The light is very blinding. For a moment, Jana can only bring the R-9a to a halt (hey, air brakes are a good thing!) and cover her eyes as the light gets brighter and brighter...
"No! I won't die like this!"

And then it stops. Jana looks around and sees what has truly happened. She then realizes that this is the time where it's time to hit where it really hurts. This is when she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, as if focusing her mental energies as well as her physical energies. She then looks at the picture in her pendant again and gives it a look of determination.

"Chris, you and I... we're gonna kick their butts together!"

And with that, Jana closes the locket and her face forms a big grin of determination and courage as she starts up the R-9a again. This time, she's apparently set her weapons system on maximum capability, as she's pretty much firing every weapon she's got simultaneously!



Jana Frost hits Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her Weapons Overload... but who cares? Not me! super.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud has been knocked out!



The Solar Ray, the glory of Zeon, does not last long. The two halves of the massive space monster crush it - plating on the colony hull popping off rapidly, before the frame comes crushing inward. Sparks and fire shoot outward, as the thing bends inward - further and further - and then finally explodes apart in a brilliant fireball. Gihren Zabi is left staring. "My... Solar Ray... it can't be..."

"Sir!" comes a panicked shout a moment later. "They're--" A shockwave rips through the space fortress. The Zeon crew nearly loses their footing. "They're ramming A Baoa Qu!"

Zabi's eyes narrow. "Damn it all... come!" he shouts, turning on a foot - and starting into the very depths. "Char has my shuttle ready! We'll keave with it!"



[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker, holding together his compsure. "..the swarm attacking Lunar 2 is destroyed.. the remaining cleanup operation is under way - the Macross is heavily damaged and withdrawing.. half the Veritech squadrons are gone.. as are Majors Zonvolt and von Branstein. Side 3, your status?"



Craaaaaaaaaaaap.

Superman can only brace himself as suddenly: electricity! Everywhere! The Man of Steel screams as he's shocked to the very core, flashbacks of Livewire at her worst paling before the terrible power of the Buster Legion...

...and then SLAM! Superman holds, his hands and legs desperately repelling the smash attack. SLAM! Superman still holds! "Guh..." Clark barely gets out, before, SLAM...

...and Superman doesn't get back up, the hammer monster staying in the "crush" position, right up until that flash of sunlight. The Solar Ray, consuming....everything in its path. All that's left is the hollowed out remains of the hammer-monster...

...and Superman, floating in the void. For a moment, it looks like he's down, another casualty of the war with the Space Monsters. And then his eyes snap open, gleaming the same golden hue as the sun itself, as the Man of Steel grabs the two Space Monster hammers that tried to kill him, and SPINS. A terrible tornado made of flesh and sheer might tears through space itself, as Clark swings his would be murderers at the remains of the Monster swarm until nothing remains in his hands.

And then, his terrible attention turns towards the patricidal maniac responsible for this. "ZABI!" Melted radio, ruined uniform, cape cinders, /still/ Superman makes his voice heard on the com units, as he /CRACKS/ through somewhere that should not be, well, noisy, tearing through space itself as he persues the evildoer!



Superman juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with his Now You Gone An Done It combo.
Superman juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with his Now You Gone An Done It combo.
Superman juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with his Now You Gone An Done It combo.
Superman juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with his Now You Gone An Done It combo.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud has been knocked out!



[Mission-STMC] Commander Jessade, Shin's XO: "The last of them are charging A Baoa Qu dirrectly! I think the Captain's completely lost it!"
[Mission-STMC] Superman speaks on the radio via being freaking Superman, "ZABI!"



Sleigh feels cold ice snake through her guts. The ray glitters, her retinas still aching from the merest afterglow seen through the polarized windows of the Calion. It all moves so fast afterwards; she's left saying little but useless words.

No, dammit, she thinks, grinding her teeth. It's all too fast. Even if this is all that's left...

