Chapter 62: Macross – Defensive Battle
Monty Hill, imitating Kira Yamato, quickly locked onto his targets with Nami's support.
Then he launched a full barrage of micro-missiles, firing off the more than two hundred he had left.
With an average of three missiles per Zentraedi Battle Pod, over seventy were destroyed in one wave.
He then swung up his Gatling beam gun, firing continuously, while the head-mounted laser cannon also locked on and fired, spinning in a full 360-degree sweep.
Another thirty or so were wiped out, and together with those taken down before activating his skill, he had already eliminated more than two hundred Battle Pods.
After a little more than two minutes, to prevent himself from collapsing, he canceled his skill and mental concentration in advance and flew back near Roy Focker's VF-1S Valkyrie.
"Focker, impressive, right? Took out more than two hundred in just a few minutes.
But it's up to you now. I'm heading back to resupply. Bye."
With that, Nami piloted the VF-1SS Valkyrie into a sudden acceleration, automatically flying back to the Macross to reload its ammunition with the deck crew.
Roy Focker, first relieved, then saw more than a hundred Battle Pods chasing after him. He immediately turned to retreat, cursing as he went.
"Monty, you useless little runt, already out of juice this fast?!
You've screwed me over! Just wait till we're back—I'll make you pay for this!"
Pulling away from pursuit, Roy Focker also began taking down a few enemy craft with air-to-air missiles, then switched into guerrilla tactics.
But it didn't last long— the Zentraedi fleet began bombarding the Macross.
Countless blue beams howled through space, blasting apart many VF-1 Valkyries.
Some rookie pilots, panicking during evasive maneuvers, even crashed directly into the Macross itself.
Fortunately, those rookies weren't carrying reaction warheads, only standard heavy missiles.
Otherwise, the Macross would've been obliterated by its own side in one strike.
Still, the explosions of the heavy missiles inflicted noticeable damage on the ship. Crew members all across the vessel were thrown about by the shockwaves.
On the Macross bridge, Captain Global, tense from the blasts and shaking, demanded,
"Hayase, what's causing those explosions?"
Misa Hayase reported: "Captain, it's enemy ship bombardment!"
Another salvo of beam fire struck the hull, sending heavy tremors through the ship.
Multiple areas inside the Macross were hit and caught fire. Damage-control crews scrambled to extinguish blazes and make emergency repairs.
Misa received an update and reported:
"Captain, part of the auxiliary control system has been damaged, but it can still be repaired."
"Hayase, have them fix it as quickly as possible."
Misa immediately mobilized personnel to patch up the damage.
Meanwhile, Monty Hill, after resupplying, launched again. Concentrating his mind, he took down another hundred-plus enemy fighters before once again exhausting his ammunition and returning to reload.
Thanks to Monty Hill's cover, Roy Focker managed to shake off the enemy pursuit, focusing now on dodging the fleet's artillery fire and shooting down enemies closing in on the Macross.
But the Zentraedi firepower was overwhelming, and many of the Macross's weapons had already been destroyed.
Claudia LaSalle, nervous, reported to Captain Global:
"Captain, secondary cannons Two and Five have been destroyed! No chance of quick repairs!"
Claudia LaSalle followed with: "Fourth engine room has been destroyed!"
Misa also quickly reported: "Auxiliary control system compromised! Heavy casualties!"
Captain Global wore a pained expression, torn inside, and at last issued the reluctant order:
"No choice… inform all departments to prepare to fire the main gun! This ship will transform immediately."
Misa objected: "But if we do that, the city we just managed to stabilize…"
Global's face twisted with anguish: "Hurry, we don't have time!"
Misa opened the comms system and announced shipwide:
"Attention all departments! Attention all departments! Prepare to fire the main gun! Transformation in three minutes!
Repeat, prepare to fire the main gun! Transformation in three minutes!"
Just then, another massive impact rocked the Macross, blowing open a large hole in the hull.
Three enemy mecha slipped through the breach into the interior.
Claudia reported: "Captain! Three enemy units have infiltrated the ship—Sector G, in the civilian residential area!"
Captain Global reacted with alarm.
"What! Hayase, arrange forces immediately to neutralize the intruders!"
Misa opened the hangar comm system:
"Attention all onboard Valkyrie units! Attention all onboard Valkyrie units!
Three enemy units have invaded Sector G, in the civilian residential area! Intercept and destroy immediately!
Repeat! Three enemy units in Sector G, civilian residential area! Intercept immediately!"
Inside his VF-1SS Valkyrie cockpit, Monty Hill immediately activated comms.
"Roger! Valkyrie test pilot Lynn Monty Hill, moving out for rescue!"
Without waiting for missile reloads, he grabbed the Gatling gun, shifted into Guardian mode, and rushed toward Sector G of the Macross.
Inside the cockpit, he muttered to himself:
"Damn it, don't tell me I've turned the TV version into the movie version?! And the ship's appearance is clearly TV-style.
If I remember right, the movie version's civilian invasion happened in the fifth month after launch—during Minmay's first concert.
But now the first concert's happening a month early, and we're still getting this event?!
Please let Minmay be okay. Stay somewhere safe, don't go running around."
Meanwhile, with the Macross about to begin transformation, Monty Hill grew even more anxious.
He kept the VF-1SS in Guardian mode and, with Nami handling navigation, sped straight toward Sector G.
If he made a wrong turn, precious time would be wasted—time he didn't have.
Soon, Nami piloted the Valkyrie into Sector G, where they spotted three green Zentraedi mecha.
Like curious children, they were poking around at nearby structures, even tearing open rooftops.
One was actively chasing after Lynn Minmay and her cousin, Lynn Kaifun.
The moment they noticed Monty Hill's VF-1SS, however, they turned their guns on him.
Missiles and machine-gun fire rained down without pause at his Valkyrie.
Monty Hill had no choice but to reenter his focused state, rolling and spinning to evade the barrage while cutting down incoming missiles with bursts from his Gatling gun.
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