Lisa Hayes
Age: 24
Rank: Lieutenant Commander to Captain
First Officer of the SDF-1
Captain of the SDF-2
At the beginning of the series Lisa Hayes is first seen to be the real military type. Dedicated to her duty and nothing else, she doesn't seem to know the meaning of fun or relaxing. Or as Rick Hunter well observed 'an old sourpuss'.
As the war progresses though we learn that there are reason Lisa is like this. The first reason is that she is from a military family, her father is Admiral of the Space Corps in the United Earth Government and her family had been in the military for the past one hundred years.
The second reason is her fiance Karl Riber's death on Mars Base Sara. Lisa first met Karl when she was about 16 or so, after the SDF-1 crashed, but still in a time of conflict. Karl was a soider in the navy, depsite this he was a strong pacifist and didn't want to be involoved in killing. So instead he requested for a postition at Mars Base Sara's research faclity. It was then that Lisa planned to join the Space Corps and be assigned to Mars Base Sara herself.
It doesn't happen that way, as only a year or so later Mars Base is attacked and all personnel (including Karl) are killed. After that Lisa is broken hearted and turns to duty to ease her sorrow.
She is later assigned to the SDF-1 on Macross Island, where she swiftly rises through the ranks, graduates at the top of her class and become First Officer.
During the Robotech War she must face the ghost of Karl Riber twice once when the SDF-1 lands on Mars as part of Khryon's trap and she searched and later blows up the Base, almost dying in the process. And again when Lynn Kyle, who bares a startling likeness to Karl, shows up on the SDF-1.
Before that though, she is sent on a recon mission backed up by Rick Hunter's Black Squadron. They are all captured and kept on the enemy ship, interrogated and later escape. During this time though, she and Rick get to know each other, as well as having to demonstrate a kiss for Dolza. Lisa even saves Rick's life resusating him after they fall into a reservior in Breetai's ship. Upon their successful return to the SDF-1 (which includes a promotion) Lisa realises she had strong feelings for Rick, but is unsure what to do about them. Her best friend Claudia, suggests just telling Rick, but Lisa is hestiates to do so, then Kyle shows up. It is these factors that have Lisa so distracted during Khryon's first attack on the SDF-1 while it is on Earth, which leads to her accidently shooting down Rick. Her attempts to aplogise to him about it fall flat, and she is later the barer of bad news, being the one to tell him Roy Fokker has died.
Rick and Lisa are later trapped together after both leaving the film 'Small White Dragon' and a transformation takes place. From there a friendship begins to be established, Rick even plans to ask her out, but she returns to Earth before he can. Although he does save her from a Zentreadi attack on the way.
Admiral Hayes her father this time takes her report seriously, the last time when she and Gloval went shortly after the SDF-1 landed back on Earth was a shock to her, with the concil refusing to even allow the citzens off the ship. Things get worse when her father tells her thought the concil is prepared to talk peace they will still fire the Grand Cannon at the aliens' first. Lisa is further dishearted by the news that her father will not let her return to the SDF-1.
It is not long after this that the entire Zentraedi armanda shows up to distroy the Eath and the SDF-1. 75% of the Earth is distroyed by the fire from the millions of ships, Alaska Base however is safe two miles beneath the ground. It is distroyed by the energy of the Grand Cannon, which takes out nearly a million ships. Lisa is the only survior, and her cries for help over the radio are intercepted by Rick, who's plane has crashed to Earth. Rick bravely enters the base and saves Lisa before it blows up, after that the SDF-1 lands back on Earth and reconstruction begins.
During the two years Rick and Lisa become closer, with Lisa even cleaning Rick's house for him. However during one such clean she discovers he still keeps a whole photo album full of Minmei pictures, disheartened she distances herself from Rick. Though later she gives him pictures of her, hoping he'll put them in the album.
After two years Minmei and Kyle have grown further apart and Minmei has realised just how much Rick cares for her. This is bad news for Lisa because Rick can't seem to keep away from Minmei. There seems to be a small shard of hope during the Zentraedi Factory Capture when she and Rick kiss to confuse the Zentraedi, soon after this though Minmei and Kyle are captured and Rick must save them. Lisa of course is jealous and chews Rick out about it, he later returns the favour. It is only Claudia and her story about her early relationship with Roy keeps Lisa from giving up entirely. Lisa confronts Rick, tells him how she feels and they later agree to a date. Unfortunately Minmei interferes again, calling Rick on the morning of the date asking him to meet her. He does, without calling Lisa therefore standing her up.
Lisa spends a whole day waiting, but when Rick finally shows telling her he was held up by a Zentraedi Uprising (partially true) she forgives him. However she recognises the perfume on the new scarf he is wearing as Minmei's and leaves, telling him not to call her.
On Christmas Day she goes to apologise only to find he has taken Minmei in, this time she is so upset she decides to leave the military. Only Admiral Gloval and his plans to send the SDF-2 on a mission to Tirol to sue peace with the Masters stops her.
During the very last battle she meets with Rick and Minmei and tells Rick she is leaving Earth and she loves him, soon after this Khryon attacks. Lisa must hurry to the SDF-2 leaving Rick to chose between the two women one last time.
