2.1: MAIN CHARACTERS IN ROBOTECH
2.2: ROBOTECH TV EPISODE GUIDE
2.3: THE ROBOTECH TIMELINE
2.4: HOW TO SEE THE SERIES
2.4.1: Is Robotech Still on TV?
2.4.2: Where can I get Robotech on Videotape?
2.4.3: Where can I get Robotech on Laserdisc?
2.5: ROBOTECH TV SERIES QUESTIONS
2.5.1: Why are there continuity problems between the three segments?
2.5.2: What is Protoculture?
2.5.3: Where was the SDF-2 in Episode 36?
2.1: MAIN CHARACTERS IN ROBOTECH
RICK HUNTER
Japanese Name: Hikaru Ichijo American Voice Actor: Tony Oliver
One of the key characters in the Robotech saga, Rick Hunter starts
out in the series as an arrogant young civilian stunt pilot and
becomes an experienced, tempered veteran by the end of the Macross
saga. A skilled pilot, Rick becomes leader of Skull Squadron after Roy
Fokker dies and is promoted to Admiral at the end of the first
Robotech war. Rick leads the Expeditionary Force to Tirol on a mission
of peace, but instead becomes involved in a war against the Invid.
After the Invid invade Earth, Hunter orders the Expeditionary Force
fleet to Earth (including a young pilot named Scott Bernard) in order
to recapture humanity's home. Rick Hunter disappears along with the
rest of the SDF-3 in the final episodes of the series.
LYNN MINMEI
Japanese Name: Lynn Minmay American Voice Actress: Reba West
A beautiful but spoiled young girl who becomes Rick's primary love
interest early on in the Robotech series. Minmei wins the Miss Macross
beauty competition on the SDF-1 and quickly becomes a star, leaving
Rick to pursue her career. After her career collapses, however, she
comes back to Rick for emotional support. Lynn Minmei hates war and is
a strong advocate of peace with the Zentraedi.
LISA HAYES
Japanese Name: Misa Hayase American Voice Actress: Aline Leslie
A career military woman, first officer of the SDF-1, and Rick
Hunter's commanding officer. Lisa Hayes and Rick Hunter fight each
other like cats and dogs in the early episodes of the series, but come
to respect each other and eventually fall in love. Lisa is given
command of the SDF-2, and then the SDF-3 after the SDF-2 is destroyed
in the final battle of the first Robotech war. Rick and Lisa marry
each other on the night before the SDF-3 leaves for Tirol.
ROY FOKKER
Japanese Name: Roy Focker American Voice Actor: Don Warner
Rick's mentor and "big brother", Roy Fokker is largely responsible
for getting Rick into the military in the first place. Roy is a
veteran pilot from the global civil war and was one of the first test
pilots for the Veritech fighter. Roy leads the famous "Skull Squadron"
of the SDF-1 until he is killed in combat by the ace Zentraedi pilot
Miriya. His death is a tremendous shock for Rick Hunter, who relies
heavily on the veteran pilot for advice.
CLAUDIA GRANT
Japanese Name: Claudia LaSalle American Voice Actress: Brittany Harlow
Chief Communications Officer of the SDF-1, Claudia Grant always
provides a steady presence on the bridge during battle. Claudia was
Roy Fokker's lover and is badly shaken by his death. Claudia is also
Lisa's best friend, and helps her to sort out her confusing feelings
for Rick Hunter. Claudia sacrifices herself in the final battle with
Khyron to save Lisa's life.
CAPTAIN HENRY J. GLOVAL
Japanese Name: Bruno J. Grobal American Voice Actor: Guy Garrett
An experienced commander and veteran of the global civil war,
Captain Gloval is assigned command of the SDF-1. It is largely due to
Gloval's tenacity and experience that the SDF-1 is able to make it
back to Earth after folding to Pluto. After the destruction of the
Earth and defeat of the Zentraedi armada, Gloval becomes supreme
commander of the RDF, and begins construction of the SDF-2 to try and
prevent another war by making peace with the Robotech Masters.
However, Capt. Gloval is killed and the SDF-2 destroyed during
Khyron's attack on New Macross.
