Original subtitles

F

[NARRATOR] Operating on auxiliary power,

the space battlefortress

has entered an orbit around the planet Mars.

Its inhabitants are constantly under attack

by alien ships and enemy Battlepodes,

which have followed them closely since the escape

from the Zentraedi trap on Mars base Sara.

With its main engines damaged and its fold system inoperative,

the battlefortress remains locked in furious battle.

Men and machines are pushed to the limit

in the desperate effort to defend the mother ship,

while Khyron and his Zentraedi troops

take every opportunity to press their advantage.

The alien attacks continue

despite the direct orders of Commander Breetai,

who has instructed Khyron's division

to simply follow the fortress and block its return to Earth.

[BREETAI] Look at that.

It's amazing how far they've come.

[EXEDORE] Yes, these Micronians seem to get much stronger

as they near their mother planet.

I fear the ship itself may end up being destroyed

before we defeat them.

That must not be allowed to happen, Exedore.

My orders have been most specific

regarding that ship.

I want it captured intact and undamaged.

The ship is our primary concern, not the people in it.

What about Captain Khyron?

[BREETAI] Hmm.

Khyron is a Zentraedi whether he likes it or not.

[NARRATOR] And so the celestial game

of cat and mouse goes on,

as the huge battlefortress

continues in its planetary orbit around Mars.

Meanwhile, inside the great ship,

Rick Hunter finds himself faced with a pressing problem

of more immediate concern.

[RICK] Now what do I do?

Tonight, we're gonna celebrate Minmei's birthday.

And I still haven't figured out what to give her yet.

Hmm.

[ANNOUNCER over PA] Attention, the following personnel

are ordered back to headquarters immediately.

Third Lieutenants Justin Black and James Rothman.

Second Lieutenants Yan Loo, Carl Jones and Marcus Miller.

- -First Lieutenants Thomas... - -I'm glad I'm off.

[ANNOUNCER] ...and Adam Olsen.

Also Sergeant Rick Hunter

- -and Corporal Gregory Bird. - -Huh? Now what?

- -Please report. - -[door opens, closes]

[NARRATOR] Out in space, Khyron and his troops

stalk the battlefortress

while getting themselves into position

for another surprise attack.

[ALIEN SOLDIER over monitor] Captain, I'm concerned about

Commander Breetai's reaction to our constant attacks.

All this is practice, and if we should happen to meet the enemy

while practicing, it's just too bad for them.

[ALIEN SOLDIER] I understand, Captain,

but Commander Breetai was extremely determine--

[KHYRON] Forget about him. I'm in charge here

and I'll be the one to decide

how we go about dealing with that ship.

Now your squadron will be acting as a decoy.

So make it good so the rest of us can get in for the kill.

[ALIEN SOLDIER] Yes, Captain, I'll make it a big show.

[RICK] Must be something brewing.

I hope I'm not in trouble.

[clears throat] Sergeant Rick Hunter

reporting as ordered, sir.

Uh, General, sir?

Oh. Uh-oh...

Right this way, Sergeant Hunter.

[RICK] Mm-hmm.

Now that they've arrived. We will all please stand up.

Since the battle for Sara base on Mars,

the gentlemen assembled here have established

for themselves records of excellence under fire.

Therefore, I am pleased to award them

the titanium Medal of Valor for their distinguished service.

Gentlemen, we proudly acknowledge your achievements.

[WOMAN clears throat]

Will each of you gentlemen please step forward

as I call your name?

First Lieutenant Justin Black, please.

It's a dream. It's got to be a dream.

But that medal looks real.

[RICK] Hmm. Hey!

[RICK] Boy, what a surprise. Now that was something.

- -[FOKKER] Hey, little brother. - -Huh?

[FOKKER] Hold on a minute.

Let's you and I have a little talk in my room.

[RICK] What a great ceremony that was.

[FOKKER] Mm-hmm.

So, what's up, Roy?

Have a seat.

Huh? Oh, okay.

What you got?

Huh?

Ahh. Just another medal you'll have to get used to.

- -Huh? - -[FOKKER] You've been promoted,

little brother.

From now on, you're a lieutenant.

You proved your leadership capabilities under fire.

Put it on, next to your award.

Oh. Sure.

Oh, and by the way,

there is one other thing.

[RICK] Wow. What else is there?

I'm assigning two subordinates to your command.

[COMPUTER] This is Corporal Ben Dixon.

He has 378 hours in simulation, and 66 hours of flight time.

He is Class A.

This is Corporal Maximillian Sterling.

He has 320 hours in simulation, and 50 hours of flight time.

He is also Class A.

[RICK] Hey, Roy, what gives? I-l don't get it.

Those guys are both just beginners.

