Chapter 58: Macross – Rescue and Recovery
With the gentle song echoing around him, Monty Hill gradually calmed down.
He thought to himself: In the TV version, Minmay is just a green tea girl, while in the movie version she's much better. Now, he wasn't even sure which Lynn Minmay this one was.
Better not act on impulse. If she was the movie version, it wouldn't be too bad. But if she was the TV version… that would be a moment's impulse leading to a lifetime in the crematorium.
And judging from the current situation, the chances were greater that this was the TV version.
At that moment, on the bridge of the Macross, Vanessa reported:
"Captain, there's an object beneath the ship!"
Captain Global, eyes closed, replied matter-of-factly,
"Of course. We're on the surface of the moon."
Vanessa shook her head.
"No, Captain, that's not it. It looks like something much larger… I'll put it on screen now."
She connected the visuals and continued:
"The object is approaching—no, wait, we're descending toward it."
Everyone was shocked as they looked at the image: the entire island of South Ataria, frozen solid.
Captain Global immediately ordered:
"Claudia, fire all main rocket boosters!"
Claudia LaSalle responded,
"We've already tried, but none of them are responding!"
Misa Hayase opened the communicator to broadcast:
"Emergency alert! All hands, prepare for collision!"
The Macross slammed into the frozen surface of South Ataria Island and skidded uncontrollably across the ice.
Inside the shelter, the people floated upward as gravity suddenly disappeared. Anxiety spread quickly.
Some people screamed, some lost control and crashed into each other.
Monty Hill forced himself to stay calm, struggling to maintain balance.
Minmay rested quietly in his arms, singing once again.
Her song carried through the chaos:
I will no longer chase after you,
Behind your departing figure.
Everyone keeps on running,
The finish line still out of sight…
Her graceful, gentle voice gradually soothed the people, calming their panic.
Monty Hill sighed inwardly—no wonder she was the Galactic Songstress, Lynn Minmay, whose singing shook the Zentraedi and brought an end to an interstellar war.
She truly sang beautifully.
Slowly, the shaking of the shelter stopped. People regained their footing, leaning against the walls for support.
Outside, the Macross had stopped sliding, wedged into ruins.
But the Zentraedi battle pods left behind on South Ataria Island had been transported here as well.
Spotting the trapped Macross, they immediately attacked, bombarding it with machine guns, beam cannons, and missiles.
The Macross launched its VF-1 Valkyries in counterattack, while also firing its own cannons and missiles in defense.
After some time, Misa reported: one VF-1 Valkyrie was attempting to connect to the shelter's communication system.
Monty Hill knew—finally, the rescue team had arrived.
The Valkyrie pilot's voice came through immediately:
"Everyone, please remain calm. Rescue teams will be arriving shortly. Once the hatch is opened, please line up in order and don't push…"
Relief washed over the shelter. Smiles broke out as people cried, "We're saved!"
Minmay clung to Monty Hill, tears of joy streaming down her face.
He held her tightly, whispering in her ear, "We're safe now. No more fear."
On the bridge, Misa reported, "Enemy remnants have been eliminated."
Captain Global asked anxiously, "And the people in the shelter?"
"We're working to extract them. They were lucky—only a few minor injuries, no fatalities."
The captain let out a breath. "That's good."
But attempts to contact UN Spacy forces on Earth yielded no response.
Vanessa reported as she studied the radar coordinates:
"Captain, our current position…"
Captain Global leaned forward tensely. "Well? Where are we?"
"We're outside Pluto's orbit."
…
The Macross's fold system had malfunctioned, bringing them far beyond their intended destination. Worse, upon inspection, the fold system itself had mysteriously vanished.
Unable to make another faster-than-light jump, the Macross had no choice but to begin the long journey back to Earth at sublight speeds.
A prolonged voyage awaited them.
Watching silently, Monty Hill thought: Too bad he didn't have much time left in this world. He wouldn't be able to accompany Minmay on this long journey—for now.
It was already February 2009. He had just over a month before he would have to return.
He sighed inwardly. Everything would follow fate. He would continue his story with Minmay the next time he came.
For now, he would focus on laying down what groundwork he could, preparing for his return.
Meanwhile, aboard the Macross, there was no way to simply open the shelter doors and evacuate the civilians.
Captain Global made the decision: their top priority would be to transport the entire shelter onto the ship.
And since civilians were still inside, the structure had to be moved carefully, without damage.
Once again, Monty Hill instructed Nanami to loosen the frozen earth around the shelter, making it easier for the rescue teams to dig through.
With her help, the Macross recovery crew quickly cleared the outer layers of ice and soil, then brought the entire shelter aboard the ship.
When the survivors finally emerged, they wept with joy, embracing one another.
The rescue teams, having completed their mission, then began salvaging as many materials from South Ataria Island as possible—frozen seawater, fractured land, steel from ruined buildings, floating vehicles, even conventional warships trapped in the ice.
Everything recoverable was gathered and brought back to the Macross.
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