MAXIMILLIAN (MAX) STERLING
Japanese Name: Maximilian Jiinas American Voice Actor: Jimmy Flinders
At first Max is an insecure recruit assigned to Lieutenant Rick
Hunter during the SDF-1's voyage to Earth. However, Max's phenomenal
piloting abilities quickly distinguish him as THE best pilot aboard
the SDF-1. This causes him to earn the hatred/respect of Miriya, ace
pilot of the Zentraedi. Max defeats Miriya in combat and eventually
marries her. Max becomes one of Rick's closest friends after Roy
Fokker's death, and becomes the leader of "Skull Squadron" after Rick
is promoted to Admiral.
BEN DIXON
Japanese Name: Hayao Kakizake American Voice Actor: ?????
Another young recruit assigned to Rick Hunter during the SDF-1's
voyage, Ben has tremendous courage, determination, and loyalty but
only average skill as a fighter pilot. Ben is killed in the line of
duty while defending the SDF-1 from Khyron's attacks.
LYNN KYLE
Japanese Name: Lynn Kaifun American Voice Actor: Eddie Frierson
Lynn Minmei's cousin. Lynn Kyle comes onboard the SDF-1 after it
returns to Earth to watch over Minmei and to be reunited with his
parents (who Minmei was living with on the SDF-1). A talented actor
and skilled martial artist, Lynn Kyle is also a strong believer in
peace with the Zentraedi at ANY cost. Kyle becomes Minmei's manager,
but the two break up when Kyle becomes discouraged and starts drinking
after the destruction of the Earth.
KIM YOUNG
Japanese Name: Kim Kaviroff American Voice Actress: Wendee Swan
Claudia Grant's communication assistant and one of the "bridge
bunnies," a trio of bridge officers who are inseparable both on duty
and off. Kim is killed during the final battle with Khyron.
SAMMIE PORTER
Japanese Name: Shammie American Voice Actress: Deena Morris
Lisa Hayes' assistant and the youngest member of the bridge crew.
Also a member of the "bridge bunnies". Sammie begins to show promise
as a talented officer near the end of the series, but is killed in the
final attack by Khyron's forces.
VANESSA LEEDS
Japanese Name: Vanessa American Voice Actress: Sandra Snow
Chief Computer Operator on the SDF-1 bridge, and the third member
of the "bridge bunnies" trio. Vanessa is also killed by Khyron during
the final assault on the SDF-1.
BREETAI
Japanese Name: Britai Kridanik American Voice Actor: Jonathen
Alexander
Commander of the first Zentraedi fleet that locates the SDF-1 on
Earth, Breetai is a skilled and merciless opponent who leads attack
after attack on the battle fortress. However, Breetai comes to respect
and even admire Earth's culture and eventually defends the SDF-1
during the battle against Dolza's forces. Breetai becomes a strong
supporter of Admiral Gloval, Rick Hunter, and Lisa Hayes.
EXEDORE
Japanese Name: Exedore Formo American Voice Actor: Leonard Pike
Breetai's assistant. A fairly brilliant analyst and scientist,
Exedore is one of the first to realize the potential that humans
possess. Exedore is absolutely loyal to Breetai, and eventually
becomes a great supporter of Admiral Gloval, Rick Hunter, and Lisa
Hayes.
KHYRON
Japanese Name: Kamjin Kravshera American Voice Actor: Greg Snow
Nicknamed "the Backstabber", Khyron is one of the best generals
that the Zentraedi fleet has to offer. He is also totally ruthless,
often sacrificing his own men if it will earn him a quicker victory.
Khyron becomes obsessed with destroying the SDF-1 and constantly
launches attacks despite his superior's orders to the contrary. Khyron
is eventually killed in a kamikaze attack run on the SDF-1 and SDF-2.
MIRIYA
Japanese Name: Miria Fariina American Voice Actress: Penny Sweet
A beautiful ace Zentraedi pilot and member of the Quadronos, an
elite band of all-female Zentraedi warriors. Miriya is undefeated in
combat until she meets Max Sterling. Miriya is so intrigued and
infuriated by an opponent that she cannot defeat that she elects to be
micronized and enter the SDF-1 secretly to kill Max. However, after
being defeated by Max, Miriya falls in love with him and marries him.
Max and Miriya have a child named Dana Sterling, who becomes a key
character in the second Robotech saga.
DOLZA
Japanese Name: Bodolza American Voice Actor: ?????
