ai oboete imasu ka?

yay! can’t wait for epi25!
but wait… you think Alto-hime is already dead? Nooooo…!

also, I have this feeling that Lynn Minmay will appear in the END. hehehe…. XD

thanks:)

1 - Maybe one of the best chapters. Now I am convinced that the character development of Grace is inspired on the personality of Kawamori himself.

2 - Well… Alto death looks as a fact, but I have 2 reasons for believe that is alive. First the earring of fold quartz that allowed Alto to see Ranka being keeped under restrains and second that now Alto can have a good excuse for be rescued by SMS and use the VF-25 Messiah.

3 - I never espected Bilrer having the wish to meet someone. I wonder if is Ranka’s mother.

(facepalm) I cannot believe so many people on so many different websites really believe Alto is dead. Hey, you guys, I got this *fabulous* bridge in San Francisco I can sell you….

@Crusader: You did get that Mao is Sheryls grandma, didn´t you? ^^ That is what that picture floating in space was shown for.

http://that.animeblogger.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/macrossf24092.jpg

For some reason, I expected Admiral Ackbar to suddenly appear and yell “It’s a trap!”

Suffice to say, anyone who isn’t broken by this point is either blind or is in serious denial.

I’m glad Alto is dead, at least for the moment.

He really has been one of the most boring and uninteresting male leads in Macross History.

This series really should’ve had Ozma Lee: Man of Action, Man of Passion as the male lead character. Alto is more like the Macross Version of Shinji Ikari. Average piloting skills, lukewarm social skills. It’s a wonder how he survived as long as he did.

I feel bad for Sheryl. Afflicted with a terminal disease, soldiering on for the sake of humanity and all she wants is to enjoy her remaining time with Alto by her side and she’s robbed of that as well.

I wish Nene had more screentime. Ventradi women are deliciously delicious.

to the tune of Too Late Baby:
Flying in a VF-171EX just to pass the time

There’s something wrong here

There can be no denying

One of us is Vajra

And now Frontier is dying


And it’s too late Ranka

Now it’s too late

Though we really did try to make it

Too many now have died

I can hide from Brera

but I just can’t fake it

Wo no no no…


It used to be so easy flying just for you

You made a paper airplane

And I knew just what to do

Now you look so Vajra

And I feel like a fool


And it’s too late Ranka

Now it’s too late

Though we really did try to make it

Something inside has died

I can hide from Brera

but I just can’t fake love


Next Ep there’ll be a time just for me and you

But we just can’t stay together

Don’t you feel it too

Still I’m glad for what we had

And how I think I liked you


And it’s too late Ranka

Now it’s too late

Now I’m wearing Sheryl’s fold quartz

Something inside has died

I can hide from Brera

but I just can’t be his brother in law


Too late, you big baby, it’s too late

Ranka, it’s too late

Ranka will win. I’m sure.

LDC you’re in la-la land. There’s no build up for a Ranka x Alto ending. None.

“Now that’s just silly, just because he is undecided in his love means he is a pathetic worm who is scared to fight for the ones he cares for? Please. Shinji did that, we all saw it in End of Eva when Asuka was being slaughtered and all Shinji did was cry.”

They’re both ineffectual lead characters who’ve gotten by on the strength of their machines rather than their own skill.

“Also, what’s this about average skill? What about when he went head to head with Ozma and came out even,with Ozma commenting on his improvement, he is now a squad leader in the NUNS with several underlings who praise his piloting skills. Its only his rival is a cyborg with a superior machine.”

Just because he’s improved, doesn’t mean he’s better than average. It means he’s no longer a novice or an amateur pilot like he was when he joined SMS. That’s what Ozma is complimenting him on. The fact that he’s a ’squad leader’ is because 80% of the SMS fled with Ozma, leaving a massive shortage in seasoned and experienced pilots. Have you ever seen Starship Troopers? Know why Rico gets promoted so many times? Because every one of his superiors winds up dying.

“Alto, he is ready to dive into enemy territory for the people he cares for. He is far from a Shinji. I just hate people who randomly assign characters to be like Shinji when things are not even remotely similar.”

He’s the Shinji of Macross. He’s an emotional cripple who can’t do anything on his own. Alto reacts to his environment instead of making choices for himself so much so that even Ozma pointed out that Ranka had the courage to make a decision while Alto wallows in self-doubt.

“Besides, we’ve already had an Ozma-like character for a lead in Macross 7 and Macross Plus, or did you miss that?”

