Original subtitles

F

[NARRATOR] A new day for the Armies of the Southern Cross.

[TROOPER] Heard the latest?

Our old commander's gonna be behind bars for a while!

[TROOPER 2] Yeah, I'm gonna miss him.

Too bad he's such a ladies' man... Too bad for him!

He shouldn't have made a pass at a superior officer...

Sean just didn't have his head on straight

or he would've known better. I mean you don't make a pass

at the Colonel's daughter like that.

Ah, the only thing she is

is a smart alecky teenager and that's all!

[DANA] Well, I didn't know you cared.

[BOWIE] Uh, congratulations, Lieutenant Sterling!

[TROOPERS murmuring, whistling]

[TROOPER 3] A toast!

To the cutest second lieutenant

of the Tactical Armored Corps!

[DANA] Thank you, sir! What's the matter, Angelo?

Don't think I'm tough enough?

[TROOPERS laughing]

Ow!

Fall in for inspection!

[TROOPERS murmuring]

[ANGELO] Oh, now what's she trying to prove?

You know, I've been giving this a lot of thought

and I've decided that this squad is dull.

Definitely cute, but dull!

However, I think I can whip you guys into shape,

so prepare to move out!

Do you have something on your mind, "Angie"?

I could be wrong about this, Lieutenant,

but don't we have a yellow alert for the week?

So what does that have to do with a practice drill?

Well, we haven't been given any written orders yet.

If you're bucking for a quick demotion, Dante,

keep doing what you're doing,

because I give the orders here and you obey them!

[ANGELO chuckles] Well, if you say so, Lieutenant.

[DANA] If you have a problem, Sergeant,

I'd like to know about it.

Or do you just resent taking orders from a woman?

[ANGELO] Hmm? No, that's not it at all, Lieutenant.

But you know our Moon base, Luna?

It's been attacked by some aliens

called the Robotech Masters.

Southern Cross is on yellow alert.

What if something happens and we're not here?

Well, Sergeant, in that case, I suggest

that you sit here and wait. The rest of you... move out!

[TROOPERS] Yeah! Yeah, let's go!

[ANGELO] She's acting like this is a big picnic.

I just hope she doesn't get us all into trouble.

[TROOPERS laughing, whooping]

[DANA grunts] Recon patrol in G-sector, gentlemen!

Let's go!

[DANA] Whoever said a drill couldn't be fun?

[DANA] See if you can keep up with me, guys!

[TROOPER 4] Right behind you, Lieutenant!

[tires squealing]

[DANA] Wa-hoo!

[tires squealing]

[TROOPERS] Here we go! This is great!

- -[DRIVER] Whoa! - -[IDANA] Watch out!

[DRIVER] I-lIdiots!

[DANA] There's a base coming up in a few miles.

We'll stop there!

Whew. All this commanding sure is a lot of work!

[laughs]

[NARRATOR] Dana and her squad of hovercycles

pull into an airbase near Monument City,

the vast military industrial complex

built next to the remains of the fallen space battlefortress.

[MR. T] Uh-oh! School must be out.

Looks like the eagles are being led by a dove, hmm?

[MARIE] Hmph, more like turkeys being led by a goose!

[MARIE] Report!

[DANA] Sergeant Sterling of Tactical Armored Squad 15.

We've been on a practice drill in G-sector.

It was a hard ride and a lot of dusty road.

You wouldn't happen to have anything to drink around here,

- -would you? - -Heh. I don't believe it!

You act like you escaped from a video western!

Do you have any idea of the responsibility

it takes to command a squad?

Yes. But, Lieutenant, my squad has often been cited

for excellence during training maneuvers.

And I'm sure that, under my command,

they're going to be better than ever!

[MARIE] Well, no amount of training

can prepare you for the real thing!

Well, my squadron has never

turned its back on a fight, Lieutenant!

Hey! Wait! How 'bout a cup of coffee?

Sure. That'll be-- Ah!

[WIDOW'S PEAK laughs]

Nothing like a cup of coffee, I always say!

- -[BOWIE] Try this! - -[WIDOW'S PEAK] Ow!

So, the little ones want to play rough!

[WIDOW'S PEAK] Hey, kid...

Pretty good for a shrimp! [growls]

- -[BOTH grunting] - -[TROOPERS gasping]

What are you guys doing?! Get off me, you...

All right! That's enough! Now you're gonna get it...

- -[DANA grunts] - -Whoa!

You oaf!

Stop this immediately!

- -[BLONDIE] Why, you... - -[DANA] Huh?