Her head lifts up, nose in the air slightly. "Weissritter!" she says into the comm; that squeaky-voiced chirpy woman sounded alive just now, and the creatures aren't murdering too vigorously this moment. "Tell my brother I - I hold nothing against him."

Then the Calion bursts forwards. What do I do NOW, she thinks; then it comes to her. They were working on that maneuver... working on it for the new prototype. The new squirt of anger at the memory keeps her going, spiralling to the side and then back the other way as a series of missiles are discharged towards one of the goliaths aiming towards A Bao A Qu. Useless pinpricks, perhaps. The G Drive discharges afterwards, sending the two electrical beams lancing down towards it.

"Nnnnnnnnnngh!" Sleigh forces through gritted teeth as she slams the boost drive into maximum power, the Sonic Driver glowing blue-hot in front of the gracile red AM.



Sleigh Presty misses Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her Maneuver... uh... MGS super.



[Mission-STMC] Claudia Grant says, "We're diverting what power we still have to getting us to Mars and life support. Some repairs are already underway, Roy."
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker says, "Understood, Claudia.. we'll remain with you until landing."



All of Bernie's worst nightmares have just come true. He stares for a long, long moment - just watching the after image of the Solar Ray, and then the fury of the STMC. All of Nono's Buster Legion, gone in one instant. The young man swallows hard, as he sees the remaining STMC go charging inward. He grits his teeth, before he looks at them. "That... idiot!"

He is reminded of Colonel Killing, then. The kind of soldier who made Zeon what it was - instead of what it could be. His eyes narrow, and he brings around the bazooka. "We... we can't let a single one through!"

Down one arm and battered as he is, Bernie doesn't let up. he glowers, then looks at the incoming drones. The bazooka is aimed; the mono-eye flares. Captain Matsunaga may have lost it, but he won't let them fail. He stood by him before. And, he thinks, he has Chris. "You won't get by me!"

The bazooka thunders, again and again - rockets thrown into the drones rushing in.



Bernard Wiseman hits Space Terrible Monster Cloud with his Bazooka! attack.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud has been knocked out!



"...oh my god..." is all that Christina can murmur as the solar ray is unleashed. It's not because of the vast destruction it inflicts upon the STMC, but that its indescriminate fury is turned upon Zeon's own soldiers. To her, yes, they are the enemy, but in this battle, they are allies. Allies being killed-no, sacrificed, by their own.

Her heart continues to sink as apparent casualties start to roll in. The destruction of the Buster Legion only further reminds her of Nono's death. Sanger is massacered. The Ray is /destroyed/.

"Bernie!" she yells over the radio, her boosters warming up before she speeds at the remaining STMC, beam saber still in hand. She may not have large, giant planet-busting weapons or abilities on her, but she does at least have some amount of skill with that beam saber, which is put to use as she carves her way through the monsters. "Cover fire!"

(Which he, incidentally, does!)



Yurika steps back onto the bridge of the Nadesico, in time for the blindingly brillient light show. The bridge crew is awestruck, unable to speak. Out of the two hundred and thirteen people crewing the Nadesico, it's Akito that speaks up first.

"They... they just... their own ship."

There's a few more seconds of silence. Yurika starts giving orders. "Megumi, recall the Aesties and set up a pickup point for the Veritechs. Minato, helm to full. I want us ready to get out of here. Ruri, fi--"

The Heavy Gravity Cannon rips through space before the order is actually given, targetting the remains of the STMC. And then it fires again. And again, again, and again, the weapon not having a cooldown time out in the deep vacuum of space.

It is then that Ruri's little hands loosen off of their death grip on the two control nodes on her station. They shake, slightly.



Christina MacKenzie misses Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her SLICEY BALL OF QUASI-RAGE combo.
Ruri Hoshino hits Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her BATTOLSHIP ACCURACY, HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! super.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud has been knocked out!
Christina MacKenzie gets a glancing blow on Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her Silly accuracy, misses are for supers jab.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud has been knocked out!