No I haven’t seen Macross 7. I don’t really care for outdated anime.

“Alto reacts to his environment instead of making choices for himself so much so that even Ozma pointed out that Ranka had the courage to make a decision while Alto wallows in self-doubt.”

Did you not watch the last few episodes, yes it was mentioned Alto only lived in the flow of events. But with this episode Alto had full resolve to do what he must to defend his home and the one he loves. Thats hardly Shinji like at all. And whats this wallowing in self doubt about? If anything that’s what Sheryl and Ranka have been doing. Ranka being used by Grace because she can’t get over the fact she killed everyone or Sheryl’s insecurities about where Alto’s love lies. Compared to them, Alto has a much firmer resolve.

“I don’t really care for outdated anime.”

Oh wow. Now you’re just trolling. Evangelion aired just a year after Macross 7. That’s hardly “outdated” and Macross Plus is of the same age.

“Did you not watch the last few episodes, yes it was mentioned Alto only lived in the flow of events. But with this episode Alto had full resolve to do what he must to defend his home and the one he loves. Thats hardly Shinji like at all.”

No, he’s pretty much just doing what he’s been told to do by President Leon who can be thought of as a surrogate Gendo. In the end, Alto is just following orders. That’s pretty Shinji-like, imo. Alto doesn’t fight because he chooses to, it’s because he has to. If he doesn’t fight, he and the rest of the frontier fleet will be destroyed by the Vajra. The only ‘real’ decision Alto has made was to kill Ranka if she was being used by the Vajra, which he recanted on as soon as Sheryl influenced him to save her instead.

Sounds pretty wishy-washy to me.

“And whats this wallowing in self doubt about? If anything that’s what Sheryl and Ranka have been doing.”

When push came to shove Sheryl took the stage, forsaking her own feelings for the betterment of the Fleet and the people. Sheryl has constantly put the safety of the fleet above her own interests. She may be insecure but to say that she ‘wallows in self-doubt’ is just pure fallacy.

“Ranka being used by Grace because she can’t get over the fact she killed everyone or Sheryl’s insecurities about where Alto’s love lies.”

loll what? When did Ranka ‘kill’ anyone? And when did she express remorse of any of the ‘deaths’ she’s caused? Ranka is just tired of being used as a weapon (eventhough the dumb broad CHOSE to be used as a weapon because she wanted to be useful to the fleet and to Alto).

“Compared to them, Alto has a much firmer resolve.”

The only time Alto has shown resolve is when another character (mostly Sheryl) has slapped some sense into him. Alto has no motivation of his own. He is a character entirely influenced by his surroundings. If you watch the entire series why did he join the SMS in the first place? Because of Ranka. Why did he become a pilot? Because of his mother. Why did he choose to stay behind with the Macross Fronter fleet? Because of Sheryl. Alto has done nothing for himself the entire series. He is essentially a Momma’s boy. Just, like, Shinji Ikari.

While they may not be 100% similar, they do share SOME similarities which is why I said he’s the *Macross Version* of Shinji Ikari.

“Oh wow. Now you’re just trolling. Evangelion aired just a year after Macross 7. That’s hardly “outdated” and Macross Plus is of the same age.”

Uhhh.. Macross 7 finished airing in 1995. Evangelion finished airing in 1996. You have your dates mixed up. Either way, that’s over a decade ago. IDK about you but that’s pretty outdated by today’s standards. kthx for playing.

I don’t even care how this show ends. I just want tons of delicious Grace and/or Nene/Klan yuri doujins.

@Haesslich,

Remember a few episodes back when Sheryl’s CDs were discounted by 35-50%? Payback’s a bitch. You can’t GIVE away Ranka CDs now. Nobody wants them and the Vajra can’t afford the Ipods to play them.

Little green-haired mini-Joker got owned.

@rollchan
No it will be Basara-sama he’s the only one who hasn’t been referenced as overtly yet.

@Cherubium
No Alto-hime will live because Klan onee-chan did not give hime permission to die.

@mareo
I hope that instead of fold quartz miracle that instead it will be something more mundane.

@Sagittarius
Indeed and Grace did not even have to use implants to get Ranka to dance to her tune.

@Magnus
Indeed the blood of a hero flows through Sheryl, but she has not avenged herself on the tormentor of her family yet…

@Kilroy0097
Perhaps, but Ranka is aware of the fact that she is helping the bugs who killed off the 117th Fleet and nearly did the same to Frontier. Not all that excusable in any case. Ranka did not put up any resistance at all, so it seems that she gave up before she even saw Grace.

