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Bursting Point: The catastrophes of war have reduced the civilian population of Macross City to 56,000. Captain Gloval is desperate to have the survivors relocated on Earth before anyone else is killed. He broadcasts his request over open airspace, realizing that he will be refused again but hoping that someone in the government will hear and do something about the impossible situation. Gloval will not rest until his orders are changed. His persistence pays off. The North American Ontario quadrant agrees to accept as residents any civilians from the SDF-1 who whish to return to the planet. Azonia and Khyron are quarreling again when Miriya requests permission to be reduced to Micronian size so she can become spy for the Zentraedi. Azonia is puzzled but grants the pilot’s wish. Miriya has an ulterior motive. She wants to find and eliminate the Micronian who defeated her in battle. The Zentraedi proceed with a new attack plan which quickly goes awry. Khyron takes matters into his hands, and Azonia ends up having to fight a two-front battle trying to keep the warlord from destroying the Micronians while she attempts to capture the vessel herself. Captain Gloval decides to test a new barrier-shield system. It protects the ship but renders the weapon system inoperable. Khyron blasts the shield with all he’s got and eventually, the system overloads. Rick Hunter, now the leader of Fokker’s famed Skull Squadron, is ordered to evacuate the surrounding area as the barrier control begins an explosive chain reaction. Not all of the squad is able to pull out in time. Ben Dixon is killed. By the end of the debacle, they learn that the attacking Zentraedi fleet has been wiped out and, because of the proximity to the planet, the Earth’s surface has been leveled over a radius of twenty-five miles. On board the SDF-1, Lynn Kyle holds a press conference for his cousin. Lynn Minmei has collapsed from stress, and her public is anxious to hear how she’s doing. Kyle chides the newsmen on their priorities: “I don’t understand how, with all that’s been going on, you people can be chasing after a star who passed out from a little overwork! Now forget that and let’s find a way to make these military leaders to stop this war. This fighting is totally non-productive… There are no winners, only losers. We must get out of this destructive, inhumane, no-win situation at once.” While the crew of the SDF-1 is alarmed at Kyle’s underlying suggestion of total surrender to the Zentraedi, the three spies – Bron, Rico, and Konda – are astonished at their gut reaction to these ideas. An end to fighting would negate the Zentraedi reason for existence, yet the thought of life without constant warfare is somehow appealing. Paradise Lost: Captain Gloval’s dream of evacuating the civilians aboard his ship has come to a disastrous end. He learns that the barrier overload has wiped out an entire city as well as its surrounding countryside. The people of Earth know nothing of the circumstances that led to the explosion, only that the battlefortress is a threat to life and property. The Ontario quadrant withdraws its offer to take the civilian refuges. The SDF-1 finds itself homeless again. Gloval receives his order: The United Earth Council hereby orders you to remove your vessel from any proximity to the earth. You are also ordered to keep the civilians refuges on board your ship. If these orders are not followed to the letter, we will be forced to take steps to see that they are. At Zentraedi Command Headquarters, Dolza, Breetai, and Exedore review a video record of the battle and are shocked. From all appearance, it would seem that the Micronian are utterly ruthless, that they would sacrifice an entire population center to defeat four small divisions of attacking battlepods. Dolza decides to place Breetai in charge of the Zentraedi forces again. Breetai accepts the position and requests that the Imperial Class Fleet – a war force of over one million ships – be deployed under his command. Bron, Rico, and Konda regretfully return to Zentraedi Command to make their report. Breetai and Exedore don’t know what to make of Micronian culture – movies, music, dolls, candy, and other artifacts – but Exedore, for one, decides that he would like to examine it firsthand! While the two commanders ponder the new information, the spies enthusiastically relate their experiences on the SDF-1 to their fellow soldiers. Meanwhile, Captain Gloval makes an announcement to the residents of Macross City. He tells them about the council’s decision but breaks down at the end and cannot continue. Lynn Minmei interrupts. She talks to the crowd as only she can, saying: ”I don’t understand anything that has to do with politics, but I do know that the only way we’ll survive this is to pull together… I think of the SDF-1 as my home now. We’ve all been through quite a bit, but look at how strong we’ve become because of it. I have more friends here than I ever did on Earth. You’ve been like a big family to me. Someday we’ll return to earth – we’ll never give up hope. But for now, I’m proud to be a citizen of Macross City and this ship.” Minmei’s speech bridges the gap between military and civilian residents. Her words find a place in everyone’s heart. A New Dawn: Taking advantage of a lull in the war, the citizens of Macross City look forward to the premier of Lynn Minmei’s first film. It’s a martial art epic featuring the young singing star and her cousin. Kyle’s Kung Fu expertise has made him a natural for the hero of the picture. The crowd finds the film delightful as they watch the romantic story evolve around the two stars. They enjoy the action sequences when Kyle vanquishes Zentraedi villains with the panache of a new Bruce Lee. Observing the film from their ship, Breetai and Exedore are concerned. They do not understand that what they’re watching is a work of fantasy. As Lynn Kyle decimates the huge alien invaders, the Zentraedi commander wonder if the Micronians have developed a new weapon. They are further disturbed by their own feelings as they observe the love scenes. Breetai and Exedore are not the only ones upset by the film. Neither Rick Hunter nor Lisa Hayes can enjoy the picture. They leave the theatre and run into each other outside. Kyle is still a painful reminder of the man Lisa once loved. Rick can’t bear to witness the close friendship that seems to have evolved between Minmei and her cousin. Coupled with the love scenes from the film, it’s more than he can bear. Lisa and Rick find themselves becoming unwilling allies. Their feelings of friendship for each other increase. |