Supreme Commander of all Zentraedi. Dolza wants to recapture the
SDF-1 because he believes it holds a secret that will make the
Zentraedi the most powerful race in the galaxy. However, he is unable
to comprehend human emotions and orders the Earth destroyed rather
than risk the contamination of his fleet. Dolza is killed by the
SDF-1's counterattack after the Earth is destroyed.
AZONIA
Japanese Name: Lap Lamiz American Voice Actress: ?????
Commander of the Quadronos and Miriya's superior officer. At first
Azonia is extremely loyal to Breetai, but defects to Khyron's side
after Dolza is killed. Azonia is killed along with Khyron during their
attack on the SDF-1 and SDF-2.
BRON, RICO, KONDA
Japanese Names: Walera, Rori, Konda
American Voice Actor: ?????, Axel Roberts, ?????
Three Zentraedi spies sent to infiltrate the SDF-1 and learn all
they can about human culture. However, they become contaminated by
that culture and spread the contamination to Breetai's ships after
they return. They become strong supporters of the RDF and good friends
of Max and Miriya Sterling during the rebuilding period after Dolza's
attack.
DANA STERLING
Japanese Name: Jeanne Francaix American Voice Actress: ?????
The daughter of Max and Miriya Sterling and the first child to
result from a union of two races. Dana is among the first to graduate
from the new Robotech Military Academy and is very eager to prove
herself in combat. Dana has a wild streak that makes her a good leader
but a poor follower. Fortunately she is quickly put in charge of the
15th ATAC squadron where she can put her talents to good use. By the
end of the second Robotech war Dana has lost her innocence and some of
her energetic personality has been replaced with a with pessimism
about the future and the coming of the Invid.
NOVA SATORI
Japanese Name: Lana Isavia American Voice Actress: Penny Sweet
One of the youngest and highest ranking members of the Global
Military Police, Nova is a career military officer with a very
disciplined spit-and-polish attitude towards the military. This puts
her at odds with Dana and her squad, who are much more lax and often
bend rules and regulations. Nova and Dana become great rivals, and
tension becomes even greater when Zor Prime is captured and becomes
part of the ATAC.
SEAN PHILLIPS
Japanese Name: Charles de Touard American Voice Actor: ?????
Formerly a first lieutenant in charge of the 15th ATAC, Sean
Phillips is demoted and replaced by Dana after being caught with the
daughter of a high- ranking Southern Cross official. A professional
womanizer, Sean eventually falls in love (for real) with Marie
Crystal. The problem is that Marie has a hard time believing that Sean
is sincere in his feelings.
BOWIE GRANT
Japanese Name: Bowie Emerson American Voice Actor: Larry Abraham
In the original scripts for Robotech, Bowie Grant was the younger
brother of Claudia Grant, but was later changed to be the nephew of
Claudia for the Sentinels story line. Bowie is actually a sensitive
and talented musician and is not really suited to the military or
combat. The only reason he stays in the military is his loyalty to
Dana Sterling, who has been his best friend since childhood. During an
invasion of the Robotech Masters' fortress Bowie meets and falls in
love with Musica, an alien musician.
MARIE CRYSTAL
Japanese Name: Marie Angel American Voice Actress: Shirley Roberts
An independent, proud, and skilled pilot for the TASC space forces
of the Southern Cross. Like Nova Satori, Marie is a strong believer in
discipline which puts her at odds with Dana and crew. Marie's
discipline falters slightly, however, when she falls in love with Sean
Phillips.
ANGELO (ANGIE) DANTE
Japanese Name: Andrzej Slawski American Voice Actor: Drew Thomas
Second in command of the 15th ATAC, Angie is a very no-nonsense
down-to-earth kind of guy. At first he has trouble respecting Dana as
his commanding officer, but grows to respect the young lady as she
leads the 15th to victory time and time again.
LOUIE NICHOLS
Japanese Name: Louis Ducasse American Voice Actor: ?????
Half punk, half nerd, Louie is the young genius of the 15th ATAC.
When not involved in combat, Louie often tinkers around with machinery
and mecha, constantly trying to improve them. One of his most clever
inventions is the "pupil pistol," an eye-controlled aiming system that
was designed to improve Louie's score at a video game. However, Louie
gets very upset when the military starts to use his invention to
improve the targeting systems of Earth mecha.