@d3v
The blood of meltrans flows strongly in Alto-hime, I like Alto-hime more this way when hime is taking on the role of Sheryl’s lover, so yuri, well almost…

@LukerJay
I would not be surprised if Alto-hime had pierced ears for his kabuki roles, judging how Alto-hime often played the lead it’s not a stretch that they went all out costume wise, with earrings and all.

@Halcyon
I share the sentiment that right now it is Ranka who is closer to Shinji, than Alto-hime, I repect a man who fights no matter his reasons, every one in SMS had their reasons for fighting, at least Alto-hiime is not rejecting his duty and cowering in fear, or otherwise misbehaving before the enemy. Ozma got bad ass after all of his buddies jot juiced by the bugs, and ALto-hime did give Ozma a good run in his vastly inferior VF-171EX.

There are no super pilots, only veterans, heck 11 years ago Ozma did not stay and fight, he fled the battle and saved his own hide while the rest of the fleet was torn to pieces. At least Alto-hime’s resolve to fight until he can fight no more is apparent rather than Ozma the younger wet his flight suit when the cap ships started sinking. As a soldier you are expected to follow your orders and since a lot of people did not know about Leon since no one outside of Ozma’s inner circle knows the truth with the rest deciding to follow Wilder to the gates of hell. Not all the best pilots fled with SMS, Klan, stayed and Machida and Diamond Force stayed to protect Frontier along with the other 30% of SMS.

Being a Shinji means giving up as the world burns all around you, it means to cower when you still have the power to fight back. Alto-hime is very much in the vein of Hikaru only that when it comes to love Alto-hime is thick, as opposed to Hikaru who had a never ending stream of complaints about being a conscript. being average is not a bad thing, an average pilot is better than an incompetent one. Hell most pilots of the premier Air Forces are pretty average with only a few aces ever being made. For every Chuck Yeager there are a hundred johnny next doors who’s names will not go down in history but whose contributions are collectively more important than a single ace. One of the reasons why the Allies had better pilots later in the war than Germany was because their aces were sent back to training a bunch of average blokes rather than screw the average blokes and sent the aces off on sorties until they got killed as was the case with the Luftwaffe.

There is nothing wrong with being average, there is something wrong with being below average. Besides if there was no base line then Ozma would not be as cool as he is if every one on Frontier was an ace.

Lastly old shit is still cool By Kadun I still love Escaflowne and Crest of the Stars.

@Kraker2k
Indeed, Alto-hime is not a coward who flees with a full mag and a working mecha.

@vjean
It’s just too late…
@Hoshi
Let’s hope net time it will be different.

@LDC
Considering the amount of time needed to redeem Ranka, I have to go with Battle Frontier vs. Battle galaxy instead, Ranka must lose, my inner mecha fan demands it.

@skoll
Indeed My Alto-hime will defend his fatherland until death, which is much more than can be said of Shinji who put himself before the world.

@JustinStrife
Well there was some build up but I think that Ai-kun ate it…
@Kilroy0097
Queen Grace will take Alto-hime for herself, since being the intergalactic despot does have its share of perks…

@Kabitzin
Luca did man up though in the end and actually killed something for once.

I am sure grace is enjoying her delicious revenge on Ranshe and Mao, Ranshe’s kids are her puppets while Mao’s grand daughter is slowly dying and will now try and avenge her Alto-hime.

@Andrew
Considering how Ranka has been so far I don’t think Alto-hime dying would have mch of an affect Ranka did after all look uninterested in hime’s destruction, though she might have been a bit malicious in trolling the same scene that we saw in the first OP.

@jack
Perhaps Ranka doesn’t know, but it could also be that Ranka no longer cares or can no longer show affection to other people other than Brera.

@Haesslich
Glad you were right, and how!

Sad to say that I agree with you that Luca has grown more of a spine than Ranka, at least the Prince of LAI was actively trying to impress Nanase and get in her pants, instead of waiting for Nanase to come to him. At least Luca has done everything possible to save the fleet, building fold bombs, making super jump tech, MDE warheads, and the like. Luca is making a positive scientific contribution to the war effort even if his attempts to engage the enemy have thus far failed. Sad to see that grace did not even need to tamper with Ranka physically. Now Grace’s revenge will be complete if she steals Alto-hime from Sheryl and lords it over Ranka.

