Original subtitles

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[NARRATOR] Emerging from hyperspace

above the planet Mars,

the Zentraedi forces have traveled

far ahead of Earth's space fortress.

Their plan is to stage an ambush of the huge ship.

Deploying a Cyclops recon vessel,

the aliens sweep over the deserted Earth outpost

known as base Sara,

reporting back their mother ship.

[ALIEN over radio] Our scanners reveal no life readings,

no energy levels of any kind.

It would appear that the Earth people

have abandoned this post.

[EXEDORE] Most of the inhabitants, sir,

were destroyed in a battle with our allied forces,

and the few that survived were able to escape.

Then this will make a perfect trap.

I have ordered the 7th Mechanized Division

of the Botoru Fleet to assemble here immediately.

Impossible. This just cannot be.

Surely, sir, you haven't ordered up Khyron's Division?

Indeed I have. Why not?

[EXEDORE] Aren't you familiar, sir,

with his reputation and his battle record?

In the Mona Operation,

he got drunk and ended up killing some of his own men.

In the Isyris battle zone,

he almost wiped out two divisions of friendly forces

while successfully destroying the enemy,

and for that, his own troops have

named him "The Backstabber."

So they call him "The Backstabber."

[explosion, rumbling]

[ALIEN over radio] Warning. Ships emerging from space-fold

are too close to our forces.

Collision imminent.

This is happening just as I expected.

Khyron. Sir, he is a commander totally without discipline.

[beeping]

Commander, the 7th Mechanized

Space Division has arrived.

We are reporting as ordered, Breetai.

[snickers]

[EXEDORE groans]

[GREL] Ha. Just as I thought.

We crashed into four ships total.

You thought it would only be three at the most.

I win the bet.

Be quiet, you fool!

Our conversation is being broadcast.

[GREL] What?

[chuckles] Sorry.

Khyron, you'd better watch your step around me

or I'm liable to take away your command.

You know I mean that, too.

I've ordered you here for an important mission

and I have no time for any of your games.

Yes, Commander, what is it you want us to do?

[BREETAI] Listen, there's an empty base

on the fourth planet of this star system.

We want to lure an enemy ship to this base

and trap it with gravity mines.

Then I want you to blockade the ship

without damaging it unduly

and capture the entire crew alive.

I have enemy ships approaching at three o'clock.

Reset main guns to AD down 20.

Yes, sir.

Skull Squadron, attack the enemy forces

from coordinates five o'clock relative.

[FOKKER] Skull Leader, roger.

[RICK] I could be next.

The enemy seems to be retreating, Captain.

[GLOVAL] Hmm. Well, they've decided they've had enough

for one day.

All planes, stop pursuit and return to ship.

They've been attacking us constantly

for the last three days.

I wonder why they're so persistent.

Every time they attack, we move farther

and farther away from Earth.

I know.

[FOKKER] Rick, how you feeling?

You look tired, ol' buddy.

[RICK] Yes. These battles every day are wearing me out.

[FOKKER] Well, I think we've scared 'em off

for a while this time.

Why don't you try heading into town?

Have some fun and relax.

[KIM over PA] News from the bridge.

We have been attacked by 120 enemy pods,

but our first, fourth, and seventh fighter squadrons

have succeeded in completely destroying them.

Our casualties have been light,

and our navigational system has not been affected.

That is all.

- -[MINMEI] Hello. - -Huh? Minmei.

Hi, Rick, how's it going?

I'm fine. Are you out of school already?

[MINMEI] Hmm. They closed the school down

when the enemy attacked the fortress.

- -[RICK] Hmm. - -What's wrong?

You seem to be very upset.

I was just thinking,

did you hear that announcement they just made?

Yes. Isn't it wonderful?

The enemy pods have all been destroyed.

But that isn't true, Minmei.

We didn't hit half of them, and what's more,

we suffered much heavier casualties than the enemy.

Oh, my.

Well, since everybody's doing all they can for the war effort,

I don't suppose anything positive

will be accomplished by staying depressed.