ROLF EMERSON
Japanese Name: Rolf Emerson American Voice Actor: Jeffrey Platt
A seasoned veteran and skilled officer, Rolf Emerson is one of the
finest generals in the Southern Cross military forces. However, his
sense of honor and duty often put him at odds with the more corrupt
leaders in the Southern Cross, who usually assign Emerson to dangerous
missions in the hopes of getting rid of him. Rolf was named chief
guardian of Dana Sterling and Bowie Grant after their parents left on
the SDF-3, and the trio has become quite close.
ANATOLE LEONARD
Japanese Name: Claude Leon American Voice Actor: ?????
Supreme Commander of Earth's military forces, Anatole Leonard is
the opposite of Rolf Emerson in almost every way. While Lenoard is a
skilled officer and tactical genius, he is also a bigot and very
corrupt. He is totally unwilling to negotiate with the Masters,
andwants to kill every member of the enemy forces rather than
compromise. Leonard's blind hatred of the Masters and anyone who
opposes him (like Rolf Emerson) is a primary cause of the destruction
of the Southern Cross during the final battles of the second Robotech
war.
THE ROBOTECH MASTERS
Japanese Name: The Zor American Voice Actor: Alex Gregory
The immortal lords of Robotechnology who corrupted Zor's original
discoveries into terrible weapons of war. The Robotech Masters were
once the leaders of a vast intergalactic empire. However, the
destruction of the Zentraedi and constant attacks from the Invid have
greatly weakened the Masters' forces to the point where they can no
longer maintain their empire. In order to survive, the Masters MUST
retrieve the Protoculture Matrix from the wreck of the SDF-1 on Earth,
even if they have to kill all of humanity to do it.
ZOR PRIME
Japanese Name: Seifrietti Weisse American Voice Actor: ?????
Zor Prime is a clone of the original Zor, the "father" of
Protoculture. The Robotech Masters use Zor Prime first as a soldier
and then as a spy in an effort to find a way to defeat the Earth
forces. However, Zor's advanced intellect allow him to eventually
overcome the Masters' programming and remember who and what he is. Zor
Prime dedicates himself to destroying the Masters and preventing the
Invid from destroying Earth. Although he succeeds in the first task,
he fails to destroy the flower of life, instead scattering the seeds
all over Earth and guaranteeing the arrival of the Invid. Zor Prime
sacrifices his own life in the wasted effort to destroy the flower at
the end of the second series.
MUSICA
Japanese Name: Musika American Voice Actress: Chelsea Victoria
One of the Masters' clones and a member of a trio of musicians,
Musica is charged with playing music that keeps the other clones of
the Masters passive and obedient. Musica meets Bowie Grant during a
Southern Cross invasion of the Masters' fortress, and the two
instantly fall in love. Bowie opens Musica's mind to new
possibilities, and as a result Musica rebels against the Masters'
control.
SCOTT BERNARD
Japanese Name: Steik Bernard American Voice Actor: Greg Snow
Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) Pilot and sole survivor of the
Mars Division assault on Reflex Point, Scott Bernard has one goal;
defeat the Invid at ANY cost. After surviving crash-landing on Earth,
Scott tries to recruit others who are willing to fight the Invid, and
eventually succeeds in gathering a group of freedom fighters to help
him in his quest. Scott is very determined and single-minded at the
start of the series, but starts to lighten up when he meets and falls
in love with Marlene, who reminds him of his former girlfriend who was
killed in battle. Scott's world is turned upside-down when he learns
that Marlene is actually an Invid; a member of the race he is trying
to destroy.
LANCER
Japanese Name: Yellow Belmont American Voice Actor: Jimmy Flinders
A skilled pilot and freedom fighter who joins up with the team in
the third episode. In order to escape the Invid, Lancer created the
female personality of Yellow Dancer and uses her to do undercover work
for the team. Near the end of the series Lancer falls in love with an
Invid named Sera, and together they help to form a tentative peace
between both sides at the end of the series.
RAND
Japanese Name: Rei American Voice Actor: Anthony Wayne
A young and arrogant wanderer/freedom fighter, Rand is a
self-taught survivor. When Rand meets and joins up with Scott Bernard,
he begins to learn the value of friendship and teamwork and becomes
less of a loner. Rand falls in love with Rook early on in the series,
but it takes nearly until the end of the series before she returns the
feelings.
ROOK BARTLEY
Japanese Name: Fuke Eroze American Voice Actress: ?????