- -[grunting] - -[blows impacting]

[DANA] Stop, stop, stop!

[SIRENS wailing]

Hey! It's the military police!

Let's get outta here!

We'll finish this later!

[grunts]

[wailing continues]

[DANA] Split up, men! We'll meet back at the base!

Hey! Whaddya think you're doing there?!

Stop! Or I'll shoot! You-- [grunts] Look out!

Goodbye!

[MP] Supposed to be a routine...

[MARIE] Hmm... That wasn't too shabby, Lieutenant Sterling.

You're real bright.

[MP] Ooh... just let me get my hands on that rotten kid!

[ROBOT] ...Sterling of 15th Tactical Armored Division.

Actions against military police vehicle

and this unit call for mandatory sentence

of 35 days solitary confinement.

Suggest immediate apprehension.

If you could just give me a hand up, sir.

[growling] Oh, shut up!

[ROBOT] I don't feel very well...

May we go home now?

[MP growls] Useless junk!

[DANA] Come here, boy.

I know just how you feel.

Hey, you wanna be my friend? 'Cause it looks like

we're both going to be out in the cold tonight.

I can't believe I let things get so far out of control.

I'll never get promoted. I'm busted!

Ooh.

Oh, well, at least I can dream about it.

[DANA whimpering]

Mm? Huh?

Well, good morning.

Well, Lieutenant, how've you been?

You're out early.

[NOVA] Fine... just fine...

[chuckles nervously] Uh-oh...

[NARRATOR] Dana accompanies the military police to the brig,

resigned to spending the next few weeks

in solitary confinement.

While in another section of command headquarters,

operations central monitors and controls

the tremendous flow of information,

vital to the security of the planet

from every conceivable outpost on the Earth and beyond.

[OPERATOR] Hmm? Hmm...

Captain! Come take a look at this!

What have you got there?

[OPERATOR] I'm not really sure.

- -Right here... - -[CAPTAIN] Well?

I don't know what to make of this.

It's not originating from the space station.

It seems as though somebody's trying to tamper

with one of our communications satellites.

But who can it be and where are they coming from?

Ensign, get me Brigadier General Emerson immediately!

[ENSIGN] Yes, sir!

Sir, do you think it could be--

[CAPTAIN] Let's hope not.

[NARRATOR] Space Station Liberty,

Earth's only link to the Robotech defenders

who have gone out into the cosmos

searching for answers to the puzzling riddle of Protoculture.

I have a large, unidentified spacecraft

coming in on the monitor, sir!

Give me its trajectory, Corporal!

Sir, do you think this incident could be related

to what happened to our people at Moon base Luna?

It's still too early to tell.

[OPERATOR B] Sir, according to the computers,

we can expect the intruder to intercept Earth orbit

in exactly two hours.

Visual contact should be possible within three minutes.

We need to see what the intruder looks like, and right now!

[GREEN] Colonel Johnson! What's taking so long?

Haven't you got anything yet?!

[JOHNSON] One moment, sir!

[JOHNSON] Huh? Sir, I had the visual transmission

on monitor when it just disappeared!

Playback of its final signal is coming on screen now.

[ROLF] I wish we could see that thing better!

[ROCHELLE] Sir, I've got a bad feeling about this.

[GREEN] Well, I've only got one thing to say...

Whatever it is,

it looks like they mean business.

[ROCHELLE] What could that thing be?

All communications with the satellite

have been completely disrupted!

All right, then, switch to ground radar!

- -[OPERATOR B] Yes, sir. - -Colonel Rochelle...

[ROCHELLE] Yes, General?

I want all squadrons put on immediate alert!

Sir!

Well, General Emerson. If they're Zentraedi,

do you really think we stand much of a chance against them?

Don't worry, we're set.

- -[GREEN] But, sir, we don't-- - -[ROLF] We drove 'em

from the Earth once before and we'll do it again.

[NARRATOR] After 15 long years, the Robotech Masters,

the overlords of the Zentraedi,

have finally reached their destination.

They've come to finish the job begun by their defeated armada,

accompanied by their elite army of powerful bioroids.

[DANA] This place is so boring!

Dull, dull, dull...

I wish they'd at least let me get cleaned up

and change my clothes.

The nerve of these people!

After all, all I did was knock over

that dumb old police robot. By accident!

Well, almost by accident. No one was hurt.

Hmm, not too bad for ten days.

Hmm. Huh?

Accommodations to your liking, Miss Sterling?

[DANA] Oh! Uh... Sure...

You know, it's almost like being at home!