[giggles]

[KIM] This must be the observation data.

There's quite a lot of it coming in,

but I'm not exactly sure where it's coming from.

It's coming in from 16 degrees off our present course.

- -Sara base on Mars. - -What? That's impossible.

Are you sure you're getting proper readings

- -from your equipment? - -[VANESSA] Yes.

I thought Sara base was deserted.

The reports from the last war indicated that the enemy

had wiped out all life there.

- -No. - -[GLOVAL] It just can't be.

Sir, do you think there could be any survivors?

I don't see how there could have been,

but it was a pretty big base

and I suppose anything is possible.

[CLAUDIA] Sir, do you think it would be worth our time

to check it out?

There would still be plenty of supplies left there.

How badly hurt are we?

There was no effect on our navigation, sir.

The attacks have already knocked us off course

and we could replenish our supplies, I guess.

All right, change course and head for Mars.

[NARRATOR] The alien trap proceeds according to plan,

as Captain Gloval takes the huge battlefortress

on a course that will bring it to Mars

and an almost certain ambush.

[NARRATOR] Meanwhile, on the bridge,

First Officer Lisa Hayes is tormented by

the memories of her fiance, Karl Riber,

who was last heard from when he was assigned to Sara base,

some time ago.

[RIBER] Lisa, do you see that big red star up there?

Well, that's the planet Mars,

and that's where yours truly is gonna be going

this time next week.

[LISA] Oh, Karl. You mean that transfer

you wanted so badly finally came through?

It came through today.

My application has finally been authorized.

I wish it wasn't so far away,

but everywhere I look here on Earth,

people are at war.

True enough.

No place on Earth is safe, is it?

[RIBER] Yeah, I may be a soldier

but I just can't take all this fighting.

And that observation post on Mars

will be just right for me.

But, listen, it's important we keep this a secret

from your father, okay?

Oh, don't worry, dear, I won't tell the admiral.

I guess... I won't be seeing you again, huh?

We'll be together someday, Lisa,

when the Earth is at peace again.

Ahh. I know!

I'll join the armed forces and go to Mars myself.

[RIBER chuckles] I hope you can make it soon.

Because I know I'm sure gonna miss you.

Well, goodbye.

And remember, I love you!

[whimpers]

Take care!

[GLOVAL] Lisa, send out a Cat's Eye recon unit. Lisa!

- -[LISA gasps] - -[GLOVAL] What's wrong?

Are you sure you're feeling all right, Lisa?

[LISA] Yes, sir.

Lord Khyron, recon unit heading your way.

[NARRATOR] Slowly, the space battlefortress

descends toward the surface of the planet Mars

and straight into the Zentraedi trap.

[GERAO over radio] Enemy ship descending.

It's down.

The enemy ship has landed, sir,

but it's way out of range of our mines.

[KHYRON] Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Gerao.

Soon, the enemy will approach the base.

And when they do, they'll walk right into our trap

and there'll be no way for them to get out.

[NARRATOR] Captain Gloval has set the battlefortress down

well short of the base itself.

Now, he begins to deploy a company of Destroids

to secure the supply route.

[NARRATOR] Squadrons of Veritech fighters are launched

to observe the area and cover the transport vehicles.

They've begun loading the vehicles.

Move the battlefortress onto the base.

Aye-aye, sir.

[KHYRON] Come on, a little further.

Step into my trap.

Yes.

Requesting your permission to leave the ship

to go check over the base.

But why?

I'd like to check out the source

of those recent signals we monitored, sir.

- -But, Lisa-- - -[LISA] There could be

survivors from this base.

Please, it's important to me, sir.

[CLAUDIA] Sir, I'll cover her position, all right?

Very well. But it can be very dangerous out there,

so be careful.

[GERAO] The enemy ship is entering the effective zone.

Hold off, just a bit longer.

[NARRATOR] As the battloids stand guard,

the space fortress personnel

continue to shuttle supplies onto the huge ship,

unaware that their enemies

are just moments from springing a deadly trap.

