Episode Guide
The Macross Saga
Episode 20: Paradise Lost
Captain Gloval’s dream of
evacuating the civilians aboard his ship has come to a disastrous end. He learns
that the barrier overload has wiped out an entire city as well as its
surrounding countryside. The people of Earth know nothing of the circumstances
that led to the explosion, only that the battlefortress is a threat to life and
property. The Ontario quadrant withdraws its offer to take the civilian refuges.
The SDF-1 finds itself homeless again. Gloval receives his order: The United
Earth Council hereby orders you to remove your vessel from any proximity to the
earth. You are also ordered to keep the civilians refuges on board your ship. If
these orders are not followed to the letter, we will be forced to take steps to
see that they are.
At Zentraedi Command Headquarters, Dolza, Breetai, and Exedore review a video
record of the battle and are shocked. From all appearance, it would seem that
the Micronian are utterly ruthless, that they would sacrifice an entire
population center to defeat four small divisions of attacking battlepods. Dolza
decides to place Breetai in charge of the Zentraedi forces again. Breetai
accepts the position and requests that the Imperial Class Fleet – a war force
of over one million ships – be deployed under his command.
Bron, Rico, and Konda regretfully return to Zentraedi Command to make their
report. Breetai and Exedore don’t know what to make of Micronian culture –
movies, music, dolls, candy, and other artifacts – but Exedore, for one,
decides that he would like to examine it firsthand! While the two commanders
ponder the new information, the spies enthusiastically relate their experiences
on the SDF-1 to their fellow soldiers.
Meanwhile, Captain Gloval makes an announcement to the residents of Macross
City. He tells them about the council’s decision but breaks down at the end
and cannot continue. Lynn Minmei interrupts. She talks to the crowd as only she
can, saying: ”I don’t understand anything that has to do with politics, but
I do know that the only way we’ll survive this is to pull together… I think
of the SDF-1 as my home now. We’ve all been through quite a bit, but look at
how strong we’ve become because of it. I have more friends here than I ever
did on Earth. You’ve been like a big family to me. Someday we’ll return to
earth – we’ll never give up hope. But for now, I’m proud to be a citizen
of Macross City and this ship.”
Minmei’s speech bridges the gap between military and civilian residents. Her
words find a place in everyone’s heart.
Next Episode: A New Dawn