Original subtitles

F

[NARRATOR] Stationed at a lonely outpost

in the northern region, Lieutenant Dana Sterling

plays a mournful tune on an ancient piano

and reflects upon the events of the past few weeks.

She finds the images of battle filling her mind

constantly, disturbing her in ways she cannot understand.

At the same time,

the alien half of her personality has been profoundly

affected by the appearance of the clone Zor,

sent to Earth by the Robotech Masters.

Even the wreckage of the enemy warship

resting peacefully in the moonlight

fills Dana's uneasy mind with thoughts

of that mysterious warrior.

The more she tries to dismiss him,

the more compelling he becomes...

[ZOR screams]

[DANA] Ah! This is insane!

I've got to pull myself together!

[DANA] Why can't ] get him out of my head?

Why do I have this feeling that he should mean something to me?

[DANA] Huh?

[DANA] I know I'm going to see him again.

I just wonder how soon.

[gasps]

[NOVA] Who's there? Come out of there, whoever you are!

[NOVA] There!

All right.

[NOVA] You! Step out into the light slowly.

[ZOR coughs]

[gasps]

- -No... - -[NOVA gasps]

[ZOR groans]

[OFFICER] This is pretty mysterious, sir.

[ROLF] What are you talking about?

[OFFICER] I mean the chief of staff racing out of the Ministry

in the middle of the night without telling

anyone where he's going.

[ROLF] I know what I'm doing.

- -[OFFICER] But, sir, I-- - -[ROLF] That's enough. Captain.

[OFFICER] Yes, sir.

[ROLF] Anyway, I hope I know what I'm doing.

[NARRATOR] The reason for General Emerson's

hasty departure is revealed.

Moments later, lying on a table

in the laboratory of Professor Miles Cochran...

[monitoring equipment beeping]

[ROLF] You all know that the last specimen

we captured didn't survive.

I want to make certain that doesn't happen again.

[FREDERICKS] Of course, General.

[ROLF] Hmm.

And for that reason I want you and Professor Cochran

to handle this personally.

- -[ROCHELLE] But-- - -[ROLF] And one more thing...

As of this moment, I want an absolute information blackout

regarding this prisoner.

But, General, are you proposing we tell no one about him?

Absolutely.

[FREDERICKS] But, Supreme Command, surely.

Sir, they have to be told, don't they?

[ROLF] Not yet, they don't.

But, sir, you can't--

- -[ROLF] Is that understood? - -Yes, sir,

but exactly what do you want us to do with this specimen?

This: I want you to run every kind of test

you can think of on him.

I need to know how these creatures

breathe, think, live, eat, everything.

And I need to know it right now.

- -[machines beeping] - -[labored breathing]

Hmm, very well, sir.

You don't have to worry, General.

We'll get it for you as fast as we can.

[ROLF grunts]

I'll be waiting.

[NOVA, FREDERICKS] Yes, sir.

[FREDERICKS] General, I hope

this information turns out to be valuable.

[ROLF] Could be the key to our very survival.

[labored breathing]

[ROBOTECH MASTER 2] What is the status

of the neuro-sensor device lodged in Zor's brain?

[MEGA] Biooscilation and frequency at optimum levels.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 1] By capturing Zor,

the Micronians have played right into our hands.

They themselves will lead us to the Protoculture.

And suppose these impudent fools should attack us

before we have found it?

[BOTH] Hmm?

The purpose of the neuro-sensor

is to keep us appraised of all their military activity.

We should have plenty of warning.

Yes, and if they should discover

your precious neuro-sensor? What then?

Discover it? That is absurd!

Recording the hyper-frequency of the device

implanted in Zor's brain

is far beyond the realm of their crude

scientific instruments.

The idea is ludicrous.

[NARRATOR] At that very moment, a battlefortress

from the SDF-3 pioneer mission

is approaching the Robotech Masters' ship,

after de-folding from hyperspace.

[NAVIGATOR] Sir, we've locked onto an unidentified warship,

distance 799 and closing.

It's definitely of alien origin.

Full ahead.

[ANGELO] All right, who was snoring last night?

[TROOPER 1] I didn't hear anyone.

[ANGELO] You're deaf, then, you goofball.

Somebody sounded like...

- -[SEAN] Good morning. - -[IDANA] Hmm. Huh?

I didn't want to disturb you,

but how long have you been guarding the piano, darlin'?

[ANGELO] Well, somebody was snoring!

[LOUIE] Oh, give it a rest, Angie.

[SEAN] Hm... I believe you need to let loose

of that responsibility once in awhile. Let you hair down.

Have some fun. You take life too seriously.