Rook grew up among the ruins and gang wars that followed the Second
Robotech War, and learned how to be tough and independent at an early
age. In fact, she has built up so much emotional armor around herself
that she has trouble relating to other people. Like Rand, though, she
eventually learns to drop her armor and care for other people again
while being part of Scott's team. Near the end of the series Rook
falls in love with Rand.
ANNIE (MINT)
Japanese Name: Mint Rubble American Voice Actress: Mary Cobb
The youngest member of the resistance fighters, Annie is a spunky
and obnoxious little girl who always wants to be in the middle of the
action (often getting in over her head). Despite her annoying and
troublesome antics her teammates love her and would go to great
lengths for her.
LUNK
Japanese Name: Jim Austin American Voice Actor: ?????
An ex-Southern Cross mechanic, Lunk is a good source of technical
and moral support for the rest of the team. However, Lunk himself is
plagued with worries and insecurities from his actions during the
initial invasion of the Invid, where he was forced to run away and
watch as friends of his were killed. Lunk desperately wants to prove
to himself that he has courage, and believes that he can do that by
staying with Scott's team.
MARLENE (A.K.A. ARIEL)
Japanese Name: Marlene American Voice Actress: ?????
Marlene is the first humanoid Invid created by the Regis (see
below) to spy on Scott Bernard's team. However, during her insertion
into the team she is hurt and loses all of her memory. Believing her
to be a wounded human female, the team takes her in and cares for her.
Through them Marlene learns human customs and emotions, and eventually
falls in love with Scott Bernard. Though shocked when she rediscovers
that she is an Invid, Marlene recovers and manages (along with Sera)
to convince the Regis to flee Earth rather than fight to the finish.
THE REGIS
Japanese Name: Refles American Voice Actress: Celena Banas
The supreme ruler of the Invid. The Regis has one overall goal; the
evolution and survival of her race. Intelligent and ruthless, she is
completely intolerant of humans, who remind her of the Robotech
Masters who destroyed her homeworld long ago. What the Regis doesn't
realize, however, is that she is acting just like those same Masters
that she hates. Sera and Marlene are eventually able to convince her
to leave Earth rather than continue a war that may destroy both races.
SERA
Japanese Name: Sorji American Voice Actress: ?????
Along with Corg, Sera is the result of the Regis' second attempt to
create a humanoid Invid. At first a cunning and ruthless warrior, she
eventually falls prey to human emotions and begins to fall in love
with Lancer. Although she has trouble understanding these newfound
feelings, she eventually realizes the futility of her races' actions
and helps Marlene to convince the Regis to flee Earth.
CORG
Japanese Name: Batra American Voice Actor: ?????
Another humanoid Invid created by the Regis, Corg also falls victim
to human emotions like Marlene and Sera. However, instead of
friendship and love Corg learns hate and aggression, and directs his
violent feelings towards his enemies. An extremely skilled fighter, he
is responsible for many REF deaths during the final battle and almost
succeeds in killing Lancer, Rook, and Rand. He is finally defeated and
killed by Scott Bernard in the final episode.
2.2: ROBOTECH TV EPISODE GUIDE
Macross Saga
- "Boobytrap": The SDF-1 comes to Earth.
- "Countdown": Rick Hunter encounters the Zentraedi for
the first time and rescues Minmei.
- "Space Fold": The SDF-1 is stranded near Pluto.
- "The Long Wait": Rick and Minmei are stranded in the
SDF-1.
- "Transformation": The SDF-1 transforms into attack
mode to fire the main gun
- "Blitzkreig": First use of the Daedalus attack in the
rings of Saturn.
- "Bye-Bye-Mars": Khyron sets a trap on Mar Base Sera
for the SDF-1.
- "Sweet Sixteen": Rick is promoted and given command of
Max and Ben and Minmei has a birthday.
- "Miss Macross": Minmei wins the Miss Macross contest
and rick pilots and armored veritech.
- "Blind Game": Lisa, Rick and his squadron are captured
by the Zentraedi.
- "First Contact": Lisa, Rick and Ben are interogated by
the Zentraedi and force Lisa and Rick to kiss
- "The Big Escape": Lisa, Rick, Ben, and Max escape from
the Zentraedi .
- "Blue Wind": The SDF-1 breaks through the Zentraedi
blockade and returns to Earth.
- "Gloval's Report": Captain Gloval summaries the events
which have taken place.
