fanfic_name = What If

chapter = Chapter 20

author = Knights Templar

dedicate = Lol, everyone here, yes everyone. An all those who read and reviewed and offered encouragement. An...an...umm...Jack McKinney who wrote Robotech...yeah him too.

Rating = AP15

Type = Adventure

fanfic = What If

There is no substitute for victory. -Douglas MacArthur

People gathered in the streets of cities all over the world watching as thousands and thousands of ships descended onto the hapless and raped planet Earth. Cities had been saved all over the planet, or a large number of them had, whereas some had their shields fail and met the sword like so much of the rural community of the world.

Large scale efforts had been made to try and protect as many people as could be helped but it was impossible to help billions of people at once, but then again, as always, it could have been much worse then it had with over eighty percent of the worlds population decimated as opposed to roughly sixty percent. Some nations had fared better than others and had less of its people die than others.

Less fortunate, and therefore, less important nations (to whoever made those decisions) had received less of the critical shielding as opposed to nations in Europe, North America, South America and prominent nations in Africa and Asia. Nations such as Nigeria, Cuba, Afghanistan and others had been simply passed over as having nothing to offer to Earth after a post apocalyptic world.

Squadrons had been dispatched all over the world to survey parts of the Earth and soon Rick and company found themselves streaking over North America searching for any charred markings and plains of decimation. So far, all the North American nations had fared much better then the rest of the world and had suffered far less damage then other places.

Reports came in suggesting that some of the shields had failed in South America and some had in fact shorted out in the midst of the bombardment in North America as well. Rick cringed, cities like Houston, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, and many other larger cities in America had been wiped off the map. South America had received damage as well with cities like Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Quito, Montevideo, and Concepcion had all met the sword in the bombardment.

But as the reports came in, the worst hit places were Africa and Asia who had not received the attention the rest of the world had in the effort to gear up for war. Granted nations like China and Egypt and Japan and South Africa had been saved, but many nations had not been considered, or were passed over.

The call went out and many Veritech squadrons were being recalled to RDF bases that had been built and shielded. Rick and his band of merry pilots were being flagged to head for the New York Base where the SDF-1 and some of the remaining fleet was landing; most had stayed in space awaiting further orders.

The SDF-1 could been seen from some distance out and already efforts were being started to disembark Macross City and the battle hardened, weary residents had lived for years. They found the runway and all landed quickly and successfully. They forewent any changing and washing up because it would waste time that would be needed to get into the whatever they had to deal with and then go help all those who were in need.

They entered the large meeting hall and found a hastily thrown together group of tables and saw about half a dozen people in the room waiting. These included the leader of the North American region and the Bridge Crew. Rick shot Lisa a look and she didn’t look back, she wore her serious face that projected a serious, no nonsense attitude to the room.

The five pilots saluted and went to parade rest. Gloval looked at them and then motioned towards the North American leader, “Ladies and gentlemen, I would first like to thank you for fighting in the manner you did to save humanity,” the man paused obviously thinking about how many had died, “secondly I would like to say that I am going to step down as leader and allow a more able person to run this region. I would like to hand over control to Admiral Gloval, I know this is very unorthodox but you must understand we need you to lead this region and eventually humanity back into prosperity in this crucial and critical time.”

The room remained silent as all eyes turned to Admiral Gloval and he in turn, looked at each person in the room and saw the look in their eyes. He stood up slowly because it had been a long and taxing battle for everyone involved. Gloval inhaled and let out a noisy breath and addressed the group, “I agree that this is a crucial time and that humanity must be led back on the right path, but I have to know if there isn’t someone who can do the job better?” The man shook his head no and Gloval again exhaled loudly.

“Wouldn’t the people resent a military man in charge of them?” Gloval asked looking for some reason to not take charge in what he knew would be a politically charged atmosphere.

The man shook his head again and stared intently at Admiral Gloval his blue eyes unwavering, “Admiral Gloval, this is the will of the people. You are lauded as a hero and defender of humanity all over the world and these people want you to lead them.” Gloval lowered his head and knew that he was in a situation were he would lose face with the people and may very well cause unintended consequences for the RDF.

