Chapter 54: Macross – Giants
The VF-1A Valkyrie fighters that had switched into Guardian mode swept the battlefield with their triple-barrel Gatling guns, occasionally firing off missiles.
Facing the incoming VF-1A Valkyries, the Zentraedi's Battle Pods had no choice but to stop their assault on the Macross and focus entirely on dealing with the approaching Valkyries.
Missiles and machine gun rounds from both sides kept exploding among the ruins of the city, turning the already shattered landscape into an even more devastated wasteland.
Some of the VF-1A Valkyries switched to Battroid mode right on the streets, hiding behind tall buildings and firing back at the Battle Pods across from them.
The Zentraedi Battle Pods, however, charged forward recklessly, not dodging or retreating, advancing along the city streets with their machine guns blazing.
In the fierce urban fighting, both sides suffered casualties.
But with the Zentraedi holding a numerical advantage, the UN Spacy forces were at a disadvantage.
The Zentraedi Battle Pods pressed on toward the Macross.
Buildings throughout the city were destroyed and set ablaze by the relentless bombardment.
Some survivors inside houses, who had previously escaped the barrages in space by sheer luck, were not so fortunate this time. The artillery fire struck, and they perished in the flames.
Major Roy Focker and Hikaru Ichijyo also joined the battle against the Zentraedi Battle Pods.
Focker's VF-1S Valkyrie in Guardian mode darted quickly through the city ruins, eliminating invaders one after another, drawing enemy fire to shield Hikaru's VF-1 Valkyrie.
Hikaru was left far behind, struggling to accelerate and keep up with Focker.
Just then, the comms inside Hikaru's Battroid lit up.
He spotted a Battle Pod landing nearby.
The Battle Pod, upon noticing the orange Battroid, immediately opened fire, sweeping the area with machine gun fire.
Hikaru quickly evaded and returned fire with his triple-barrel Gatling gun.
In the back-and-forth exchange, Hikaru, panicked, unleashed a wild barrage that destroyed the Zentraedi Battle Pod.
The Battle Pod collapsed onto the ground, but Hikaru's Valkyrie kept firing until all its ammo was spent before finally stopping.
However, the Zentraedi giant inside had survived.
Realizing his pod was destroyed and no longer usable, he opened the cockpit and climbed out.
Removing his helmet, he began striding step by step toward Hikaru's Battroid, intending to fight it hand-to-hand.
Hikaru, staring at the approaching alien giant, was overcome with fear. He gripped his weapons controls, trying to fire again.
But his Valkyrie's Gatling had already run dry.
Just as Hikaru was about to retreat, Focker's VF-1S appeared from behind the alien giant, cutting him down with a sudden burst of Gatling fire.
The Zentraedi soldier fell with a crash, unwilling but lifeless.
Seeing the alien's true face for the first time—nearly identical to humans, only gigantic—Hikaru cried out in horror: "Impossible!"
Focker said calmly, "That's right. It's because we're fighting these giants that such transformable fighters were created."
"How can this be!" Hikaru still hadn't shaken off the shock of the fallen alien.
Focker sighed helplessly. "Yeah… they really do look just like humans."
On the Macross bridge, the crew too, via comms, saw the truth: the aliens were giants, over ten meters tall, yet nearly identical to humans in appearance.
But since they had already seen giant corpses in the wreckage before the Macross was rebuilt, they weren't overly surprised.
Meanwhile, in the shelters, everyone waited silently, praying for the battle outside to end soon so they could rebuild their homes.
Minmay, frightened by the constant tremors from the bombardments, asked uneasily, "Brother, I'm scared! Are we going to be okay here?"
Monty Hill gently comforted her, putting an arm around her shoulders.
"It's alright, Minmay. The shelters were built to withstand air raids. They're very safe. And this war will end soon. Then we can rebuild a new home where we used to live—even the Nyan-Nyan Restaurant.
And even if not, as long as you're with me, anywhere can be home."
Minmay closed her eyes, wiped away her tears, and said softly, "Mm. As long as you're here, anywhere can be home. When the time comes, we'll definitely reopen the Nyan-Nyan Restaurant."
Her uncle and aunt, overhearing her, nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Minmay, Monty Hill. When it's safe, when everything settles down, we'll definitely reopen the Nyan-Nyan Restaurant."
Her little cousin chimed in, "Nyan-Nyan! Nyan-Nyan Restaurant!"
In Monty Hill's arms, Minmay finally brightened, smiling through her tears.
Monty Hill thought to himself: Once the Macross makes another fold jump back to Earth, we'll be free for a while.
When the entire island is carried with the Macross into orbit near Pluto, we'll finally have some peace. Then the Nyan-Nyan Restaurant can be rebuilt inside the fortress, and Minmay—you'll be able to fulfill your dream of becoming a super idol who stirs the entire universe.
Elsewhere, on the bridge of the Macross, Misa Hayase reported, "Captain, preparations for the Macross's main launch rockets are complete."
Captain Global turned to Vanessa and asked, "Have the civilian evacuations been completed?"
Communications officer Vanessa replied, "Yes, Captain. All surviving island residents have been moved into the shelters."
Captain Global nodded. "Good. Ignite the main boosters. The Macross will ascend immediately."
Misa asked uneasily, "Will it be alright this time?"
Captain Global patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry. These boosters were built on Earth. Nothing will go wrong. Go ahead."
Misa followed his order, activating the Macross's main rocket thrusters.
As the massive flames erupted from the boosters, shockwaves rippled across the ground. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross finally began to rise slowly into the sky.
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