just know, that these fine young men and women of the REF along with their Commanders Rick and Lisa Hunter, are taking upon themselves the greatest of risks for their homes and loved ones. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, they risk life itself. . . No greater sacrifice can be asked of a person then to be asked to travel into deep space for an indefinite period of time, facing who knows what kind of enemy, in who knows what kind of situation with your family . . . and still do it with zeal. This, my friends, is the true face of courage (he gestures to the crew). Now I would like to turn the podium over to the Commander of the SDF-3 Pioneer, Admiral Lisa Hunter."

Leonard finished in record time. He isn't known for his "short" speeches. To my relief I knew what Lisa was going to say and that meant we only had 5 more minuets and we would be on our way. Lisa stood up, smoothed out her coat and walked up to the podium. "Ladies and Gentleman of the REF, members of the UEG Council and honored guests. Today we commission into service the first of what we hope will someday be many protectors of life and liberty here on earth. However our place will not be with you. I and my crew along with the rest of the REF are destined for distant shores. Our mission is to take the battle to them and allow our home world the time needed to properly heal. When we shall return, nobody knows. Every one of you that joins us on this journey may never see our shining blue ball again. Our sacrifice however, is our salvation as well and by the grace of God we will return to our homes safe in the knowledge that devastation upon the scale of Dolza's Rain will never come to bare against us ever again . . . I hereby commission the SDF-3 and name her the UEGS Pioneer. That was the cue, every department head and squadron leader brought his team to attention. "Commanders, take your stations." At the completion of that sentence, every crew member, officer and enlisted, ran towards the SDF-3. As they approached the SDF-3, entryways opened in the side of her hull allowing the crew to enter. Lisa looked over at me with a worry in her eyes. "Their coming" I said, and just as I finished my sentence the first squadron of Alpha's flew over head in formation, followed by the first squadron of Beta's. These planes were going to be the blue print for the factory buried in the hull of the SDF-3. A smile came across Lisa's face. Everything was ready; she walked to where I was sitting and saluted. I stood and returned the salute. She then leaped into my arms and kissed me. I was a little stunned; it's not like Lisa to show so much emotion in public. "What got into you?" I ask, she replies "oh it's just that I'm so excited and I also wanted to thank you for insisting that Sergeant Tanner be treated as part of the family". "Why is that?" I ask, unsure of what she means. Then another smile crosses her face and she leans in close so only I could hear. "Roy is going to have a little brother or sister" she kisses the end of my nose at that. All I can do is smile and I think to myself, thank god for the rain.

END

State = Fin/The End

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = jscott_73ATyahoo.com