You act as though you're living

in a girls' school dormitory, Sterling!

Your first day in charge was a disgrace to the service!

First, you go for a joyride during a yellow alert,

then you willfully damage police property,

and the complaints are still coming in

from the private sector!

Hmm... Do you have anything

to say for yourself in your defense?

Well, I think a hot shower would be pretty nice.

[ALAN] What?!

And if I could just change my clothes--

maybe a manicure or something?

[ALAN groans] It's obvious I'm dealing with a moron.

[DANA grunts]

Colonel Fredericks!

Please let me go back to my squad.

I know there's an alert on

and I'm sure my men will be lost without me!

Please, sir! I'll make you so proud of me!

I'll show you what I'm really--

[ALAN] Stop your whining this instant!

The only ability you've shown me to date is the ability

to get into trouble! If it were up to me,

I'd have you drummed right out of the corps!

- -[DANA] Oh! - -[ALAN] Dana,

the daughter of Miriya and Max Sterling.

But I don't care who your parents were!

You are a disgrace!

Please, sir, let me have just one more chance

to prove myself to you! I'm begging you, sir!

I promise, from now on, I'll be a model soldier

and follow all the rules.

I'll never disgrace my family name ever again!

Well... I'll consider it, then.

Yahoo!

[keypad beeping]

- -[DANA] At ease! - -[SEAN] Hey, Dana!

Sean, what are you doing in solitary?

Don't tell me you made a pass at a general's wife?

Nah. The prison hasn't been made that can hold me.

Besides which, I'm getting out tomorrow.

[NOVA] Come on, Phillips, hurry it up!

[SEAN] See ya later!

[NOVA] You're on probation for one week, Dana.

We'll be watching you!

[DANA] Mm-hmm.

[ALAN] Hmm... I wouldn't trust either of them, Nova,

not even for a moment. And make sure

I have hourly reports on the girl's whereabouts.

[NEWSMAN] This is a special bulletin from Channel Three,

your Macross broadcasting station.

Good evening. I'm Bill Morrison with this late-breaking story.

Just in from United Earth Command Headquarters,

United Earth Government revealed today that, at 11:00p.m.

last night, a huge spacecraft of unknown origin

was detected as it entered our quadrant from hyperspace.

After tampering with and possibly destroying

one of our communications satellites,

it has settled into a stationary orbit

36,000 kilometers above our planet.

All troops have been mobilized and put on red alert.

Trooper, get to your post and wait for my command.

[SOLDIER] Sir!

Captain, do you have any idea who it could be?

It's obvious they're the same ones who attacked Luna base.

If they want a fight, then we'll be ready for them,

I can tell you that!

Well, Sparks? Any word yet?

They said they'd get back to me, sir.

What are they waiting for? We must strike now!

Colonel, they're moving in closer every minute!

[GREEN] General, why are we waiting?

You must give the order to attack immediately!

No, Colonel...

It is imperative that we find out first, who they are

and, if possible, what has brought them to our planet.

We cannot be the first ones to fire!

[ROCHELLE] But they bombed our base and killed our men,

General Emerson!

Right, Colonel, but what proof do we have that Luna

didn't bring the attack on itself by firing first?

[SPARKS] Enemy spacecraft commencing rapid descent!

Altitude 21,000 kilometers and picking up speed, sir!

Eighteen thousand, seventeen...

Hasn't the command come through yet, Sparks?

No, sir, nothing!

If those generals would stop sitting on their hands

and give me command, I'd blow those aliens out of the sky!

Captain, landing craft have left the mother ship!

[CAPTAIN] I'll be right there!

[radar beeping]

[CAPTAIN] Do you have them on radar, yet?

[SPARKS] Yes, sir!

[CAPTAIN] Knock out the mother ship first!

What's wrong? Why aren't you firing?

But, sir, headquarters said that we should--

You idiot! We'll be sitting ducks here! Get out!

[OPERATOR C] We have a missile launch report, sir.

Heavy damage sustained by the enemy craft.

It's been immobilized.

Why were the orders disobeyed?

[ROLF] Now we're committed...

All troops... prepare to engage the enemy.

All units are now on red alert!

- -A red alert? - -[INOVA] Yes, sir!

And it's just my luck to be left here guarding a teenage Romeo.

Yes.

Dana should see some action.

Probably do her good, too.

Well, let's see what we can do to guarantee it, hmm?

Fire!

Finally, a real live battle happens and we're stuck here!

Well, wouldn't you know it would happen to us, right?

Can you believe it? All this terrific talent

being wasted just because our officers are in the brig!