Ozma has much to answer for first he let his old fleet get obliterated, and now he has sown the seeds of another fleet’s destruction. Way to go Ozma, no matter how much of a man he is right now it seems that his manly life story is one of catastrophe and fleet killing.

You forgot the Klan onee-chan was crying out fore her imouto-hime. I hope that hime will survive to fight back to back with Klan onee-chan, it be fabulous if Klan uses her damaged Queadluun to take hime back to hime’s VF-25, I doubt hime would take kindly to being carried by Ozma or even Luca. Nene however is acceptable, and indeed much desired if Klan onee-chan is otherwise occupied.

Ranka just didn’t give a shit she also malevolently spread out her arms to symbolically scatter hime to the ends of the universe before the whole fleet and Sheryl.

As for Nanase waking up in time to regret overthrowing Sheryl, maybe she will poke out her other eye to avoid seeing Ranka slaughter Frontier. Grace probably had this as part of her plan for great revenge on Ranshe.

Ranka is 2059’s version of Hitler, except she is exterminating humanity, one fleet at a time. I hate her sooo much, I hate her more than the Protodeviln Gavil and his phrase “ah the beauty of (fill in the blank)”.

As much as I want Alto to die so by default everyone can kill Ranka, I doubt he died. His VF-171 flew around for too long before it exploded. He probably is on that wrecked ARMD getting his hands on another valkyrie

I wasnt even paying attention and tought it was a VF-27 but after paying close attention again and noticing the rail guns on the shoulders I almost got a heart attack. There is a Battle Galaxy and fuuuck I am scared for Battle Frontier. This is going to be one epic battle

I need Macross Frontier OST2 asap!! Crusader I dont know how I am going be able to adjust living without looking foward to a frontier episode and a review from you.

Oh my… I dont think that Alto is going to get a fold quartz miracle, I never said that, if my words imply that I apology. Is more like the earring thing is like the VF-25. Their are the reasons, not the means why I think Alto cant die yet. The earing allow some kind of link with Ranka so there is a chance of Alto making somehow a contact with Ranka. If Alto die now, I think that is going to be a pretty bad ending for the character. Fans are asking for a good final showdown betwen Alto and Brera. Dye when killig Ranka or acoplish the promise to come back to Sheril. But the worst is die without telling who he love. Die with these unfinished business is not very satisfactory. Is possible that he is dead, but I bet my money that he is not, just because the scene have the same ambiguous feeling of the “censored kiss” in the chapter 22. It looks like, but… With Kawamori is better not jump to conclusion until we dont see a military funeral. Just like is better not say that the triangle is over until Alto make a clear declaration to one of the girls.

it makes me wonder what exactly the trigger was to make Ranka’s brain go all squashy. was it being grabbed by Ai-Kun, or finding out that Brera was really her brother, or being overwhelmed by the sheer awesomeness of Cylon Grace?

but either way, a very satisfying ending would be to have Sheryl give Ranka one more good slap. after the huge capital ship duel of course

@LurkeJay
At this point it has to be a punch in the gut.

@Haesslich
I think the the Weimar republic deserves more credit for at least keeping things running during those hard years, a lesser democracy would have been rocked by coup after coup, and it was not a putsch or a military coup that brought down the republic. They were not clowns, and if they were Hitler would not have had to assassinate men like Schleicher. To be fair the Wiemar Republic suffered almost every problem imaginable since its inception, but nevertheless it was able to prevent any one group for dominating all of Germany, even Adolf had to play fair and weasel his way into Hindenburg’s good graces. It was not ineptitude that kept things from getting done fast, but rather the fractious nature of a populace that was not accustomed to democracy, given how both the radical left and right were armed and had no love for democracy it is a miracle that they survived as long as they did. While Hindenburg had Stresemann things did at least go well in terms of settling the old grievances of the Treaty of Versailles without resorting to violence, things were getting better from 1923-1929. The economy was showing signs of recovery, the last Allied troops had left, and Germany was rehabilitated as a state that could more evenly negotiate with former Allied powers.

National pride is one thing but let’s not forget the weakness of their patriotism is the populace spent more time killing each other than the French across the border. Germany would have lost the war and the Treaty of Versailles did little to help but there was a period of recovery that ended with 1929 Crash. The myth of betrayal was still very much alive and used by both right and left for political gain. Under a stronger Hindenburg things were kept at least orderly but since there was no one in any position to replace him once senility set in rats like Papen and Adolf were able to deceive the old man. The National Socialists were already losing a significant amount of popular support after 1932 (they suffered a loss of 5% of the vote), Papen and the conservatives brought them in under the mistaken assumption that the NDSAP could be controlled and its SA element dissolved. It was Papen who did things out of expediency that let the Corporal get into power, even in his senility Hindenburg refused to appoint him chancellor until Papen and his son hounded him until he did. There was never a shortage of talent, but there was a huge shortfall in overall vision that led to it’s eventual collapse under legal means.

There was never any overwhelming support for the NDSAP in 1932 and Papen had to beg Hindenburg to make Adolf Chancellor after the crusty old veteran took an immediate disliking to that arrogant corporal from Austria. At their height the NDSAP only had 37% of the vote, and had Papen not gotten his way it is possible that the NDSAP would have faded into obscurity given how Hindenburg and the Reichswehr were contemptuous of those SA Rowdies and the Austrian Corporal. Papen opened the door for Adolf after Hindenburg had slammed the door in his face. That is something we tend to forget. Hindenburg was the essentially the Weimar Republic from 1925 to 1934, at least during that time no fringe group ever got their agendas through and from 1933 to 1934 even Adolf did not have the balls to try anything against the old man because even in his senility Hindenburg never did like him. Had Hindenburg wanted to he could have sacked Adolf and crushed the NDSAP as the Reichswehr was loyal to Hindenburg and not the corporal. thus Adolf had the good sense to keep Papen alive to cover his ass in the event the old man decided to get sore and punch Adolf through a podium.

Poverty and destitution did not unify the Germans behind the NDSAP in 1932, but after 1934 no one was left who could challenge them, other than the military that refused to dirty its hands in political matters. The Weimar Republic survived numerous putsches and attempted communist revolutions during a long period of instability, that is at least a testament to some strength that it did possess if only because it’s death was through legal channels and not through a blood soaked conflict that marks the demise of most other failed democracies.

Hmm…I am still hoping that Grace for some reason does pit Battle Galaxy against Battle Frontier, then at least we can see what General Perry is made of after he shoots Leon in the face. I am still hoping for Grace to beat the crap out of Ozma in a VF-27, she could still do it by remote control…

Ranka is indeed an idiot, I never believed that she was responsible for the death of Michael since at that point nobody besides Grace was aware that her emo-singing could end up in a massacre. However, after that she has been a disappointment, she fulfils the Murphy law, every taken decision has been the wrong decision. Many say that it is an improvement that she now is capable to take her own decision and praise the fact that she became a little bit more proactive. Well I agree, it is to be praised, however many forget that such commendable behaviour comes also with more responsibility, it is simple, if you take a decision then you are responsible for the outcome. That, at least, is my understanding.

From my point of view, she eloped with Brera because at that point the story he was the only one willing to follow her like a puppy, she never requested the opinion of other more experienced people not even Brera’s. Big mistake, first strike.

After that, she decided to merrily take a galactic walk with Ai-kun… in the middle of a Battle, what are you thinking? Oh Ranka-chan, second strike.

Finally, she DECIDED to defend the Vajra planet without a thought, probably she is seeing only ill-natured Kaduns, but please, she should know that those malignant Kaduns are piloted by men. For somebody who seeks galactic peace, it should be an epic failed. Ranka-chan you are out.

I think it is obvious for most of us, that Ranka is going to wake up and somehow to help in the Battle. However, in all honestly, I do not know if she will remain sane after knowing that she directly or indirectly has helped to kill many Vajra and human lives. Probably, I wouldn’t. From my perspective, Ranka’s good end would be to remain sane and/or to forget, this independently of the resolution of the triangle.

At this point, I would like to stress that I’m a Sheryl fan, thought I tried to remain neutral up to this point. To be honest I hate this so-called shipping-war, it can be entertaining but must of the time is only annoying. Anyway, before I continue I wanted to make you know.

For the triangle, captain obvious says that the coin is still in the air, SK and the writers have been very clever with the dialogues and scenes. I think that it is still 50/50, only because it is not in our hands the resolution of the triangle. I expect that Sheryl ends with Alto together, but if this is not the case then she should die singing her hearth out. Alternatively, since she is a Nome she can call a horde of Birdmen and give us a godly Tominos’ end, I wouldn’t mind.