[DANA] Hmpf! Now you can call me old-fashioned, Private,

but as I recall, there's a war going on.

I know that.

[DANA] Oh, you're not the first soldier

I've run across who's found the call of the wild

more attractive than the call of duty.

This war's not interfering, is it, Private?

Well, you know, I don't let it cramp my style.

Oh, another broken heart, I guess. [laughs]

A broken heart?

Why, you must be kidding.

I'm not one of those people who goes in for

- -[DANA gasps] - -hopeless romances.

Be serious. Just look at Bowie. It's awful.

Oh?

[SEAN] Yeah. Here's a guy

who was operating just fine up until a few weeks ago.

Now he's carrying the torch so bad,

he can't put his shoes on straight.

Mm. Oh, it's pathetic, I tell you.

[SEAN] Anybody home?

That's what love'll do to you if you give it a chance.

[DANA] Hmm.

[DANA hums]

- -[BOWIE] Hm? - -[DANA] Mind if I join you?

If you like.

[DANA] Well I thought we might have a little talk,

you and me. Whaddya say?

[BOWIE] Hm? Mm.

Uh, um, Sean says you're upset.

- -[BOWIE] Hmm? He's crazy! - -Huh?

I'm all right.

[ANGELO] What?

Didn't mean to intrude.

[sighs] But I noticed you have been kinda preoccupied.

I just thought you might wanna talk about it.

[ANGELO] You know what it is? It's that alien dame.

- -[BOWIE] Huh? - -You're just gonna have

to forget her, Bowie. She's one of them.

Oh, so you think it's that easy, do you?

He just snaps his fingers and forgets her, huh?

Oh, for cryin' out loud, she's an alien!

I don't care if she's the Dragon Lady, Angelo.

You can't tell him to just turn his heart

on and off like a light switch.

[ANGELO] Excuse me, ma'am,

but we're at war and sacrifices have to be made.

- -[BOWIE cries] - -[DANA gasps]

[DANA] Bowie!

Bowie! Oh, my...

[NARRATOR] But there is one member of the 15th Squadron

whose heart is not so fragile when it comes to romance.

[SEAN] Now let's see... what was that? Room 502?

[SEAN] Yep, here it is! 502.

Sleeping beauty, your prince has arrived.

[NURSE] Just a minute, there. Where do you think you're going?

- -[SEAN] Huh? - -[NURSE] I'm sorry, sir,

but there are still no visitors allowed

to go in there. You'll have to leave.

Mm. Couldn't I just have five minutes with her?

I'm sorry.

I can't even drop off all these pretty flowers?

[NURSE] No, I'm afraid that's impossible.

[SEAN] But I'm the guy who practically saved her life!

Listen. I won't talk to her or make her laugh or cry

- -or anything, really! - -[gasps] Sean.

- -no visitors. - -[gasps] Sean.

[SEAN] You mean not even a little peek?

[NURSE] Absolutely not.

Ugh. Well, isn't it just my luck to find the one nurse

in this whole hospital who's immune to my many charms.

- -Here. - -[NURSE] Uh, sir?

Well, I don't want 'em going to waste.

And who knows, we may just meet again, darlin'.

[MARIE] Wha...? Hmph!

Why, that creep! He didn't even keep trying.

[NARRATOR] At United Earth Headquarters,

Supreme Commander Leonard

is paying a surprise visit to General Emerson.

[ADJUTANT] Ten-tion!

[BOTH] Sir!

[ROLF] All right, give them the go-ahead.

I understand that, but it can't be helped.

Hmm?

Commander Leonard!

Be sure and let me know how it develops.

- -Sir. - -[LEONARD] Well, Rolf,

I've been told that you're keeping a secret from me.

I thought I'd come over here and ask you myself.

Is it true that another bioroid specimen has been captured?

Yes, Commander. As a matter of fact,

Professor Cochran is running a complete series of tests

on him in his laboratory.

When were you planning on telling me about it?

[ALL] Huh?

Or perhaps you were considering

keeping this information to yourself?

- ]-- - -Yes?

Well, then,

I'm taking the prisoner out of your hands, General.

He'll be analyzed by a military scientist.

We'll take over from here.

[ROLF growls]

We mustn't let this prisoner be destroyed, Commander!

Not like the last one!

Let him stay where he is.

Professor Cochran knows what he's doing.

[LEONARD] Hmph.

I'm sure our people could do just as well.

It seems to me you're much too concerned

with the prisoner's welfare.

But so be it. If you're determined

to continue the examination

at Dr. Cochran's, I'm prepared to allow it.

Just keep in mind that if this prisoner escapes,

you're responsible.

Sir.