Well, Rick, to me, you're not a lot different than them.

[RICK] But, Roy, I've got a lot more experience.

Now, their files are all here and I want you to study them.

There's also a manual for you

that contains all the official things

you'll need to know about being a lieutenant.

- -[knock on door] - -1 guess that must be them.

Come in.

Reporting as ordered.

This man will be your new commanding officer from now on.

He's Lieutenant Rick Hunter,

and he's quite a good fighter pilot.

In fact, he was just awarded the titanium medal.

I'm honored to be serving under your command,

Lieutenant Hunter.

Corporal Ben Dixon reporting,

and while I'm around, I assure you nothing will go wrong,

[laughs]

Um, glad we're gonna be on the same team.

I'm Corporal Max Sterling, sir. Call me Max.

I'm very inexperienced and might be needing a lot of help.

Well, I'm pleased to meet ya.

[BOTH] Yes, sir.

Uh, big brother, I hate to run off,

but I have to be someplace, you know.

That's fine.

Have yourself a good time.

Thanks, I'll be seeing you later.

Excuse me, gentlemen. We'll meet again soon.

- -[BEN] Lieutenant? - -[RICK] Hmm?

Would you mind if Max and myself made your party a threesome?

[RICK] Hmm...

Okay with me.

[BEN] Great. Thanks a lot, Lieutenant.

[laughs]

Oh, by the way, sir, where are we going?

Don't worry about a thing.

I've got a very good place in mind.

I'm for it whatever it is.

- -[indistinct chatter] - -[laughter]

[FOKKER] Huh.

[chattering continues]

[RICK laughs]

Good grief, they sound like a bunch of schoolboys at recess.

I hope this wasn't a mistake.

[LISA] Thank you.

Hmm.

[gasps] Why him?

What's that?

Why did this boy, Hunter, get promoted up

to the rank of group leader?

I guess he got the promotion when he swooped down

and rescued a damsel in distress back on Mars.

[laughs]

Oh. I'm responsible

for promoting this incompetent...

Ugh. Oh, brother.

[siren wailing]

[RICK] Huh. Not a very heroic sight, is it?

I hope I don't wind up like them.

Long as I'm here, you got nothing to worry about.

[laughs]

Just so you make sure you're following my orders.

As you say, sir.

[RICK] Hmm. Weird, being in charge.

[BEN] So I've always been kinda popular.

With the girls, that is.

- -[RICK] Here we are. - -[BEN] Is this the place

you were talking about?

You betcha.

Ricky Hunter, you're late,

but at least you made it to my party.

Glad I could come.

[MINMEI] So? How do you like my outfit?

[RICK] Minmei, you... you look terrific!

- -Wow! - -[BEN] Well, well, well,

who do we have here? Nice to meetcha.

Wait just a minute.

- -Who are you? - -Huh?

Ben here has just been assigned to me.

I'm Corporal Ben Dixon, ma'am.

Assigned to you?

What's up?

Well, they just made me a lieutenant.

- -Ooh. - -[RICK] And they assigned

these two guys to me.

Minmei, this is Corporal Max Sterling.

How do you do? Call me Max, ma'am.

Wow, I mean, you're pretty good-looking.

Oh. That was a very nice compliment, ma'am.

I'm just honored to meet a beautiful girl like you.

Oh, what a lovely thing to say to me. Max what?

Sterling. But just call me Max.

[MINMEI] Well, welcome to my birthday party, Max.

I want you to come over here and sit next to me, all right?

- -[IMAX] Okay... - -You sit right here.

Rick, how have you been?

Well, today's Minmei's big day, huh?

- -Yeah, it sure is. - -[MINMEI] Well, Rick?

- -[BEN] Oh. - -[RICK] Uh-oh.

Uh... Hmm...

Well, uh, happy birthday, Minmei.

You forgot, didn't you?

No, that's not what happened.

I came...

I came directly from headquarters

and left your present back in my room.

I'll just have to get it to you later, okay?

[MINMEI] Hmph.

Now, Minmei, don't pick on Rick so much.

He's just been busy and you must forgive him.

Been busy? I've just been out there

battling the enemy for four weeks.

As a matter of fact, sir, I've just become--

By the way, Minmei, do you plan to sing for us this evening?

I think this would be a lovely time.

I don't think I feel like singing.

How about him?

Why, that would be perfect.

Uh, but I'm not very good.

Well, I don't have much of a voice,

but I'll give it a try.

[MINMEI] Mm! That would be wonderful.

Listen, Rick, if it were me, I'd keep an eye on him.

Minmei seems to have taken a liking to him.

He just might steal her away.

[LISA] Hmm. Now this is very strange.

[CLAUDIA] What's strange? It's a blank screen.

