I have one thing to say about this episode, aside from the very interesting ending.
And that is, I am absolutely stunned by how much of jackass Alto was to Sheryl in this episode.
I mean
Spoiler for Macross Frontier Episode 12:
what the hell was up with Mikhael's(sp?) 'you need to think of Ranka's feelings after coming all this way' crap? What about the woman who offered you the one present you were willing to abandon everyone else in order to get it, who then collapsed from exhaustion and was held hostage with threats made on her life. Ranka hasn't gone through anything in this episode,even the all this way was nothing since they used the newer, fancier fold engine, under normal circumstances you pay attention to the sick first and foremost. Hell, I mean Sheryl so wanted to give him a sky that she tried to climb out of her sickbed to do it. And then what does Alto do, he decides to take his joyride in the skies with the OTHER GIRL. Now I'll admit that as good a character as I think Ranka is, the fact that she looks so young creeps me out for a love interest so I'm a Sheryl fan. However, even if you reversed the roles I would still be infuriated by how much of an indecisive ass they made Alto into with this one move. I mean, if someone offers you a present that is obviously designed to be used/done together with them, you don't do it with someone else, that is one of the biggest slap-in-the-face things you could ever do to a friend.