Chapter 61: Macross – Main Cannon Malfunction and Encounter Battle
On the return trip from Pluto's orbit back to Earth, the technicians aboard the Macross discovered that the ship's main cannon could no longer function properly.
The reason the main cannon had failed was the inexplicable disappearance of the Fold System.
The main reactor of the battleship and the main cannon's energy storage units were connected through several energy conduits, and those conduits had originally been linked to the Fold System.
With the disappearance of the Fold System, those conduits were all severed, leaving the main cannon without the necessary energy channels to supply power.
However, the Macross itself was made up of different structural sections. By transforming, these sections could be repositioned, temporarily reconnecting the severed conduits.
Thus, the final inspection result showed that the Macross would need to transform into its humanoid configuration in order to fire the main cannon.
But changing the connections and repositioning conduits would disrupt the newly built city inside, causing damage to houses, living facilities, and pipelines, which in turn would create serious chaos.
Unwilling to throw the hard-won, newly settled city back into turmoil, the captain rejected the suggestion of transforming for now.
The Macross could only continue flying back to Earth in battleship form.
Meanwhile, Lynn Minmay was preparing to hold her first solo concert, though unfortunately, that day Monty Hill had duties and couldn't leave.
Inside the carrier hangar's lounge, Monty Hill watched the live broadcast of Lynn Minmay's first concert on television.
After finishing one song, Minmay smiled at the audience and said:
"Good evening, everyone! I'm Lynn Minmay. Tonight is my very first concert. With so many of you here to watch, I'm truly grateful!"
The fans below the stage roared with passion, shouting endlessly: "Minmay! Minmay!"
She continued:
"Since the Macross left Earth, more than a month has passed, and during this time, many things have happened.
I'm sure many of you have gone through painful experiences.
But tonight, let's forget those wounds and simply enjoy ourselves.
So, let me perform the songs from my first album in a medley for everyone."
She began singing again, her gentle, flowing voice mesmerizing the crowd.
Monty Hill sighed to himself at how beautiful her singing was—such a pity he couldn't attend her first live concert in person!
Just then, on the bridge, Vanessa received an alert from the radar detection room and reported:
"Captain, radar detection reports: fold reaction detected at six o'clock!
A large number of unidentified craft are approaching rapidly from the rear!"
Misa Hayase added, "It's the enemy fleet!"
Captain Global stood up tensely and said,
"So they've finally come? Lieutenant Hayase, prepare for combat immediately."
"Yes, sir," Misa answered, then switched on the communicator to broadcast:
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! All Valkyrie squadrons, scramble immediately!
Repeat, all Valkyrie squadrons, scramble immediately!"
In the carrier hangar, Monty Hill perked up when he heard the announcement.
"The alien fleet's here? Finally, I get to show my skills."
He quickly ran to his VF-1SS Valkyrie, leapt aboard, and powered it up.
Beside him, Major Roy Focker glanced at the excited expression on Monty Hill's face and said with a grin:
"Rookie, don't get carried away out there. Watch yourself, or you might not come back, hahahaha."
Monty Hill rolled his eyes in disdain.
"Thanks for the reminder, Focker.
But you're my defeated opponent—you should know my skills by now.
How about this—we compete and see who shoots down more enemy craft. Loser buys the drinks?"
At the mention of free drinks, Focker grinned even wider, certain of victory.
"Monty, just wait to buy me drinks when we get back. We'll throw a celebration party, hahaha."
Monty Hill waved dismissively, ignored him, and launched his VF-1SS into space.
As soon as he emerged, a massive swarm of Zentraedi Regults and green battle pods had already surrounded the Macross.
The surrounding Valkyries had already engaged, and the battle quickly descended into a stalemate.
The VF-1s and the enemy weaved back and forth, trading fire with cannons and laser guns.
But because they were too close to the Macross, the Valkyries couldn't use their powerful large missiles or reaction warheads.
The Zentraedi mecha, however, were unrestrained, launching large missiles straight at the Macross.
Even if the Valkyries dodged, the Macross itself couldn't evade—its only choice was to intercept desperately while maneuvering.
Monty Hill and Focker fought under heavy pressure. The Regults often used the Macross as cover, forcing them to hold back and preventing them from unleashing their full power.
Seizing an opportunity, Monty Hill locked on and launched a volley of micro-missiles, wiping out dozens of Regults in one strike.
But their numbers were overwhelming—dozens down meant nothing against hundreds, even thousands, of enemy units.
Focker opened his comms to Monty Hill:
"Damn it, Monty! These enemies are nothing like the ones on the ground—they're way more agile! This is getting tricky!"
Monty Hill fired back while engaging:
"Yeah, Focker, and using the Macross as a shield makes it even tougher!"
"Monty, why don't you use that… special ability of yours, like when you fought me? Wipe out a bunch of them first.
When you're spent, I'll cover you back to the Macross."
Monty Hill scoffed at the word "spent."
"Focker, you're the one who'll be spent, not me. I just take mid-battle breaks and recover.
Anyway, when I stop the wide-area sweep, make sure to cover me."
Focker chuckled, "Got it, got it. Now show us your performance."
Monty Hill dove straight into the enemy ranks, activating his SEED burst and focusing his mind.
The combined abilities drained 6 points of mental energy per second; with natural recovery, he could sustain full burst for about three minutes at most.
If only his mental reserves were higher, he'd trigger his Newtype ability as well—but with that, he'd barely last a minute.
He unleashed his Gatling gun at full power, spinning in a wild 360-degree sweep. In less than a minute, he tore down fifty or sixty more Regults.
But his Gatling ammo was quickly depleted, and he was forced to disengage, pulling up to the upper side of the Macross.
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