- "Homecoming": Rick and Minemei travel to Japan to
visit her parents and return to the SDF-1 with Kyle.
- "Battle Cry": Rick is shot down during a Daedalus
attack.
- "Phantasm": Rick is in a coma and has a bizarre dream.
- "Farewell, Big Brother": Roy is killed while Max and
Miryia have a battle.
- "Bursting Point": The SDF-1 uses the omni-directional
barrier for the first time which overloads and kills Ben Dixon.
- "Paradise Lost": The SDF-1 is forced to leave earth,
the Zentraedi spies escape from the ship.
- "A New Dawn": Minmei releases her movie "Little White
Dragon" and Rick and Lisa are trapped on the ship.
- "Battle Hymn": Khyron attacks the SDF-1 and manages to
break into the interior.
- "Reckless": The Zentraedi attack breaks down as some
of the soldiers defect to the RDF.
- "Showdown": Lisa leaves the SDF-1 and Max fights
Miryia at the video arcade.
- "Wedding Bells": Max and Miryia get married.
- "The Messenger": Exedore comes to the SDF-1 to propose
an alliance.
- "Force of Arms": The SDF-1 with Minmei's song defeats
four million Zentraedi warships.
- "Reconstruction Blues": The surviors struggle to
rebuild the devastated Earth.
- "Robotech Masters": The Robotech Masters set off to
Earth to recover their Protoculture Matrix.
- "Viva Miriya": A Zentraedi Factory Satellite is
captured with the help of Dana Sterling.
- "Khyron's Revenge": Khyron steals a Protoculture
chamber.
- "Broken Heart": Minmei and Kyle are captured by the
Zentraedi and rescued by Rick.
- "A Rainy Night": Claudia reminisces about Roy to Lisa.
- "Private Time": Rick breaks a date with Lisa to be
with Minmei.
- "Season's Greetings": Khyron attacks Macross city on
Christmas.
- "To The Stars": The SDF-1 is destroyed and Rick
decides to be with Lisa.
The Robotech Masters
- "Dana's Story": Dana recalls how her
parents met.
- "False Start": Dana leads her squadron on a practice
drill and ends up in the brig.
- "Southern Cross": Dana repels a Bioroid attack and is
promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
- "Volunteers": Dana is sent into space to renew contact
with Space Station Liberty
- "Half Moon": Bowie is captured and Dana leads a rescue
mission
- "Danger Zone": 15th Squadron cripples a Masters
ship by upsetting the hyper-balance of the engines
- "Prelude to Battle": Bowie is arrested by the GMP for
frequenting a restricted bar
- "The Trap": The 15th Squadron enters into the downed
ship and Bowie meets Musica
- "Metal Fire": Dana argues that that a captured
mechanical android is a living sentient being
- "Stardust": A GMP agent uses Dana to seek revenge on
the Masters by striking at the downed ship.
- "Outsiders": Zor is captured and a ship from the REF
returns to Earth
- "Deja Vu": Dana breaks into a military hospital to
interrogate Zor herself.
- "A New Recruit": Zor joins the 15th squadron and
unwittingly becomes a spy for the Masters
- "Triumvirate": Earth forces lead another attack and
the Flowers of Life are found in the ruins of the SDF-1.
- "Clone Chamber": Marie Crystal's forces rescue the
forces sent to reinforce them
- "Love Song": General Rolf Emerson is assigned to the
next attack wave
- "The Hunters": Louie Nichols invents the "Pupil
Pistol"
- "Mind Game": The 15th Squad attacks a Masters ship to
gain entry
- "Dana in Wonderland": The 15th Squad interact with
Tirolian society and are captured
- "Crisis Point": The 15th Squad escapes with Musica and
destroys the Masters ship.
- "Day Dreamer": Nova has suspicions that
Musica is a clone
- "Final Nightmare": Bowie and Musica hide from Nova in
the ruins of the SDF-1 findings that the Flower of Life have entered their
final state .
- "The Invid Connection": The Southern Cross launches
their final assault and General Emerson is captured.
- "Catastrophe": Zor kills the Masters and destroys
their ship above the SDF-1, but this disperses the spores and attracts the
Invid.
The New Generation
- "The Invid Invasion": Scott Bernard crash
lands on Earth and meets up with Rand.
- "The Lost City": The group is caught in a Invid trap
and Annie joins up.