Commander, how about giving me a day off

next week, all right? Over.

[FOKKER] Next week? The whole squadron

is asking to take a day off.

[RICK] Hmm?

[FOKKER] Everyone has received invitations

to Minmei's birthday party.

Believe it or not, she even invited me. [laughs]

- -Huh? - -[CLAUDIA over radio] Hey!

Who is that gabbing on this channel?

[FOKKER] Hey, Claudia.

Who's Claudia? Is she that old sourpuss, Roy?

The person you're talking about

should be passing underneath you guys right now.

[RICK over radio] Oh, no.

[FOKKER over radio] Hope she didn't hear you, Rick.

[LISA] What?

How can that computer be online?

It had to have been activated from this room somehow.

[LISA] But how could that be? There's nobody around.

[LISA] Hmm. I wonder.

[KHYRON] Gerao, aren't those gravity mines ready yet?

[GERAO] The energy accumulation is up to 70%--not much longer.

Blast it. This is irritating me.

[ALIEN SOLDIER] Captain, I can't wait any longer.

- -I'm going now. - -Huh?

What's going on?!

If I can sit here waiting patiently, everybody can.

[ALIEN SOLDIER screams]

Listen to me, you empty-headed idiot.

Don't you ever disobey an order of mine again.

Or I shall kill you next time. You understand?

I think it's nearby in the mountains.

A disturbance or explosion.

My guess would be it's an explosion.

An explosion?

Claudia, send out a Cat's Eye recon immediately.

SDF-1 to Cat's Eye 207.

Investigate the 11 o'clock zone at the 15 mile perimeter.

[PILOT over radio] This is Cat's Eye 207. Roger and out.

A recon plane?

Are you ready with the mines?

[GERAO] Just ten percent more to go, sir.

[growls]

A recon report is coming in from the Cat's Eye.

I'm putting it up now.

[GLOVAL] Good.

Huh? What is this?

An attack force of Battlepods.

[gasps] They're surrounding the entire area, Captain!

It looks like there's thousands of them!

Claudia, alert all stations to prepare for battle.

All stations, prepare for battle.

Repeat, all stations, prepare for battle.

Captain Gloval, do we really have any defense?

No, not really. Not up against so many of them.

- -We'll have to take off. - -[CLAUDIA] Yes, sir.

Attention.

Attention, gravity control system.

Activate.

- -[beeping] - -[CLAUDIA] We're not rising!

[GLOVAL] Is the control system damaged?

No, sir. We're getting correct readouts on all our sensors.

No, not on this system.

My monitor shows something underground.

Maybe that's what's affecting

all of our gravity controls, sir.

[GLOVAL] Underground?

Whatever it is, it must be part of the aliens' trap.

Stop all engines.

Full power?

[GERAO] Yes, Captain Khyron.

I can now report that the gravity mines

have achieved their maximum potential.

The space fortress cannot move.

Good. Very well, you have permission to attack.

A swarm of enemy Battlepods are heading in to attack.

- -Blast. - -Our defense squadrons

have already positioned themselves for a counterattack.

- -But we can't assist them. - -[GLOVAL] Hmm.

Vanessa, can you give us a view of that underground trap?

- -[VANESSA] Yes, sir. - -[GLOVAL] Hmm.

It's three kilometers down.

And we have no way of getting to a device

that's been planted that far underground.

Why don't we just override the gravity controls

by firing our main engines?

[KIM] Don't you remember? The main engines were disabled

when we were attacked three days ago.

The enemy Battlepods have just entered our perimeter red zone.

[CLAUDIA] We're all just sitting ducks.

Hah! They fell for it. Now kill them.

[CLAUDIA] Captain, we're in trouble.

The sixth, eighth, and eighteenth attack squadrons

have all been wiped out.

Calm down. I have a plan that might help us

to get out of this trap.

How can we get to them when they're underground?

I know something about this base.

There was a reflex furnace put in far beneath it.

If we could just get to it and blow it up...

