Nelly sat cross-legged on her couch, the glow of her laptop illuminating her face in the dimly lit room. The video Joe had sent her was playing—a crisp, high-definition recording of a Macross Plus Oasis Super Sonic music video. The holographic spectacle was mind-blowing, with shimmering Valkyrie fighters zooming across the stage and an AI idol singing in perfect harmony with the pulsating beats.
As the video transitioned into a simulated dogfight sequence, Nelly leaned forward, her eyes wide. The Valkyries morphed seamlessly from fighter jets to humanoid robots, their movements fluid and precise. It was so realistic that for a moment, she wondered if it was more than just a performance.
When the video ended, she paused, staring at the “Replay” button as if it held the answer to her question.
“Have they… done it?” she whispered to herself, a tinge of excitement in her voice. “Have they perfected Robotechnology?”
She grabbed her phone and began typing a message to Joe.
Nelly: “Just watched it. Insane. But… is it just CGI, or is there something real going on there? Like, real Valkyries?”
Joe’s reply came almost instantly.
Joe: “LOL, it’s just a show, Nelly. No real Valkyries yet. Why? You hoping for a Robotech revolution?”
Nelly smirked, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
Nelly: “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t sign up for the RDF if they had real Veritechs.”
Joe: “Fair. But you know we’re nowhere near that tech. Closest we’ve got are drones and exoskeletons.”
Nelly leaned back, her gaze drifting to the model Valkyrie on her bookshelf. She’d had it since she was a kid, dreaming of piloting one someday. Watching the video had reignited that spark, that hope that maybe humanity wasn’t as far off from Robotech as everyone thought.
Her thoughts wandered. If the AI in Macross Plus could sing and “think,” what was stopping scientists from creating a real Sharon Apple—or, better yet, a functioning Valkyrie? She imagined herself in the cockpit, soaring through the skies, defending Earth from alien invaders.
Her thoughts wandered to 1994, the year Macross Plus first hit theaters in Japan. She’d read about it in her deep dives into anime history. It was a time of transition, when animation studios were experimenting with blending traditional cel animation with cutting-edge CGI. Macross Plus had been revolutionary, introducing audiences to a world of AI idols, high-tech dogfights, and the emotional complexities of human-machine interaction.
Outside the world of anime, 1994 had been a pivotal year. The internet was just beginning to seep into everyday life, with Netscape Navigator launching its first browser. Sony’s PlayStation debuted in Japan, marking the start of a gaming revolution. And in the United States, the sci-fi epic Stargate hit theaters, fueling a growing fascination with the possibilities of advanced technology and interstellar travel.
It was no wonder Macross Plus had captured imaginations back then—it was a reflection of the era’s optimism and curiosity about the future.
A notification broke her reverie. Another message from Joe.
Joe: “You know what? Let’s make a bet. If they ever announce a real Valkyrie prototype, drinks are on me. Until then, enjoy the fantasy.”
Nelly laughed, shaking her head.
Nelly: “Deal. But don’t be surprised when I call you from the cockpit of one.”
She replayed the video, this time imagining herself as part of the action. Maybe Joe was right, and it was just a fantasy. But fantasies had a funny way of becoming reality, especially when someone believed in them hard enough.
And Nelly? She was ready to believe.