For Grace, if there is some divine justice, neither Alto nor Ozma should deliver the finishing blow. Sheryl deserves that honour, Grace pretty much ruined her life. At his point, I have to agree with some Ranka-fans. Sheryl is not the protagonist of this show and has been up to now irrelevant for the general development of the events of Macross. However, it is difficult for me to believe that she won’t, at least in the last episode. This belief is based on the almost confirmed fact that she is a Nome. If you watched M0, you should remember that the Nome sisters were genetically superior and full of well… anime-magic. On the other hand, maybe the Nome are damned with a Kadun for breaking the blood rule. I only long for a more active role for Sheryl in the events of MF. With respect of the first point (Ranka being the protagonist), I would like also to note, that in Tim Burton’s Batman, the protagonist is, well, Batman, thought, the people remember the Joker :p.

I apologize if the structure of the text and/or the text is too confusing. Unfortunately, I have not enough time to read-proof the text and sorry for the rant.
Disclaimer: I do not believe that my opinion is absolute, indeed, what I express here is only my personal opinion based on my personal interpretation of the events in Macross.

Crusader:

actually, amend that ending to this:
Sheryl giving stoner-Ranka a black eye, then beating an EMP-crippled Grace with her guitar…

Just rewatched ep. 24 and I just realized that after he gets lipped on the wing and he flies around the dead Guantanamo, Alto is never shown in cockpit again until he’s shot down. So is this a clue that Alto somehow got away and is possibly piloting the VF-171EX by remote?

Ranka will probably have a happy ending as having it otherwise is just plain character murder, which I think isn’t good for the story.
She will likely redeem herself in a sensible manner, or to be kinder to her, just lose her memory.

At the end of everything she is going to have more than just guilt to worry about. That or everyone forgives her for helping the Vajra kill off frontier troops. Her character may not ultimately be even seen in a negative light. That’s anime for you.

“For the triangle, captain obvious says that the coin is still in the air, SK and the writers have been very clever with the dialogues and scenes. I think that it is still 50/50, only because it is not in our hands the resolution of the triangle. I expect that Sheryl ends with Alto together, but if this is not the case then she should die singing her hearth out. Alternatively, since she is a Nome she can call a horde of Birdmen and give us a godly Tominos’ end, I wouldn’t mind.”

@pato
I think the same way…
Ranka singing Do you remember love…mmm…the Lynn Minmei version was better…coz of the epic sounds…

Look the lyrics of this song, the words are beautiful, i dont think, in the situation the triangle is, is suited for Ranka or Sheryl…but the feeling is closer to Sheryl…

@Halcyon
Gender and profession are irrelevant if you can’t do the job you signed up for then you aren’t worth your rations, hell by merely existing such a person is just stealing resources that could be put to better use by someone else who is willing to do the same job.

Ozma was shooting to kill, it’s not like Ozma was firing off those missiles at Luca for shits and giggles, hell if Alto-hime had not intervened Luca would be space dust. This is not super robot series man, Ozma was shooting to kill because this was a battle. If Ozma is only giving 60% he has no right to fight, hell I would never fight with such a man. Kind-hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat the enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds, it is a fallacy that must be exposed: war is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst.

Good for Ozma if saving the future fleet killer is his form of paltry atonement for running away and leaving the hundreds of thousands of others to die. In a way since Ozma rescued the little fifth column and spoiled her silly, he does bear a lot of blame for what has happened. Ozma was not only a coward,, but and inept parent as well.

The pirates of Quarter hardly make up 80% of Frontier’s fighting strength, hell they are merely one ship in a vast armada, don’t be so sure of your vaunted 80% heck only 70% of SMS went with Wilder, and NUNS still boasts greater power because they are the hammer of the fleet. SMS was a scalpel which would not be suited for taking on a pitched battle on its own. Leon was going to integrate SMS with the rest of NUNS, NUNS remained loyal there was not a vast opening up of positions Leon was going to break them up and send them off to various units within NUNS. I don’t think you understand how huge NUNS is and how small SMS really in in comparison SMS only has one cap ship while NUNS boasts a huge number of fighters and capital ships. To say that Alto-hime got his new job because there was a shortage of people is a lie.

This is Macross where the heroes are average, Isamu was not kicking Guld’s ass, Hikaru was not the best pilot on SDF Macross, Shin was getting beaten by Nora, and Alto-hime is not better than Brera or Ozma. Since you will never revisit the older series I don’t think you fully appreciate how in Macross the male lead is never Mr. Badass Ace. If you wanted a super robot series or a Gundam series you have looked int eh wrong place Macross has never had the Ace of Aces be t