Macross Frontier Ep. 6: Bye Bye, Sheryl

At the Lee apartment, Elmo asks Ozma to let him represent Ranka because he thinks Ranka can convey songs of love. At the concert hall, Sheryl prepares for her last show, and Grace gets a call. At school, Michael teases Alto about going out on a date with Sheryl. Alto says it wasn’t a date, but Michael points out that they kissed. He then asks Alto what kind of relationship he has with Ranka and puts him in a headlock. Elsewhere, Leon asks Howard to reconsider his decision, but Howard says they can’t keep the truth about the Vajra hidden forever, so he may as well be the one to reveal it. At an outdoor café, Michael, Luca and Nanase congratulate Ranka on getting signed. Alto comments that he’s never heard of Vector Promotions, which earns him dirty looks from everyone. Ranka recalls her surprise at Ozma allowing the promoter to represent her. Nanase says she wants to cheer Ranka on so she can become a galactic songstress like Sheryl. Everyone else joins in, and Alto is reluctantly pulled into the Ranka Lee Fan Club. At the concert hall, Grace tells Sheryl about the Vajra attack on the Macross Galaxy. Ranka tells Alto that she wanted him to be the first to know, but she didn’t want to be annoying, and he pokes her with a paper plane. He tells her he was at the Zentradi mall, and when she asks him if he was alone, he lies and says he was. He then gives Ranka a ticket to Sheryl’s last concert to celebrate getting scouted. Just then, Howard appears on TV with an emergency announcement. He shows footage of the first Vajra attack, and he explains that the Vajra have attacked the Macross Galaxy. He announces that he’s proclaiming a state of emergency to protect themselves and the people the of Macross Galaxy. Ozma calls Michael and tells him that one of their exception clauses is in effect, so they’ll be sent into battle soon. Cathy tells Leon that Sheryl will be doing a TV interview, and Leon asks her to do him a favor.

Later, Ozma calls Ranka and promises her that neither he nor the other SMS pilots will die in battle. Michael tells Alto that he signed up at just the right time, because during a war situation, they’re unable to refuse orders or withdraw from their government contract. Michael is surprised the exception was enacted, and he tells Alto to rest up. Sheryl’s press conference starts, and she begins by thanking the Macross Frontier for sending forces to assist the Macross Galaxy. A reporter indicates that the images they received could’ve been from anytime because of fold dislocation, and another says that it might be a warning from the Vajra, but Sheryl dismisses that as cowardly talk. Another reporter mentions the concert being canceled, but Sheryl forcefully declares that the concert will go on and that she’ll return to the Macross Galaxy. Alto runs out of the barracks, and NUNS deploys an advance scout unit of Nightmare Pluses. On the Macross Quarter 25, Cathy reports to Wilder for duty. Grace tells Sheryl they can still cancel the show, but Sheryl insists on proceeding. Several guards try to detain Alto backstage, but she tells them he’s her friend. Alto gives her the missing earring. Elsewhere, the Nightmare Pluses fold out and detect a de-fold signature from several ships of the Macross Galaxy fleet. Wilder declares alert condition and says that the Macross Quarter 25 will be launching. Sheryl tells Alto that the earrings are mementos of her mother, even though she can’t remember her face. She then asks Alto if he likes the Macross Frontier, but he says he hates the Island type ships and their lack of a sky. He asks her what she thinks of the Macross Galaxy, but he’s interrupted by a call from Michael to return. Sheryl tells Alto to keep her earring as a good luck charm, and she says that she hated the Macross Galaxy because she had no relatives. Alto is late in reporting for duty, and Sheryl goes on stage for her show. Ranka runs through the city to get to the concert, and Sheryl opens the show with “Diamond Crevasse.” With preparations complete, Wilder orders the Macross Quarter 25 to separate from the Macross Frontier. Ozma tells the rest of his teammates that they will all have to survive and return to the Macross Frontier. Ranka reaches the concert hall and sees the light of the Macross Quarter 25 folding away.