“Well if it is really what the people want, than I will accept this until someone better is found, or until I’m dead,” Gloval said with a slight smirk. Smiles broke out on the faces of everyone in the room. Gloval sat down and then shifted his attention to those who were in front of him.

“Well now I suppose it is time to promote some people into important position in my new military, eh?” Gloval said with a smirk that gave everyone the impression that he might find something that would satisfy him as a political leader.

At this time General’s Rinehart and Maistroff had arrived and were now in the corner, not to be unnoticed by Admiral Gloval. “Well I guess I need a commander of forces in North America,” Gloval said as he stroked his chin, “Brigadier General Rinehart I am hereby promoting you to the rank of General of the Armed Forces and placing you in command of the RDF in North America.”

Gloval’s gaze drifted to General Maistroff and he thought quickly about whether he wanted this man in a position to cause him any trouble because he knew that Maistroff would. He knew that Maistroff wanted his job and he figured that if he placed him in a position where it was more for show then anything else but he couldn’t because Maistroff had experience that was needed.

“Brigadier General Maistroff, I am hereby naming you in command Security and Defenses for North American RDF Forces.” Maistroff nodded his head calculating what he would do next in his move for power.

“.Captain Lisa Hayes, you are being promoted to Vice Admiral and placed in command of re-organization of all RDF Forces and command of all RDF Forces in Space and Overseas.” Lisa saluted and nodded and returned to her seat with a somewhat content smirk on her face.

“Colonel Roy Fokker you are being named in command of Recruitment and Armament of RDF Forces along with Diplomatic duties along with Admiral Hayes. You will also be promoted to Vice Admiral.” Roy wore a shocked look that was a mix between happiness and sadness at becoming an Admiral but losing his pilot status.

“Captain Rick Hunter you will now be promoted to Colonel and are now Commander of the Air Forces of North America. Commander Evers you will be promoted to Colonel sent to Research and Development and Flight Testing, and Sterling’s you both will be named Colonels and commanders of RDF Forces in Europe.”

Gloval looked at those before him and knew that he was missing a commander of RDF Forces in Asia and decided he would present it to those before him. “Who would like to suggest a able commander of our forces on Asia?” No one spoke as everyone thought about who they would like to see as commander of RDF Forces in Asia.

Jacob spoke up, “What about Ethan Ramsey? He is a good commander even if he is a destroid ground pounder.” That drew a slight laugh. Gloval didn’t object and scrawled the name down. He look at the Trio and in one rather long sentence promoted all of them to Captains and put in positions of intelligence, public relations, and an aide to Lisa.

Gloval gave one more look over those before him and rose once more and saluted them dismissed them. Gloval sat down and looked at the former leader of North America. “Well, I am in for one helluva challenge.” The man smiled, George W. Bush looked at him, he was getting to old to deal with any of this nonsense anymore and he knew Admiral Gloval was the perfect man to lead a ruined planet.

The group walked outside and went their own ways Jacob stopped in front a building with no name, but he knew what it was. It was a orphanage for children who had lost their parents either in the war or were just orphans. Jacob stopped entranced and walked in and talked to the first person he found that worked there, “Hello is there anyway I could help?” The man looked at him. “I was an orphan myself and I would like to do what I can,” the man nodded and lead him to go help those who were once like him.

A/N: This is just a filler chapter and is only here because I don’t want to start Reconstruction and Zentraedi Rebellion on chapter 20, would rather start it with chapter 21. I will start on What If: Reconstruction and Rebellion. Now I would like to thank all those who helped me get through my first twenty chapters (longest story for me ever). An if you don't like the Bush joke well sorry I really don't care and deal with it, it is by the way, only a joke.

Cicero-Phelps- You are my main man!

Jerry Unipeg- Hey what can I say, I love you too ;)

Deathzealot- Hey, glad you’ve been there to read What If, now onto What If: Reconstruction and Rebellion!

Lord Destroyer- Hey, when are you going to do another Robotech story?!

Bloody Kitsune- You bastard, glad you read it while you did ;)

Shawn Provoncha- Thanks you for all your reviews.

Now onto What If: Reconstruction and Rebellion or What If: R&R!!! Or for this site What If 21!!! YAY!

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes