DISCLAIMER: ROBOTECH and its associated characters are registered copyrighted trademarks and are the property of HARMONY GOLD, Inc. Copyright infringement is for storytelling purposes only and is not intended. Other characters and situations are of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental and is not intended. Story can be downloaded and printed for the reader's enjoyment. The cutting, copying, pasting, quoting, plagiarizing or changing of this story is prohibited. Any publishing of this story in any magazine or fanzine without the author's permission is strictly prohibited.

DEDICATION: To the POW and MIA from our nation's wars. You are not forgotten.

BACKGROUND OF THE STORY: This alternate universe story takes place after the Macross Saga episode "To the Stars". While I do like Lisa, I really didn't like the episode because Claudia was killed. In this story, Rick is shot down and has to eject out of his flaming veritech as he was leading the RDF in putting down the Zentraedi Rebellion over Zentraedi controlled territory. As he evades being captured by the rebel Zentraedi, Rick makes a startling discovery.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Some of the information for the story is taken from the Jack McKinney novel "The Zentraedi Rebellion". Other information I've taken from other fan fiction stories I've read and my imagination.

SKULL LEADER'S DOWN

CHAPTER 1

Even though it was heavily damaged by the SDF-1's reflex cannon blast, Khyron's ship wasn't completely destroyed. It continued on its deadly course towards the SDF-1. As Rick Hunter was shooting down Battle pods and at the same time trying to keep from getting shot down himself, Rick watched helplessly as the rusted SDF-1, now depleted of all power slowly sink back into Lake Gloval, the perfect sitting duck for Khyron's suicidal charge.

Rick for a moment flashed back to when he was a child and of the stories his grandfather told him of when he was a young U.S. Navy fighter pilot flying F-6 Hellcats off the USS Enterprise in the Pacific during the waning days of World War II. He told stories of Japanese pilots ramming their planes into the decks of aircraft carriers and ships in a vain attempt in stopping the Allies from eventually invading their homeland. Kamikaze pilots what they called themselves, Rick remembered. Many of the pilots were barely teenagers and were only given rudimentary flight instruction. Basically they were taught how to take off and how to dive their plane loaded with fuel and bombs into ships so they can cause the most damage to the ship or to sink it. Stupid is what they should had been called. In all of his short 23 years, he wouldn't have dreamed that he would witness a kamikaze attack himself. Only this time it wasn't a human Japanese pilot, it was a crazed alien from space wanting to destroy an albatross that has been hanging around his neck for a long time.

The radio was filled with alarmed voices.

"That crazy son of a bitch's going to ram the ship!" a Veritech pilot yelled over the radio.

"Someone has to stop him!" another yelled.

"How can we? Our small VTs are no match for that huge ship!"

"Hey, knock off with the cursing and the useless radio chatter! Keep the radio clear!"

Rick wanted to warn the one pilot not to curse on the radio and the others to knock off with the useless radio chatter himself but he was too busy scanning all the radio frequencies in a vain attempt to call Lisa and to tell her to get to an escape pod before it was too late.

Meanwhile on board the crippled SDF-1, Admiral Gloval was trying to steady his panicked crew.

"He's going to ram us!" Vanessa yelled.

"Are any of the escape pods working!" Gloval yelled.

Kim did a quick scan. "Yes sir! All of them are functioning!"

"MOVE IT DOUBLE TIME!" Gloval ordered screaming.

Gloval and the bridge crew managed to get to the escape pods and ejected scant seconds before Khyron's ship collided with the SDF-1. The two ships met in a terrifying and sickening sound and light symphony of metal scrapping metal, glass breaking, electrical systems shortening out and popping as fires began to break out everywhere. Seconds later, a tremendous ball of light exploded and a deafening roar broke as the two ships began its fiery descent to the ground, signaling the end of the first Robotech War.

What remaining battle pods were left broke off and began to flee. Veritech fighters began to chase after them when Rick ordered them to break pursuit so they can start looking for survivors.

'All Veritechs! Break off pursuit and switch to fire retardant bombs. Help civil defense look for survivors. We'll deal with the rebel Zentraedis later."

Rick noticed 6 escape pods leaving the SDF-1 seconds before Khyron's ship collided with the SDF-1. He flew around in a circular pattern searching for the modules and where they have landed. Fortunately, all the pods landed not too far from each other. Rick landed Skull-1 in Guardian mode, climbed out of the cockpit and ran towards the closest pod. A hand came out cracking the door to the pod. It was Admiral Gloval. Rick reached out his hand and helped Gloval out of the module.

"Admiral, are you ok sir?"

"Yes commander. I'm alive. Landing was a bit bumpy but I'm none the worse for the wear."

Rick ran to the next pod as Vanessa opened the door and he helped her out. He then ran to the next pod when he noticed the slender brown hands of Claudia Grant opening the door to her pod. Sammie and Kim were already out of their pods.

"Just my luck, I have to find Lisa's pod last." Rick muttered to himself.

"It's about time you found me Rick. I was beginning to wonder if you're even concerned if I'm alive." Lisa said with her usual deadpan charm.

"Hey come on, Lisa. Give me a break, will you? It's not like I wasn't trying to find you. The pods aren't labeled with your names you know." Rick said innocently.

"At ease commander, don't talk to your superior officer in that tone of voice." Lisa said in her best strict military voice.

But then, she broke down and cried as she buried her head into Rick's shoulder. Her body sagged as she realized just how close she was to being killed so shortly after professing her love to Rick and Rick in turn, telling her he loved her.

"I though I lost you." Rick whispered in her ear.

Lisa didn't say a word but Rick knew she had the same feeling. Just then, Minmei quietly walked up on the couple. Rick and Lisa sensed that Minmei walking up on them, so they broke their embrace. But Rick kept his hand wrapped around Lisa's slender waist. Rick tried to apologize to Minmei but couldn't find the words to say it.

"Minmei…I…I…"

"Rick," Minmei said softly. "You don't have to apologize. You're in love with Lisa. I been sensing that for a while. Besides, I already have a boyfriend."

"Oh?" Lisa said suspiciously as she pulled Rick tighter to her as if it was a warning to Minmei not to steal her love again.

"Yeah…uh…my musical career is my boyfriend." Minmei said quickly on her feet and then giggled. She then walked up to Rick and put out her hand as if wanting to shake hands with Rick. Rick instead reached out and gave a quick kiss on Minmei's cheek.

"Thanks for understanding, Minmei." Rick said softly.

"See you around, Rick." Minmei said softly and sadly as she put her arms around Rick's neck and embraced him, knowing that this will be the last time she will ever be this close to Rick again.

As she was hugging Rick, she silently cursed herself for all those years of thinking only of herself and her professional career. But most especially, she cursed herself for all those years of thinking Rick was just a friend, turning down his gestures of love as if coming from a love sick puppy, only to realize too late that she indeed loved Rick and only to lose him to Lisa Hayes in the end. She doubted that she and Rick will ever see each other again. After all, she surmised to herself, I'm a civilian and a professional entertainer. He's in the military and a pilot.

Minmei then offered her hand to Lisa. "You and Rick do make a happy couple. Good luck Lisa. Take good care of him for me."

Lisa took Minmei's hand and shook it. She then pulled Minmei into her, wrapped her arms around Minmei's chest and hugged her. "I will Minmei. Good luck with your career."

"Thanks." She began to walk away slowly but then turned around and waved to Rick and Lisa. They both waved back to her. The snow then began to fall.

"Ahem!" a gravely voice said as if clearing his throat.

"Excuse us sir!" Rick and Lisa said at the same time and they snapped to attention and saluted.

"Stand at ease you two." Gloval said ignoring their salute as Claudia and the Bridge Bunnies were walking behind him.

"What do we do now, sir?" Sammie said

"Well first thing we need to do, is to find out if any of us still have homes to go to. If not, we need to set up temporary quarters for the military personnel somewhere. Second of all, I need a temporary HQ and a COC set up since both SDFs are destroyed."

Gloval abruptly stopped, took off his cover and rubbed his head and eyes as if he was trying to rub away a headache.

"Damn it, there are so many problems that needs to be solved I can't even think straight, if they only came one problem at a time." Gloval then breathed in deeply and then blew it out slowly. "Come on Gloval! Think! You've been in these situations before."

Admiral Gloval then turned to Commander Grant. "Claudia. Do you have your cell phone with you?"

"Yes sir. I do."

"Find out if Fokker Base survived the attack."

Claudia fished out her cell phone out of her uniform and started dialing.

"Commander, I need to use the radio in your Veritech and have it set to "All Military Personnel"."

"Yes sir."

Rick raced to his Veritech then worked the buttons and switches to his radio.

"It's ready sir."

Gloval walked slowly to Rick's Veritech, drew in a deep breath then let it out. He then said a silent prayer. He was about to press the button when Claudia came running up.

"Admiral, Fokker Base is damaged but it's not seriously."

"That is good news Claudia." Gloval said as he keyed the mike.

"Attention all RDF personnel, this is Admiral Gloval. All military personnel are to report to Fokker Base ASAP and to report to their units for muster. We need to find out who is present so we can start finding out who is KIA, MIA and WIA so we can start working on the CASREP.

Secondly, all military personnel who do not live on base and on duty please see if your families are O.K. and your homes are still standing. If not, we can work on finding you and your family temporary quarters. I am declaring martial law for New Macross City and I am imposing a dusk to dawn curfew for New Macross City. Any RDF personnel caught by the military police in New Macross City after dusk will be put in the brig and court marshaled. Any human civilian or Zentraedi caught on the streets at dusk will be arrested. I want to have a contingent of RDF military police in New Macross City to work with the civilian police in keeping the curfew.

Finally, this was a day that we cannot and never will forget. We had been blooded and bruised but we have not been beaten. Many times during this war we had been beaten but we always came back. We have certainly been beaten this time, but we will come back. And we will come back even stronger. But we cannot always use force to make people see the errors of their ways. We need to find a way to talk with the Robotech Masters and the Invid to stop this war and to finally make peace. Just as the landing of the SDF-1 on Macross Island over 14 years ago, finally stopped the Global Civil War. I do not know how long this war will last, but in the end, we will prevail. We will prevail and we will win this fight. That is all, Admiral Gloval out."

Everyone knew what Admiral Gloval had just done was extreme. But this was extreme times and it called for extreme measures.

"Claudia, how long will it take for you to set up a temporary HQ and COC?"

"It will take me several days at least Admiral."

"You have until tomorrow morning at 0900 hours to have my HQ and COC set up and running, commander. Just do the best you can. Vanessa and Kim will help you."

"Yes sir."

"Lisa. I need for you to find out if there is more rebel Zentraedis around. Not just in New Macross City and New Detroit. But everywhere, where ever they're hiding. I want to know about it."

"Yes sir. I'll get with J-2 and the RDF Intelligence Service and Communication Security Agency right away."

"Very good, I'll have you paired with Sammie for the task. Rick, I need for you to get the Veritech squadrons together. Have maintenance repair all the damaged Veritechs and have all pilots stand by for my further orders."

"Yes sir."

Just then the radio in Rick's radio squawked.

"Admiral Gloval, are you there? Admiral Gloval, this is Exedore. Are you there? Come in."

"Yes Exedore. This is Admiral Gloval."

"Admiral Gloval, thank the stars you're safe. Lord Breetai and I want to know your situation."

"Both the SDF-1 and the SDF-2 are destroyed. Khyron is most likely KIA and there is a lot of damage to New Macross City. I have just declared martial law for New Macross City and imposed a dusk to dawn curfew. Other than that, my officers, crew and I are safe."

"That is good to hear, Admiral. Lord Breetai tried to send a strike force to stop Khyron. But we were not alerted in time."

"That is quite all right, Exedore. Tell Lord Breetai thanks for the strike force."

"Admiral Gloval, I believe it will be best for me to leave the factory satellite and talk to you about what we should do next now that both SDFs are destroyed. We still have the Robotech Masters as a concern."

"I agree Exedore. I would like to see you early in the morning. Say before 0900 hours."

"That will be satisfactory, Admiral. I will take a shuttle from the factory satellite first thing tomorrow morning."

"Very good, I'll see will you tomorrow morning then, Exedore, Gloval out."

Gloval then turned to his crew and staff.

"That is all everyone. Do as much as you can for the rest of the day. Then go home or go somewhere and try to get some sleep. All of you will probably be working late into the night so I'll see all of you tomorrow morning at 0900 hours. If the power is out where you live, remember to set your watches. You're dismissed."

Everyone snapped to attention and saluted.

"Yes sir!"

After everyone turned and started walking away, Rick grabbed Lisa's hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. The snow then began to fall faster and harder. Yet they didn't walk any faster. Lisa loosely balled her free hand put it to her mouth so she can blow warm air into it. Rick noticed what she did.

"Are you cold Lisa?"

"A little, but I don't mind."

Rick began to pull off his flight gloves and put them in the pocket of his flight suit. Lisa knew what he was doing, and tried to stop him.

"Rick! You don't have to do that. I told you I don't mind."

"Lisa, I know you're my superior officer, but this time I'm going to disobey you."

"That's so you, Rick. So un-military even though you're in the military." Lisa said with a mischievous smile.

Rick didn't say a word, but flashed a smile because he knew she was right.

"Let's go to my place first. I have a suspicion that my place didn't make it."

Just then an RDF sergeant came up along side them in a closed roof jeep and offered them a ride which both accepted. Rick rode in the back seat after he guided Lisa into the shotgun seat with his hand. They went to Rick's house first. Just as he suspected, Rick's house was completely destroyed. Lisa's house wasn't damaged at all. Not even a window pane was broken. The sergeant then drove Rick and Lisa to Fokker Base.

Rick and Lisa were apart from each other for hours. Rick finished first and went to Lisa to get the keys to her house from her after he ate dinner at the officer's club. Rick then brought several change of clothes and uniforms and a toiletry kit from the PX. Rick was able to get the same RDF sergeant to drive him to Lisa's house. When the driver pulled into the driveway, Rick ordered the sergeant to drive back to Fokker Base and to wait for Lisa.

Rick wasn't surprised to find out that the electricity was out. Rick stumbled through the house until he was able to find a flashlight and some candles. Rick was happy to find out that Lisa had a fireplace built into her house. He was able to find a pile of dried seasoned wood outside and brought a big armload of it in. It had taken Rick some time to get a fire started but when the area around the fireplace was warm, Rick decided to get out his flight suit. He didn't wanted to take a shower knowing with the electricity out, the hot water will not be available. But he wanted to wash the dried sweat and the long day off of him. So he risked the cold water and took a quick cold water shower. He dried himself off and slipped into a pair of pajamas and a bathrobe he brought at the PX. He looked in Lisa's bedroom closet to find a blanket. After he found a blanket, he sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace to warm him self up and waited for Lisa.

As Lisa and Sammie were working on getting their intelligence reports ready for Admiral Gloval, Lisa had trouble concentrating on work because her mind was on Rick. Periodically, Sammie had to snap Lisa out of her daydream. As they were eating a late dinner at the officer's mess, Lisa had a slight smile and a look of contentment on her face and her elbow was on the table and had her chin resting in the palm of her hand. She was not even touching her meal.

'I can't believe Rick has told me that he loves me. We are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend. I wonder when Rick will buy the engagement ring. Hold on for a minute Lisa Hayes. You're getting ahead of yourself. Things like this take time.'

Sammie looked at Lisa and the plate of food that was getting cold. She had a amused look of disgust on her face. 'Oh boy, she's daydreaming about Rick again.' She reached over the table and shook Lisa on her shoulder.

"Lisa…Lisa, snap out of out. You're daydreaming again. You haven't even touched your dinner."

"Huh? Oh. I'm sorry Sammie."

"Lisa, why don't you go home and be with Rick? I can finish up working on the intelligence reports."

"No, it's ok Sammie. It will take you much longer if you do it by yourself. I'll stay with you until we're finished."

"Ok Lisa. But can you do a favor for me and try to keep your mind on work and not on Rick? We will finish much faster if you don't." Sammie asked with a sly smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry Sammie." Lisa said as she was blushing.

Lisa and Sammie went back to work and finished writing up the intelligence reports.

It was almost midnight when Lisa walked through the door of her home.

"That's so romantic Rick."

"To tell you the truth Lisa, I'd gotten a fire going because the electricity is out."

"Oh no, that means no hot water. Darn. And I wanted take a shower too."

"Well, there's nothing in the RDF regulations that says you can't take a quick cold shower and sit beside me to warm up." Rick said with a wolfish grin on his face.

"Now, don't get any ideas Rick Hunter. We maybe girlfriend and boyfriend but we're not even close to being married yet."

"Hey! I'm not going to get fresh with you. Besides, you are my superior officer." Rick said keeping that devilish smile on his face.

Lisa giggled like a school girl and kissed Rick's forehead. "I'll be back, Rick."

She then taken a candle from Rick, lit it and walked into her bedroom.

Several minutes later, Lisa dressed in a pink flowered pajamas and a long light blue bathrobe and with a big towel wrapped around her wet hair like a turban, ran to rest beside Rick. Rick covered her with the blanket he found and put his arm around Lisa's shoulder. Lisa laid her head into Rick's chest and just stared into the fire.

"It feels so wonderful having your arms around me. I could stay like this forever, Rick."

"I could too Lisa."

"Rick," Lisa said after several silent minutes. "What's going to happen to us? Both SDFs are destroyed. We know that the Robotech Masters will be here eventually and we need to stop the Invid. And we still have the rebel Zentraedi to worry about."

"Don't worry, Lisa. I'm sure Admiral Gloval has something in mind. Besides, we need to do what Admiral Gloval says, one problem at a time."

Lisa wanted to answer Rick but the fire was warm and she was getting sleepy. Lisa slowly lowered her head into Rick's lap and was softly snoring in a short time. Rick slowly and quietly lifted Lisa's head and then pushed himself off the couch. He then lifted Lisa and cradled her in his arms. Slowly and quietly he carried Lisa to her bedroom, laid her in her bed and unwrap the towel that was around her head. He then leaned down and softly planted a kiss to Lisa's lips. He walked back to the living room and the couch, grabbed a nearby couch pillow and covered himself with the blanket. With the popping and snapping of the burning logs singing a lullaby to him, Rick very shortly was asleep himself.