- -[LISA] I know. - -So, what's wrong?

That's what's so strange about it.

We should be picking up something,

but instead, there's nothing coming through at all.

It's almost as if--

The radar waves are being jammed out.

[LISA] That's it! That's what's happening.

I'm sure of it.

[CLAUDIA] Captain. Red alert.

I think the enemy's about to attack.

[NARRATOR] From behind the space fortress

where they cannot be seen,

and putting out strong radar jamming waves,

the enemy Battlepods mass for the attack.

[KHYRON] Now, we'll show them a few tricks. [chuckles]

[NARRATOR] Meanwhile, aboard the great ship,

the unsuspecting inhabitants go on with their activities,

unaware of the emergency about to erupt around them.

[KHYRON] Cut off all jamming waves immediately.

Decoy group, move into position.

We'll come from behind and destroy them.

[NARRATOR] And so, Khyron begins the attack

as the battlefortress sits waiting.

[NARRATOR] Unaware of the impending attack,

Rick Hunter and members of his fighter squadron

celebrate Minmei's 16th birthday.

[LISA over PA] Attention, this is an emergency!

All Veritech group members, scramble.

All Veritech group members scramble immediately.

Emergency!

[overlapping chatter]

Oh, no! You're going?

Sorry.

Well... Hmph!

Well, what can you do? That's the army.

Taxi! Hey, taxi!

Come on, you guys. Let's get going.

[PILOT] Hey wait for us!

[overlapping chatter]

Hey, I can't take all you guys!

You gotta take us, pal. This is an emergency.

[DRIVER] All right. But you're each paying separately.

Hey there, boss, that girl sure was cute.

Is she anything to ya, like your girlfriend?

What kinda question is that to ask me at a time like this, Ben?

You okay, Max? You're looking kinda green.

Uh, I think I'm just a little tense.

Hey, Max, don't worry about a thing.

You know nothing can go wrong while I'm around.

[laughing]

Oh, brother, now I'm really worried about this flight.

[grunts]

[alarm blaring]

[NARRATOR] On the flight deck of the space fortress,

the men of the Veritech fighter squadrons

desperately rush to get their machines in position

for takeoff, in a last-ditch effort

to defend the ship.

This is Gunsight One.

Black Squadron, confirm you will counterattack

in the Fourth Quadrant.

[RICK] Roger. Corporals Sterling and Dixon, follow me.

[MAX, BEN] Roger.

Hey, boss, what area are we supposed to defend?

We're all on the defense line. Fourth Quadrant.

But that's way at the end.

All the really heavy action's happening over there.

Can't we get into some of that?

What can you possibly have in mind?

We've been given orders, so follow them!

Can't hear you, sir. What was that?

- -Forget it. - -INARRATOR] The decoy squadron

draws the Veritech defenders

further and further away from the space fortress,

while Khyron's main battle group

moves in from behind for the kill.

Enemy forces attacking from behind, sir.

Then we'll have to send out the Gladiator force.

[CLAUDIA] The second defender team has been destroyed.

They're coming in from everywhere!

They're all over my screen!

Fighter 102, enemy coming in off your right wing tip.

[BEN over radio] This is Corporal Dixon.

Here they come. I see 'em.

I'll fly rings around 'em, eh?

Watch me show these guys up.

[RICK] Dixon, don't play around, you got me?

Boss, I'm in trouble.

Help me or I'm a goner for sure.

Stop it, Ben. You'll get yourself killed doing that.

Now I gotta save your skin.

Watch out. Here it comes!

[BEN] Hmm. Sure was a big fat mess you got me out of.

Hey, is that Max? Look at him go!

Max, you tore 'em up.

I'm happy I was able to help out.

I'll show you something I learned in flight school

called Fokker's Feint.

Now, remember you have to confuse them.

And while they're looking for you,

you come up behind 'em.

Ohh. But you gotta be fast.

It's unbelievable!

- -[LISA] Lieutenant Hunter. - -Huh?

Bad defensive maneuvers.

Your response time will have to improve immediately.

Hey, I've got a couple of completely

inexperienced pilots here.

I can't perform and babysit at the same time.

[KHYRON chuckles] This is too easy.

Commander, they appear weak

in their defense of the ship's Fourth Quadrant.

Aah. Then we'll move in and we'll end this little chase.

All units move in for attack.

[BEN] Enemy forces heading right for the ship.

I guess it's up to us to hold them off.

Hold on, Ben, don't waste your fire.

Is it all right to fire if it's not a waste?

I think I got two of 'em that time, Lieutenant.

Good, now follow me and we'll break them up.

[KHYRON] Ha, ha! We've almost got them.

Spread out and fire at anything that moves.

