of Macross City including Rick to the orbit of Pluto on the edge of the solar system. During this encounter, Rick rescues and falls for a young girl named Lin Minmei and the two become close. Although he is not initially open to the idea, he signs up with the Robotech Armed Forces becoming an ace fighter pilot. During his time on the SDF-1, Rick has many dealings with Lisa Hayes and the two do not get along. Rick increasingly looks toward Minmei, who has now become a popular singer and pageant winner, as a source of inspiration and happiness. After a mission to rescue Lisa, Rick is promoted and given command of his own squadron and two subordinates (Max Sterling and Ben Dixon). While on a reconnaissance mission Rick is captured along with Lisa, and Ben by the enemy Zentraedi, and interrogated by Supreme Commander Dolza, Breetai, and Exedore. While captured, Dolza grabs Lisa and orders to tell him by what process humans become human-size. Lisa refuses to respond, and Dolza tightens his grip around her. Rick yells at him to stop squeezing her and explains that humans are born at their current size when a man and woman love each other. When Breetai asks how "this love" is expressed, Rick responds that it is often done by kissing one another. Dolza orders a demonstration, and Lisa tells Rick to kiss her. The action shocks Dolza and the other Zentraedi present. They are eventually rescued shortly afterwards, and after reaching Earth during a battle Roy Fokker is killed resulting in Rick obtaining Roy's fighter spacecraft. Shortly thereafter, his second wingman Ben Dixon is killed in the line of duty which devastates Rick even more. When his best friend Max falls in love with Miriya, and explains his plans to marry her Rick initially objects due to her being an enemy Zentraedi. Max introduces Miriya to Rick though, and after seeing her is amazed at how beautiful she is causing him to change his mind. That night while laying in bed, he thinks on how happy Max is to be married even though Miriya is an alien of a hostile race. His thoughts drift to Lisa as he tries to sort out his feelings. In the battle against the Zentraedi, Rick is devastated as he watches them fire on Earth and destroy almost all life on the planet. Rick fears