Probability check.

[VANESSA] It looks like it will work.

All right, we'll start the operation immediately.

Lieutenant Hayes is on the base.

Tell her to find the furnace controls

- -and turn them on. - -Yes, sir.

You want me to blow the base up?

[GLOVAL over radio] I want you to put the furnace

into overdrive so it will blow up

and destroy the enemy's mine system.

It's our only chance!

Lisa, listen to me.

You're the only one who can do this in time

to save the 70,000 of us here on the battlefortress.

If you can't do it, we'll have to try a suicide mission.

Claudia, get me Fokker.

[LISA on radio] No, wait, I'll do it.

[LISA panting]

[LISA] According to the computer,

the furnace controls are located

in the basement level of this complex.

Not much time.

[LISA] Got to hurry.

[LISA] There.

That should do it.

[alarm blaring]

[COMPUTER] Warning. Furnace fuel reaching critical mass.

Danger! Danger!

Security systems at fail-safe point.

Furnace in overdrive. Evacuate.

Fifteen minutes to meltdown.

Evacuate.

My meters show furnace pressure building up.

[GLOVAL] Good. Send out a retreat order

to all Destroid and Valkyrie Squadrons.

And tell them they must lure the enemy onto the base

or its immediate surroundings.

Yes, sir.

They appear to be backing away.

They're so incredibly spineless.

My victory is complete.

[CLAUDIA over radio] Lieutenant Hayes, please return

to ship immediately.

I'm coming.

[alarm blaring]

Oh!

[groans]

[gasps]

[LISA gasps]

[gasps] Riber.

[sighs] Oh, darling. I finally made it.

[CLAUDIA over radio] Lieutenant Hayes.

Please respond.

Lisa, the furnace will be exploding in a few minutes.

- -Answer me! - -She may be hurt.

Better send somebody in to rescue her.

[FOKKER over radio] Men, we've just been ordered

to fly onto the base to pick up Lieutenant Hayes.

Rick, I'm putting you in charge.

Huh? Why me?

Because you've proved to me you're responsible enough,

and besides, you'll be saving someone's life.

I appreciate your confidence,

but why does it have to be that particular lady? Hmm?

- -[FOKKER] Picky, picky. - -All right, cut it out, Roy.

I'll bring her home.

[COMPUTER] Furnace pressure approaching

extreme danger levels.

Five minutes to meltdown.

[LISA] Oh, Karl, I miss you so much...

Got to admit it, that boy has really gotten a lot better.

There's the base.

Stand back. I'm gonna blast my way into the building.

- -Huh? - -[RICK] Are you ready?

Here I come.

[LISA screams]

Ohh...

Come on, move it.

I'm not leaving this room.

I don't know why you're here but you can leave right now.

Is it something I said?

Go away.

[COMPUTER] One minute to meltdown.

One minute.

I have no idea what's happening here,

but my life is at stake now, too, so come on.

I'm not leaving.

No way, you have to come.

Leave me alone. No! Put me down!

[RICK growls]

[CLAUDIA over radio] Thirty seconds to explosion.

Get out of there, Rick!

Riber!

They're mad!

[LISA sobs softly]

Oh.

I hate to lose a fight!

But we'll meet one another again and, next time, I'll win.

[laughs]

[NARRATOR] As the huge battlefortress

pulls away from the planet Mars,

Rick Hunter sits on the flight deck,

watching over the woman whose life he has just saved.

He is torn between his growing attraction

for the vulnerable and courageous Lisa Hayes,

and his strong feelings

for the beautiful young girl Minmei,

someone who he, someday,

would very much like to call his girlfriend.

[NARRATOR] As Minmei's 16th birthday approaches,

Rick Hunter finds himself constantly on duty,

defending the hard-pressed battlefortress from attacks

by the relentless Zentraedi armada.

Rick's thoughts are torn between his duty to the SDF-1

and his waning love for Minmei.

Be with us next time for "Sweet Sixteen,"

the newest chapter in the saga of Robotech.

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