[BOWIE] I don't get it.

Why don't they put you in command, Corporal Dante?

I'd love it, Bowie, really,

but I have no practical experience,

y'know what I mean?

You gotta remember, this isn't one of Dana's drills.

We could get wounded or even killed out there.

No offense there, Angelo.

But I'm a little too busy to die right now.

[ANGELO] Anyhow, I want to thank you

for the vote of confidence, Bowie.

- -1 really appreciate it. - -[DANA] Fall in!

Oh, they can't be serious about this!

I thought you were in for 30 days!

Wrong again! We've got a code one alert

and we've been ordered to go out there

and show the enemy exactly what we're made of or die trying.

Yes, ma'am.

But dying under the command of a ditzy teenager

isn't exactly the way I'd hoped to go out.

[LOUIE] Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go,

so let's get going!

[PA VOICE 1] Shuttle to Tower Control:

All systems online and awaiting green light.

[PA VOICE 2] Roger, shuttle, stand by.

[DANA] I'll show them I've got what it takes.

[ROCHELLE] Squadron 15 to proceed at once to sector Q.

Suspected alien landing site. Use extreme caution.

[ANGELO] Yeah! Now this is where I belong!

[ANGELO] Look up ahead!

[DANA] Here we go!

[DANA] There they are!

Our guys need some help! Let's move!

[DANA] Switch to gladiator mode!

[DANA] Gotcha!

[TROOPER A groans]

[TROOPER B screams]

[DANA] Oh no! All right, show 'em what you've got, Dana!

[DANA] Switch to battloid mode now!

[DANA] Oh no, you don't. Now it's your turn!

Hey, look out!

I've got to get around him somehow!

We've got to keep him occupied! Gimme some covering fire, Louie!

[LOUIE] You got it, Lieutenant!

[LOUIE] Watch out!

[LOUIE] Huh?

[LOUIE] We did it, Lieutenant! Not bad for a bunch of novices!

[sighing] We made it!

[GREEN] Sir, the enemy is in full retreat.

They probably won't stop running until they reach

their home planet. You were right, Sir.

We sent them packing once before,

and now, we did it again.

All stations are back down to yellow alert

and awaiting further orders.

We know the Protoculture supply was their objective, gentlemen.

You may be sure we'll see them again.

- -[ROCHELLE] Huh? - -Let them come back.

My men are more than ready for them!

Damage report?

[GREEN] We contained the fighting to unpopulated areas.

[ROCHELLE] Minimal losses,

thanks to Tactical Armored Squad 15.

Squad 15, eh?

Captain Phillips should be commended for a job well done.

- -He wasn't there. - -[ROLF] Huh?

Lieutenant Dana Sterling led the squad today

because Captain Phillips is still in the brig.

Ah, Dana... Yes...

[LOUIE] Well, look who's back among the living!

Hi, guys. Now I realize how much you all must have missed me

but it's home sweet home again! Yes, sir,

I can imagine how boring life musta been without me!

Things were pretty tough for a while...

But we managed to get by somehow.

According to Staff Directive,

Lieutenant Phillips has been demoted to private second-class.

[ALL groaning]

[NOVA] Now then, as for you, Dana Sterling, you have been--

Whatever I did this time, ma'am,

I'm ready and willing to accept my punishment!

You have been directed to take command

of the 15th Squadron, Lieutenant Sterling.

[DANA] What do you mean, "Lieutenant"?

I thought I was headed for the stockade!

If that's what you prefer, I'm sure it can be arranged.

- -[IDANA] No! - -Well, then,

make sure you behave yourself,

because I'll be watching you.

[DANA] Huh?

Huh? Hah!

Private Second-Class Phillips, I'll be watching you.

Uh...

Right, Lieutenant! Just give me the word.

I'm yours to command! Oh, brother.

[TROOPERS laughing]

You're right, Private Phillips.

[SEAN] Ugh... gonna be a long stretch.

[DANA singing]

Huh?

[gasps]

[NARRATOR] Again and again, Dana's mysterious flashbacks

return to haunt her. Visions of alien beings

she has never seen, but that seem strangely familiar.

Fantasies or glimpses of a terrible future?

Either way, Earth has not seen the last

of the Robotech Masters.

[NARRATOR] In our next episode,

the Robotech Masters bring the war to Earth

as they attempt to reclaim their lost Protoculture.

[NARRATOR] The 15th Tactical Armored Corps is put to the test

in "The Southern Cross,"

the latest chapter in the adventures of Robotech.

F