THUNDER

"The Macross is attempting to make use of Uranus' gravitation in a interference in the rings. The main reason we're not is that we're made up entirely of new graduates, so the powers that be don't think we've got enough experience. Personally, I think they're right."

"Nice to know you've got some confidence in us, ma'am."

"Hey, I've got every confidence in you. I just also realize that none of you has ever flown combat before. I, on the other hand, have seen far too much of it. I'd really rather not fly combat ever again."

The eighteen Valkyries of the newly-named Angel Squadron had drawn close patrol. As far as Ranma was concerned, this was the most boring job a fighter pilot could have. So, Ranma, secure in the knowledge that ANYTHING could become training, decided to put the girls to work.

As a result, the Valkyries were flying heel-and-toe follow the leader around the battlecruiser. Each Valkyrie was expected to keep a distance of two thousand meters, plus or minus two hundred, from the one before it. Radar and laser rangefinders were used to keep track of distances, and all the Valkyries uploaded their tracking data to Angel One.

"Yamagami, close it up. I've got a two point three klick gap showing there."

Ranma, of course, was not giving them an easy ride. So far, the hectic parade had buzzed the tower of the Promotheus, flown between the barrels of the railguns mounted on the Macross' 'shoulder' joints, flown between the massive booms of the reflex cannon itself, and even buzzed the Fortress' bridge. So far, they had drawn six complaints from various personnel for dangerous flying.

Ranma knew damn well that none of those complaints would ever materialize on paper in front of him. After all, this was training. He had learned at Kadena that even top brass turned a blind eye to trainees buzzing automobiles, flying under bridges, and using ECM gear to annoy civilian police radar traps. Anyone who couldn't buzz a car, fly under a bridge, or spoof the dinky little cop radars couldn't be relied upon in real combat.

And those who screwed up trying...would not screw up in combat.

Harsh? Well, yes. But combat flying was just as harsh a teacher, and usually with far more on the line than a poor pilot's life.

So far, the girls had proven really good. Compared even to him, they were doing better than any other first-time Valkyrie pilot. Of course, how well they'd do in battle was another story altogether, and remained to be seen.

Ranma had also thoughtfully arranged for each Valkyrie to be carrying a load of paint balls in the gun pods. Each fighter carried live ammo in the leg clips, but the initial load was training rounds. As extra incentive for avoiding fire, each pilot was expected to clean the paint, frozen in the depths of space, off of her fighter.

But that was for later.

"Captain. We have an audience."

Ranma glanced at the Flight Net. Angel Two, a Canadian girl named Amy Clark, had focused her imaging gear towards the bow of the Daedalus, where a Valkyrie hovered in Gerwalk. Its colours showed it to be part of the Blue Squadron.

"Hmmm...wonder what he wants?"

Ranma flicked the Tac Net to Blue's frequency.

"Angel One to Blue Fighter near Daedalus. Enjoying the show?"

"Of course, Angel One. When first I heard that an all female squadron was formed, I could not rest until I had feasted mine eyes upon the spectacle."

The Blue pilot spoke in antiquated Japanese. His image in the Tac Net screen showed only his eyes, the rest of his face being obscured by his helmet. And those eyes were incredibly arrogant.

"Ain't much to look at with all of us in armour."

"But is it not true that the beauteous Tendo Akane is part of this squadron?"

"Oh, Kami-sama, not him, not now..."

Ranma raised an eyebrow. "Corporal Tendo...Can you explain this guy?"

"Ah...personal problem, ma'am. Just ignore him."

"Right. Angels, let's get back to work."

"Hold, Angel One. You must not merely ignore the great Kuno Tatewaki, rising star of the U. N. Spacy, the Blue Thunder of Macross."

"Where does this guy get his lines? Look, pal, shove off. Now. You're buggin' my pilots."

"For so fair a lass, you seem quite fierce. Shall we spar?"

Ranma ground her teeth. This guy was REALLY pushing his luck.

"I promise, I shall go easy on you."

"That's it. Angel Two, give this guy your gun."

"Huh?"

"Kuno, that gun pod is loaded with paint balls. First tag is a loss."

"I accept thy challenge."

Kuno grabbed the gun pod from Angel Two, and shifted to Soldier mode. Ranma did the same, and the two titanic figures faced off with each other.