[LEONARD] Come on.

[NARRATOR] General Emerson has won the battle of wills

for the moment.

Meanwhile, far above the planet,

a battle of a very different sort is about to begin.

[NAVIGATION] Objective, 299.7 and closing.

[CARPENTER] Open fighter bay doors

and prepare attack craft.

[NAVIGATOR] Roger! Airlocks 1 through 17 are now open.

[alarms sounding]

[CONTROLLER] Condition blue, condition blue!

All pilots report to the flight deck,

all pilots to the flight deck.

[alarms continue]

[CONTROLLER] We are now in attack status 2!

All fighters on standby alert.

[CARPENTER] Very good. Here's the situation.

Earth's not expecting us to come to their aid

and we can only hope the aliens aren't either.

What's the status of battle stations?

[CONTROLLERS] Ready, sir!

[CARPENTER] Then full ahead, and prepare to engage the enemy.

[PILOT 1] Control, this is Firestorm.

Attack wing one now moving into formation.

We are in formation and holding.

[PILOT 2] Attack wing two, holding.

We've got all of our pilots reporting on standby, sir.

All right, attack formations one and two. The balloon is up.

Attack!

[NARRATOR] Unaware of the drama unfolding in space,

at the officers and enlisted men's quarters

of the 15th Squadron on Earth,

Bowie Grant is still tormented by a bad case of infatuation.

[BOWIE] My cosmic siren.

[ANGELO] Forget her, Bowie.

She's one of them.

[DANA] Oh, so you think it's that easy do you?

He just snaps his fingers and forgets her, huh?

[ANGELO] We're at war. Sacrifices have to be made.

[BOWIE sighs]

[PILOT 2] Firestorm, this is Brandywine 9.

We'll take the one on the left.

[PILOT 1] Roger, Brandywine 9.

[PILOT 2] Fire!

I've spotted their battleship at mark 6

bearing 5.9.

Prepare for a change in battle plans; ignore the drones

and deal directly with the main ship.

Have all of our units converge on those coordinates

at full velocity.

[CONTROLLER 1] Sir, the enemy craft have altered their course!

What the devil are they up to?

[CONTROLLER 2] General, I'm picking up some kind of

unidentified transmission!

Uh...

There's an awful lot of interference.

- -Put it on the monitor. - -[CONTROLLER 2] Yes, sir.

[NAVIGATOR] This is Recon 1, calling Earth Defense Command,

come in Defcom. Enemy fleet spotted and engaged.

Repeat, we have engaged the enemy.

We are now approaching coordinates Lamda Delta 15.

It's a ship from the Pioneer mission!

[ALL cheering]

[NAVIGATOR] Repeat, requesting immediate reinforcements.

This is Recon 1.

Shall we scramble our available fighters, sir?

[ROLF] Hmm...

I've been hoping they'd come.

[CONTROLLER 2] All pilots to battle stations,

all pilots to battle stations!

All ground crews to staging areas 6 through 16.

Prepare fighters for rendezvous

with attack wing from Pioneer mission.

All pilots and ground crews to staging areas!

Prepare for immediate rendezvous with SDF-3 attack wing!

[SOLDIERS chattering]

- -[DANA] Louie! - -[LOUIE] Huh?

Louie! Hey, what's all the ruckus about?

It seems the cavalry has arrived in the nick of time!

[DANA gasps] It's incredible!

It's no-go, Major. We've thrown everything we've got at them!

Calm down, man!

Now order the first wing to make an adjustment

to 57 mark 4-9

and come up on the right flank of the alien.

- -Yes, sir. - -[CARPENTER] Hurry!

[grunts] Report.

One of them's right behind us, sir.

What?

[CREW groans]

Damage report!

Sir, our defense shields are ruptured

and primary starboard thrusters

have all been completely neutralized!

What do we do now?

Divert all axillary power to the port thrusters!

[LEONARD] General Emerson...

[ROLF] Sir!

[LEONARD] What's the status on this surprise attack?

We've lost all radio communication

with them, Commander.

Well, then, what about our own fighters, Rolf?

The same, I'm afraid.

That's very odd.

What in the world could possibly be happening up there?

Sir, shields are completely down.

We could blow apart at any moment.

Evacuate all personnel.

[AIDE-DE-CAMP] Crew to escape pods.

Abandon ship, abandon ship!

[AIDE-DE-CAMP] I've locked the ship on a collision course

with the enemy vessel, sir.

We have only seven seconds to impact... Sorry.

Don't apologize.

[AIDE-DE-CAMP] Sir, hurry up.

[COMPUTER] ...one.

[BOTH] Hmm?

[AIDE-DE-CAMP] I know how you feel, sir.