Yeah, I like to fight rough. Ha!

Let's get 'em!

- -[BEN yells] - -Hey, Ben!

[RICK] Are you still okay in there?

I don't know how, but I guess I survived.

[sighs]

Well, move out of there fast 'cause here they come.

[gasps]

Here's the last thing he'll see.

[KHYRON growls] Fights extremely well.

[RICK] His next shot's got my name on it.

You gotta think fast, Rick, or you're a goner.

[NARRATOR] Aboard the main flagship

of the Zentraedi fleet,

Commander Breetai is informed of the battle

raging around the space fortress.

A battle he did not approve.

He's completely disobeyed the orders given him.

I suspected something when he told me

he was conducting war games.

Shall we recall him?

Immediately.

But he's deeply involved in this fight, sir.

He's fighting a battle I expressly disapproved.

And if he damages that ship...

But what step should we take?

Prepare to make use of our manual override beam.

I warned him.

We'll override his navigational systems

and force him to break off this offensive.

He won't get away with disobeying

any of my future orders.

Initiate beam procedure.

He cannot recall me!

[huffing] He cannot!

[RICK] What the heck is happening out there?

Where are they all going?

Huh?

[GLOVAL] Well, can you beat that?

It doesn't seem possible.

Why are they retreating? They nearly had us that time.

I imagine they had some problems of their own

of one sort or another.

Well, what difference does it make?

They're leaving now and we're saved.

[NARRATOR] The manual override takes effect

and the enemy Battlepods

are pulled away from the space fortress.

Deep below the surface of the ship,

teams of technicians work tirelessly to repair and recycle

the many battloids that have been damaged

by the recent enemy attack.

I never even saw him.

He destroyed a whole section of the fighter.

Boy, I'm glad the repairs don't come out of my pocket.

Max, you did pretty well.

Yep. It was luck, though.

They said I put away nine.

Nine? My total was zero.

Well, what a hotshot Max has become.

Amazing, eh?

I'll say, yep. I've never seen anybody fly like that.

About how many did you blast?

- -'Bout five. - -Oh, I'm sorry I mentioned it.

You probably feel bad that Max beat you out.

Oh, I don't know, I, uh--

- -[MAX] I was pretty good. - -Huh?

I imagine it's possible...

...they might even promote me.

Some jump.

Corporal to general after one battle.

I hope we get to go up again tomorrow.

Today was really exciting. I enjoyed myself.

Good night, Lieutenant,

and thanks very much for your help.

Thank you, Corporal.

And as for you, take care of yourself, hmm?

Ah, it's nothin'.

[RICK] Mm-hmm.

[sighs] Oh, brother.

Why did they promote me to lieutenant?

I was so much happier before they gave me

these subordinates to command.

[RICK] Hmm. Oh, I forgot!

Minmei's gonna kill me

if I don't get her a birthday present.

Now where am I gonna find something at this time of night?

[panting]

[VENDING MACHINE] Cola makes the good times roll.

Have a peanut.

[RICK] Wait a second, great! A jewelry store.

This place isn't open.

Hmm. Oh, boy.

I gotta tell her.

If I can face an enemy squadron, I can face an angry girlfriend.

I think.

Let's see, uh, where do I begin? Oh, how do I say this?

Uh... Uh... Uh...

Hmm. Uh...

Oh, uh, okay, uh...

There she is.

No, I can't do it. Maybe she won't see me.

Oh, no.

Hi, what's up?

I planned to come... to say I was sorry.

[MINMEI] About my present? Oh, that's all right.

Did you bring it now? Is that why you came by so late?

Oh! Uh, yes, about your gift, uh...

Uh... Mm...

Oh...

You didn't forget, and you still have time.

That's fabulous, Rick.

It's not midnight yet, so it's still my birthday.

[RICK thinking] I guess it could be a gift, so why not?

Yeah! Hey, here it comes.

It must be my day. Catch.

- -Here you are. - -[MINMEI] Got it! I've got it.

Ah! Caught it. Ah.

What is it?

[gasps]

Oh, it sparkles and it's so beautiful.

Did you really get this for me, Rick?

[RICK] Mm-hmm.

[MINMEI] I love it! Wherever did you get it?

[RICK] Hmm...

Uh...

I'll tell ya later, Minmei.

Happy birthday. Bye.

[MINMEI] Hmm. Bye.

Mm. He's so sweet.

[NARRATOR] In our next episode,

the charming Minmei prepares herself

for a totally different sort of battle,

a battle to determine the most beautiful girl in Macross City.

While the beauty contest rages,

Rick Hunter is called into action by his superiors

to defend the giant space battlefortress.

Be sure to be with us for "Miss Macross,"

the next thrilling chapter of Robotech.

F