Kuno was the first to move. A snap of the wrist, and a short blast of paint balls leapt from his cannon.

And flew through empty air. Ranma had already flipped his Mecha around and was coming up on Kuno's back. Kuno rolled his fighter, shifted to Gerwalk and widened the gap.

The fight proceeded, Kuno snapping short bursts at Ranma, and failing to connect. Each time, Ranma succeeded in simply being elsewhere, and steadfastly refused to return fire.

In the cockpit of Angel Seven, Akane smirked. She'd sparred with Ranma some time back. Since both fought using the Anything Goes style, it had made sense to test their skills against one another. And much as was currently happening to Captain Kuno, she'd not managed to lay a finger on him. In fact, he'd won the match, with a single finger placed on the back of her head.

Eventually, Kuno's gun pod spooled on empty. He cursed, and reached for a replacement clip, forgetting that his own ammo was live.

Ranma thought his Mecha through a back flip kick that would have made Bruce Lee green with envy, knocking the replacement clip out of Kuno's grasp. He then proceeded to empty his own gun pod into Kuno's Mecha, painting a large Kanji across the chest of the Valkyrie. He jetted back, and admired his handiwork.

"INCOMPETENT"

"That was a nice little game, Kuno, but you better run along home now."

Laughter flooded the Tac Net as Kuno, shaking with rage, left the battlefield.

"Okay, kids, enough play time. Let's get back to work."

* * * * *

"I shall not tolerate it! The commander of the Angel Squadron - a mere female! - has mocked the name of Kuno Tatewaki! It cannot be allowed to pass!"

"Stow it, Kuno. And keep scraping that paint! Sounds to me like you got exactly what you deserved."

"Silence, knave! I must plot my revenge!"

* * * * *

"Officer on the deck!"

Angel Squadron, whose members had been chatting among themselves, snapped to attention as their commanding officer entered the briefing room. Beside Ranma was Lisa Hayes, first officer of the SDF-1. Ranma saluted the Commander, then stepped aside to allow her the floor.

"At ease. As you all know, it was my decision and my project to create this squadron. I have read Lieutenant Saotome's efficiency reports, and I have decided that this squadron was, overall, a good idea. Your squadron has consistently outperformed any other in your class, and even a few existing units such as Blue or Sepia."

Cheers rung throughout the briefing room. Commander Hayes waited until they died down. "Therefore it is my pleasure to announce that Angel Squadron will be the first fully operational Valkyrie Squadron composed entirely of female pilots. Congratulations; your assignment here is permanent. A new squadron, Firefly Squadron, will take over training of the next batch of female pilots, and the Captain has authorized the formation of further all-female squadrons.

"Furthermore, I am authorized to issue promotions to all of you to Sergeant, and to Tendo Akane and Kanzaki Shoko to the rank of Lieutenant, Second Class, and to Saotome Ranko to Captain. Increase in pay grade for all these ranks is immediate and permanent."

This time, the cheers were deafening. Hayes stepped away from the front, and Ranma took her place.

"So much for the good news. Now for the bad. Mayor Luan has announced a beauty pageant to choose a Miss Macross. Also, we've been ordered to take three days R-and-R. Oh, and need I remind you that we've got most of the female talent on this ship tied up in this room alone? It wouldn't break my heart if Angel Squadron also took that prize."

Chuckles.

"Get out of here. Enjoy your leave."

The pilots filed out of the room, and Lisa crumpled.

"Did that sound as insipid and stupid to you as it did to me?"

"Well, you were blowing your own horn a bit, but other than that..."

"Thanks." She grimaced. "I hate addressing crowds. Oh, and here." Commander Hayes handed Ranma an envelope. "Promotion for your male side as well."

"Thanks." She shook his head. "I'd hate to be the one having to deal with the paperwork on this one.

"Oh, as to dealing with things...You need to learn to think before you speak. If I were you, I'd expect some backlash on that 'female talent' line."

* * * * *

"Well, you heard what the Major said, right? She wants one of us to enter the beauty pageant, right?"

Akane frowned at Shoko. "You're not thinking of making me enter, are you?"

"No...Nothing that nice. I was thinking of entering Captain Saotome."

Akane grinned. "I like this plan..."