Someone enjoyed doing that attack just a little. Too. Much.

The shared frequency does get pouted at briefly, but the smile is hard to disperse. The attack had been pretty damned successful, after all! Even so, the Weissritter proceeds to complain quite strenuously at being used to overindulge her own brand of eccentricity. The console gets a fond pat, with "That's my Weissy," uttered a tad smugly before Excellen looks over the HUD's readings. Such a good thing that the worst damage from impact is located along --

A yelp, then, as the unit comes under further fire from the Legion (quite possibly from their lawyer units). She'd /REALLY/ like to know what it is about her poor Weissritter that is earning it (and her) so much attention. ..They're not after a Ms. Universe autograph are they?!

System reports make it plain that there will be no repeat performances of the Inuzuma Kick. Assuming she could even get close enough to do so. The damage done to her unit's legs are too heavy, the boosters disengaged and unresponsive. Good thing the Alt Eisen's the primary melee unit, anyway, and at least her guns are still in one piece. The Tesla Drive revs at full power as the white knight is directed between crushed hulls, collapsed command units and scattered parts of alien and Zeon tech alike, trying to avoid another blast that surely won't--

Glitching sensors are suddenly overridden by that massive blast of light, blinding and all encompassing and earning a faint '..oh my god..' from the blonde pilot. Echoed again once the light fades and all that remains.. Is nothing. No Legion, no flagship (ohgodtheflagship) and the majority of the monsters destroyed..

And then, gutpunch, the Weissritter's pilot's expression shifting from awe to horror. No. NO. Not Sanger. Not Boss! There's no way they could get Boss...! But there's little denying the evidence of her own eyes, and the white unit remains frozen in place, gaping at her HUD and Sleigh's words going right over her head.

Then gun lifts. Slight drift, before correction, and the Weissritter's pilot is maddeningly, worryingly silent as the PT's hands adjust the gun and begin firing shot after shot after massive blast at the remaining STMC until the energy tank runs dry.



Excellen Browning juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her And if you think SHE'S mad, wait till Bullet finds out! combo.
Excellen Browning juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her And if you think SHE'S mad, wait till Bullet finds out! combo.
Excellen Browning juggles Space Terrible Monster Cloud with her And if you think SHE'S mad, wait till Bullet finds out! combo.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud breaks Excellen Browning's combo.
Space Terrible Monster Cloud has been knocked out!



Gihren has switched off the primary radio channels. He knows full well when he shouldn't be communicating; Matsunaga wasn't killed like he hoped, and Superman wasn't either. A Baoa Qu is shaking and quaking with the ramming drones - pieces of rock flying off, and then the drones burrowing in. People scream and die, as they work their way in.

And Superman, of course, is breaking through the asteroid as well - using space monster corpses to do it. A few reports leak to Gihren. However, a man does not reach his position without a plan. He comes to the hangar level, as the lights flicker, and finds Char Aznable standing there. The man smiles... with his helmet off.

A few locks of blonde hair fall in front of his face, as he raises his pistol. He fires two shots - one for each of Gihren's aides. They fall down, dead. Zabi backs up, staring. "Char...? You...? You bastard! You traitor!"

Char smiles. "I'll leave you for Superman. Call it... my own sense of dramatic irony." He lowers the pistol, and shoots Gihren through the knee. The dictator falls to the floor, collapsing in a heap as he stares up. Char turns on a foot, walking towards the shuttle. "Goodbye, Gihren."

By the time Superman arrives, the shuttle will be long gone - but he'll find Gihren sprawled there with his knee shot, and his two aides dead.



The Space Monsters experience the pain of having one of their own goliaths thrown back at them, slamming into one another, already thrown into chaos from the decimation of the Solar Ray. When the smoke clears, and when all have taken their rage out, the enraged Shin and the others will find themselves amidst a sea of dead STMC, useless, mindless drones and wreckage.