- "Lonely Soldier Boy": Rook, Lancer, and Lunk join the
team and they defeat a gang.
- "Survival": The group is trapped in a forest and
realize that the Invid can sense Protoculture.
- "Curtain Call": The team steals protoculture from
Invid sympathizers.
- "Hard Times": Rook comes face to face with her past
life as a gang member
- "Paper Hero": Lunk tries to return a book from a
friend and the group is captured
- "Eulogy": Scott meets Colonel Wolff who turns out to
be a traitor.
- "The Genesis Pit": Invid evolution experiences are
discovered.
- "Enter Marlene": The Invid place a spy in the group
- "The Secret Route": Lancer meets is old girl friend
Marlene and the group tries to find a way through the mountains.
- "The Fortress": The group destroys an Invid fortress
in the mountains.
- "Sandstorm": Rand has a dream influenced by the spores
of the Flower of Life.
- "Annie's Wedding": Annie gets married and temporarily
leaves the group.
- "Separate Ways": The group is trapped in a subway
tunnel and almost splits up because of personnel differences.
- "Metamorphosis": Regis creates humanoid Invid and the
group spends some time on a tropical island.
- "The Midnight Sun": The group is forced to defeat the
Invid without their mecha in the mountains.
- "Ghost Town": Scott meets up with some veterans of the
2nd Robotech War.
- "Frostbite": The group enters into the ruins of
Denver.
- "Birthday Blues": Annie has the best birthday ever.
- "Hired Gun": Rook is forced to make a decision about
Dusty Aires.
- "The Big Apple": Scott is forced to protect New York
City from the Invid.
- "Reflex Point": The group uses a synchro-cannon and
Scott discovers that Marlene is an Invid.
- "Dark Finale": The team joins the REF in a final
assault.
- "Symphony of Light": The Regis changes form and leaves
the Earth, Scott leaves to search for Rick Hunter.
2.3: THE ROBOTECH TIMELINE
Perhaps the most hotly debated portion of the Robotech universe is
the timeline. Very few dates are given in the show, and competing (and
contradictory) chronologies are given in the novels and the
role-playing game. Indeed, the former two sources even contradict the
show on several points. Furthermore, the timeline from the McKinney
novels directly contradicts the series in many places. So what is
known, from just the television show itself? And is it possible to
make a coherent timeline, just using the show?
Macross:
- The SDF-1 lands on Earth in 1999. This is made explicit in the
narration in the episode "Boobytrap".
- The SDF-1 is completed, and the Zentraedi first arrive, in 2009.
This is established in both narration and in the caption on a
time-lapsed sequence of the repair work on the SDF-1, also from "Boobytrap".
- It takes the SDF-1 12 months to return to Earth from the fold.
This is established in the episode "Homecoming". Earth is bombarded
some months after.
- The show picks up again approximately 'two years' later,
according to the narration. The time seems to be early Autumn, as it
begins to snow only a few episodes later. Dana Sterling is several
months old by this time. See "Reconstruction Blues", et al.
- In "Private Time", Rick and Minmei are reminiscing. Rick says
that his first date with Minmei was "over four years ago" (counting
it out on his fingers); this in all liklihood refers to their
meeting in the park before Rick's first mission in "Blitzkrieg". In
addition, Kyle tells Minmei that he's worked hard to develop har
gift over the last four years - probabally referring to his arrival
on the Battlefortress about 12 months after her initial departure
from Earth.
- The episode "Season's Greetings" is set at Christmas.
- The episode "To the Stars" takes place soon after that, either
in late December or (less likely) in early January. A picture album
closes at the end of the episode, with the words "So long...2012"
written on it, possibly indicating the date of the end of the show.
Picking January 2012 produces problems getting the cues from
"Reconstruction Blues" and "Homecoming" to fit, so the most likely
date for "To the Stars", assuming the accuracy of this reference, is
December 2012.
There's a bit of a problem here. If one accepts the two references
from "Private Time", one gets the date of "To the Stars" as sometime
after Dec 25, 2013, probabally as late as January 2014. However, the
writing on the photo album hints at 2012. As we have hit an internal
contradiction, one must make a judgement call. As the photo album's
date is of uncertain context, I feel it is outweighed by the two
references in "Private Time". The best date for the destruction of the
SDF-1, in my opinion, is January 2014, and the following discussion
assumes that date.
Robotech Masters:
- