Macross Ep. 36: Farewell to Tenderness

Standing at on observation deck on the Macross, Misa considers quitting the military. Elsewhere, Minmay asks Hikaru if he’s reached a decision about quitting the military. She says she wouldn’t mind quitting singing if he quit the military. He tells her things aren’t that simple and that he doesn’t kill people because he likes it. She tells him that she remembers how he was when she first met him, and she wishes things could go back to the way they used to be. In the jungle, Kamjin’s gun destroyer powers up and prepares to launch. He decides that he will first destroy the Macross and then head back to space. Claudia finds Misa on the observation deck and informs her that Global wants to talk to her on the old bridge. Claudia sees that Misa was crying, and she tells her that she’d better not think of quitting the military. She asks Misa if she’s okay with Minmay stealing Hikaru away. Misa says she has no choice because she is an old, uptight soldier and Minmay is young and cute. Misa heads up to the bridge and finds that it looks the same as it did in the old days. Global tells her that he has a new assignment for her, and she tells him she wants to quit. He says that quitting the military over Hikaru is a bit drastic. He tells her that he wants her to be the captain of a new spaceship being built for the Space Emigration Project. He says that the Zentradi and Supervision Army are still fighting, and they could come back and destroy Earth. Therefore, he wants humanity to colonize as many planets as possible to spread Earth’s culture and make sure it isn’t destroyed. As Kamjin’s ship approaches Alaska, Hikaru considers what Minmay said. The doorbell rings, and Hikaru sees Misa is at the door. She tells him that although she was thinking of quitting the military, she is now going to become a spaceship captain. She tells Minmay that while she can’t create culture in the same way, she can try to protect it. Since she is leaving, Misa finally confesses to Hikaru that she loves him. She then runs away, and Hikaru tries to run after her, but Minmay blocks him. Suddenly, missiles rain down on the area that Misa ran off to. Hikaru runs after Misa, and Minmay runs after him.

Hikaru runs through a blasted out portion of the city and finds Misa on the ground. She asks him what happened, and he says that the Zentradi are going all out today. She tells him she is returning to the Macross, and he says he will scramble. Minmay runs up to him and asks him to go to a shelter with her. He says he can’t do that because he is a soldier and has to protect her and the city. He tells Minmay to get to a shelter and runs off. Misa arrives at the command center and receives a status report on the enemy. Kaifun’s ship approaches the Macross, and he orders his Gnerls to launch after firing. Kamjin’s ship fires its main cannon at the Macross and damages the lower torso, nearly destroying the command center. The ship begins to shift from the shock of the attack and fall backwards into the lake. Hikaru frantically attempts to call Misa, but he gets no response. He then goes berserk and begins attacking the Gnerls. The command center is now ruined, so Misa decides to head to the old bridge. Misa, Vanessa, Kim and Shammy run up to the old bridge and find Global and Claudia waiting for them. Global orders them to take their positions and prepare to launch. Misa asks him if the ship can still fly, and he tells her that it can, but not for long. The Macross powers up and begins to rise out of the lake. Misa contacts Hikaru, and he’s relieved she’s alive. She tells him they are about to fire the main gun, so Hikaru, Max and Milia clear out of the way. The main gun fires and disables Kamjin’s ship. The Macross‘ main gun disintegrates, and the powerless ship begins to descend. Kamjin sees that Oigul is dead, so he and Laplamiz decide to make a suicide run on the Macross. They hold hands as their ship crashes into the Macross and explodes. The ruined Macross crashes back into the lake, and a large portion of it is still intact. Hikaru lands his Valkyrie near the ruined ship and finds Misa waiting for him. Minmay comes up to him, and she says that she wants to go somewhere new and take up her singing again. She asks Misa if she could come aboard her ship when she’s found her real songs. Misa says she’d be glad and wants Minmay’s voice to echo throughout the galaxy. Minmay says goodbye to Hikaru and tells him to take care of himself. It begins to snow, and Misa wraps her arm around Hikaru.