The spined giants lie shattered, cracked into enormous pieces.

This wave of STMC has been stilled.



Perhaps Shin's moment of berserker rage can be forgiven; an enormous Newtype vision, coupled with new-daddy stress and enhanced by the death of two close friends, an admired national leader, and his best friend, not to mention Gihren's blast devastating many of his handpicked men, have come together for an intense moment of sheer emotion that was probably a long time coming. Yet even as the lasers fly, thoughts run through his head.
'Snap out of it!' yells Rational Shin. 'You're a military officer! You're a soldier of the Principality of Zeon! Suck it up and lead by example!'
That voice begins to come through - and as the lasers do their work, Shin's eyes clear, his breathing beginning to slow. Bernie, sensed through the psycommu system, proves a somewhat comforting presence.
At least one of his friends survived today.
He is quiet for a moment, before hitting a switch in the Zeong's cockpit. "...All units, this is Crusader One," he says, voice hoarse but steady - as a commander should sound. "A Baoa Qu has been secured. Report your status."
The words are steady, but inwardly, an upswelling of shame at his own loss of discipline gnaws at him. (What kind of man are you, Shin Matsunaga...?)



[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga has apparently regained his faculties. He sounds hoarse... but steady, and authoritative. "...All units, this is Crusader One. A Baoa Qu has been secured. Report your status."
[Mission-STMC] Sinclair St. James says, "This is General St. James. Wyvern Prime is intact and fit to fight."
[Mission-STMC] Sleigh Presty says, "Calion is undamaged. I... did we win...?"



Any Drones standing in the Man of Steel's way get reduced to so much Space Monster jam.

Conversly, so do any Zeon Moble Suits similarly stupid enough to delay the Man of Steel. Or, like, walls. Superman doesn't like getting hit with WMDs, see.

Finally, the hangar...Kal-El's senses screaming that he's here...a moment too late to save two lives, yes, though he makes a quiet note to track down the one man most likely to have done this and bash his damn silly helmet in. There's a CRACK in the air, and the next thing Gihren Zabi will see is the Man of Steel looking his most...alien. How he /could/ be-the vicious, conquering avenger, the science-tyrant, holding anything and everything accountable to his will by virtue of his titanic might. As those blood red eyes burn down on the last Zabi's shin, and a cruel sneer slices out over Kal-El's face, Ghiren might even feel the heat built up...as if preparing to tear through his skin, burning him to death.

"Halt, evildoer." Superman says instead, grabbing the collar of Ghrien's shirt and tugging him up so that they can look eachother in the eye. "You hit me with the sun, Zabi."

"...didn't Luthor warn you about how bad an idea that was?" Which idea-the 'hit Clark with WMD' or 'Slaughter your own people for the evil of it.'-is left unspecified.



[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "And Majors Zonvolt and von Branstein are both KIA?"
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker says, "Copy."
[Mission-STMC] Sinclair St. James says, "Roger that."
[Mission-STMC] Superman occasionaly transmits the sounds of a man flying through an asteroid superfortress.
[Mission-STMC] Kyosuke Nanbu sounds worn out. "Lieutenant Nanbu of the Black Sheep, we survived the engagement, at a cost. The Macross is unfit to battle for the time being and many of our units. Both Majors are KIA unconfirmed, we're working on it."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "Not yet, Sleigh."
[Mission-STMC] Megumi Rhenard says, "This is Comms Officer Rhenard of the Nadesico, attached to Black Sheep Squadron. We're intact, no crew fatalities, all Aestivalis units recovered. Captain Misumaru sends her reguards."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "All units, regroup! Make what repairs are possible! Prepare to assume attack posture."
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker says, "Major Katsuragis is with the Macross command group, she is unharmed."
[Mission-STMC] Megumi Rhenard says, "...sir? Did you say... attack posture?"
[Mission-STMC] Superman says, "Officer Rhenhard, do you have a brig on board?"
[Mission-STMC] Admiral Tianem says, "We're... tracking the last wave as we speak. They're en route towards Earth. We have a few hours. We'll... gather everything we have."
[Mission-STMC] Megumi Rhenard says, "No, Mr. Superman... uh, sir. We don't. But we have a fairly large cargo container and some rope?"
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker says, "Nadesico, I'm transferring Sheep Flagship duties to you for now."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "I said attack posture. They have nothing left but their reserve force. We will regroup, gather our strength, and meet them in orbit of the Earth. And we will crush them /once and for all./"
[Mission-STMC] Superman says, "That'll do. Expect my return with one prisoner."
[Mission-STMC] Admiral Tianem says, "God be with us all, Captain Matsunaga. Have you assumed command of the remaining Zeon Assault Forces?"
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "Yes. As of now I'm assuming command of the Zeon military."
[Mission-STMC] Admiral Tianem says, "I understand."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "Mr. St. James, is the Kurogane intact?"
[Mission-STMC] Poor, overworked Megumi Rhenard says, "Yes sir." And then, "Copy that, Commander." And then, "We're preparing the cargo container now, sir." And then, "No, Captain, I'm too busy to get the coffee from the officers lounge."
[Mission-STMC] Sinclair St. James says, "I'm not an expert on spaceships... but it looks servicible from here."



When the adrenaline rush has finally subsided and Jana comes back to reality, all is pretty much quiet for the most part. She looks out of her viewscreen and realizes that the enemy has pretty much been destroyed. The mission was a success, and Jana knows she has all of her teammates to thank for that, for they knew the value of teamwork and never giving up in the heat of battle.

But there is another person who helped out. That person may no longer be here in the real world, but his spirit still remains. The spirit was with Jana during the battle, helping her to stay strong and keep going no matter how tough things got. That spirit was Christopher Carter, the fiancee she never got to marry, yet always immortalized him in her 'lucky' pendant.
Taking out the pendant and opening it to look at the picture of the two of them, tears begin to form in Jana's eyes. "Thank you, Chris. I knew you'd be able to help us out. I always believed in you in the past, and today you proved to me that even in spiritual form, you're just as capable as you were as a human." The tears that flow from Jana's eyes are not tears of sadness or grief, but tears of joy knowing that her true love still remains within her to always assist her like he did when he was still alive. And thanks to his help, a great deed was done for just about everyone.



[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "Good. I'm transferring my flag to the Kurogane. We'll rendezvous with Admiral Tianem's forces and muster ourselves for the final battle."



CLICK.

CLICK.

CLICK.

It genuinely takes a minute for Excellen to come to her senses and cease attempting to fire upon the space monsters. Not that there are anymore left. The energy readout for her primary weapon burns in bright scarlet across her screen. and the ATX pilot remains motionless in her seat, save to reach forward and deactivate the claxons ringing in her ears.

It's only when Roy gives the command that the labouring white knight seems to come to life again, picking its way across the quieting battlefield towards Chris' location, one ear half on the babble on her radio. She's almost glad that visual have been restricted, the comm-sys working on verbal-audio only.

Hand presses to the visor before she sniffs, and shakes her head. Stupid helmet.



[Mission-STMC] Kurogane XO says, "Very well Commander, we'll prepare for your arrival."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "Good. And someone get ahold of Gihren Zabi. Have him arrested for high treason and the murder of Sovereign Degwin Sodo Zabi."
[Mission-STMC] Bernard Wiseman says, "Sounds like Superman's on it, sir."
[Mission-STMC] Zeon MP says, "Yes sir! We'll have the oil heated in fifteen!"
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "Good. Looks like Darcia Bakharov will have real power on his hands now."
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker draws in a breath. "Lieutenant Ray, Lieutenant Nanbu, take charge of the Sheep in the area. Follow Captain Matsunaga's lead. I wish we could have done more."
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker says, "With Lieutenant MacKenzie."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga says, "...You did what you could, Fokker. You held your position against impossible odds. Too many good men have died... but in a few hours, this will all be over."
[Mission-STMC] Bernard Wiseman says, "...Yeah."
[Mission-STMC] Shin Matsunaga ...sounds like he's trying to smile. "...I'll buy the first round."
[Mission-STMC] Kurogane XO says, "We'll have the flag bridge cleared for you when you arrive, Commander Matsunaga. The Major also left a meal on the burner for you in case you were to take up command following this battle."
[Mission-STMC] Roy Fokker says, "I'm rallying the Sheep forces to the Nadesico, she'll be their flagship point."
[Y-Divine Crusaders] Shin Matsunaga says, "That'll be up to you, Kurogane. I'll hold you to your service through this crisis. What you do after that will be up to you."
[Y-Divine Crusaders] Shin Matsunaga says, "But today, we'll honour Elzam's memory by destroying these creatures once and for all."



The Calion loops back around. It is in no rush, now, though it's still intensely fast. It comes up behind and alongside the Weissritter, perhaps because it's the only other thing within sight that's remotely intact.

Sleigh's voice pops up on the short-range comm. "Do you need towing?" She sounds tense, although there's probably a great many reasons for this.



[Y-Divine Crusaders] Sleigh Presty says, "Colonel Tran... may have orders, after. I haven't spoken with him since all of this..."
[Y-Divine Crusaders] Shin Matsunaga says, "Indeed. The Kurogane crew has obligations to Dr. Zoldark and the Original DC."



[RADIO] To Bernard Wiseman, you radio: You alright, Wiseman?
[RADIO] To Shin Matsunaga, Bernard Wiseman radios: Yes, sir. I'm alive and well. The Rick Dom's been damaged. I may need to switch into a new suit, sir.



Nadesico hangs there in space quietly as her crew gets to work. The ship itself is undamaged; it's Distortion Fields are strong and have carried it through yet another battlefield. But the ship needs to be inspected for damage, a headcount needs to be taken, the Aestivalis units need heavy repairs, and the pilots need to get on with their daily love triangle drama. And poor Megumi is getting comms left and right and will probably be losing her voice sometime today.



[RADIO] To Bernard Wiseman, you radio: ...You're qualified to pilot anything under the UMC, aren't you?
[RADIO] To Shin Matsunaga, Bernard Wiseman radios: ...Yes, sir.
[RADIO] To Bernard Wiseman, you radio: ...Report to the Kurogane before the fighting starts. I'm using the MSN-02, and we need every capable pilot. You'll pilot my Gelgoog for the duration of the crisis.
[RADIO] To Shin Matsunaga, Bernard Wiseman radios: ...wow, uh... Thanks, sir! I'll be careful. As careful as I can.
[RADIO] To Bernard Wiseman, you radio: Just take care of yourself. And give it a hundred and twenty percent. After this, the Earth will be safe, and the war'll be over.



There's a faint start of surprise at the radio contact, and there's a long pause before Sleigh's question is answered. "..No. Thank you, but I'm okay. Weissy's Tesla Drive came has only minor damage," for once.

Gaze peers out towards the Calion, appreciative of the speed, even if the unit isn't half as handsome as her own machine (grief or no, she's still got room for pride in her PT!) in her opinion, at least!

There's another pause. "Do you need to refuel? They have facilities aboard the Nadesico.." She should probably check with them first if it's okay to offer, but since when did Excellen worry about things like that?



[Mission-STMC] Someone's voice crackles over the channel, apparently connecting to the frequency. It becomes clear the radio is dated.
[Mission-STMC] Franklin Delano Roosevelt says, "Attention, all Universal Century-based forces. The IPL has passed an emergency measure and has mobilized the forces of sixty-seven percent of its member states. Hold for eight hours and sixteen minutes. We're on our way, gentlemen."