It's a sorry way to say goodbye

to our home for the last 15 years, isn't it?

Eh? Nothing of the sort, Lieutenant.

[AIDE-DE-CAMP] Sir?

Sacrifices are often necessary during a war,

and she was a good fighter.

She never let us down, even at the end.

Yes, sir, but it's still pretty depressing

to lose her after all this time.

[CARPENTER] Hmm.

I tell you, this sure isn't my idea of a good time.

Yeah, I know. I hate recovery detail.

- -Huh? - -[SEAN] Oh, a latecomer.

Want to take this one?

No, be my guest.

[DANA] Welcome back to Earth! Are you two all right?

You are?

Lieutenant Sterling, 15th Tactical Defense Squadron.

I am Major John Carpenter of the Robotech Relief Expedition.

Take us to your command headquarters at once,

Lieutenant Sterling.

Sir!

[NARRATOR] Moments later, a hovertransport rushes

Major Carpenter and his first officer

to United Earth Command for debriefing.

Their power is staggering.

[DANA] Huh?

So tell me, how's the morale situation

among the troops of the Southern Cross?

It's fine, sir.

I'm glad.

I only hope we haven't exposed our defenses

as a result of today's battle.

[AIDE-DE-CAMP] Uh, sir.

[CARPENTER] Hm? Sorry.

[DANA] Huh?

[NARRATOR] After dropping off Major Carpenter

and his aide at command headquarters,

Sean and Dana head back to the base.

For Dana, the ride back is gloomy,

as she considers the implications

of what she overheard earlier.

[SEAN] You're awful quiet all of a sudden. Hmm?

[SEAN sighs]

[DANA] I wonder if we're in more trouble

than we've been led to believe.

You mean you came here alone?

There's no more reinforcements coming from the SDF-3?

Sorry, Major, but we were hoping

for more substantial assistance than that!

You must be kidding!

I'm sorry, sir, but what it boils down to

is that you cannot expect any further help

from the Pioneer expedition at this time.

- -Huh? - -I'm afraid it's true.

I'm simply relaying the orders

from General Reinhardt, commander of the mission,

when I say they can offer you nothing more.

[LEONARD sighs]

[CARPENTER] You see, sir, my attack wing

was merely a last-ditch effort

to join forces with your available fighters

and knock the invaders from their orbit.

[LEONARD] We all know how successful

that little stratagem was.

[CARPENTER] No one is more aware of our failure

than I, Commander.

However, at this point in time,

General Reinhardt can offer you only his prayers,

and his firm conviction that the fate of the people of Earth

lies in good hands with you and the valiant fighting forces

under your command, sir.

[LEONARD] Hmm, the General's offer is a disaster.

[ROLF] I wonder if there will be anybody left on Earth

to appreciate his prayers

by the time he returns from space.

[thunder]

[NARRATOR] Somewhere, hidden in the Robotech Research Complex,

the alien prisoner remains semiconscious, and in agony.

[ZOR breathes heavily]

[NARRATOR] The alien clone's fevered dreams

recall tormented images of destruction and death

experienced by the original Zor.

Explosions, everything's burning...

[gasps] Listen! What's he talking about?

The burning. Stop it!

[NARRATOR] Across the city, at the headquarters

of the 15th Tactical Defense Squad,

Lieutenant Dana Sterling faces another long,

sleepless night, her thoughts filled

with the sounds of alien agony and human despair.

[ZOR screaming]

I'm glad.

I only hope we haven't exposed our defenses

as a result of today's battle.

- -[AIDE-DE-CAMP] Uh, sir? - -Hm? Sorry.

[DANA groans]

[rain pattering]

[DANA] Why is my mind racing in circles like this?

[NARRATOR] At that same moment, an official staff car,

carrying a worried General Emerson,

screeches to a halt in front of Professor Cochran's laboratory.

He, too, has found himself

unable to sleep this rainy night.

So it all comes down to our mysterious prisoner.

All our hopes rest on him.

Fifteen years ago, it was so much easier.

The Zentraedi were obsessed with capturing the SDF-1

and we knew how to deal with them. But now...

[NARRATOR] In our next episode, Lt. Nova Satori

begins a complex psychological profile

on a captured alien bioroid pilot,

identified only as "Zor."

The Supreme Command of the Army of the Southern Cross

feels that the debriefing of this particular alien

might provide them with the key

to unlock the riddle of this new interstellar war.

Meanwhile, Dana practices on a battle simulator,

hoping to explain her empathy for this captured alien

and to end any doubts about her ability

as a defender of the planet.

Watch for "Déja Vu," next on Robotech!

F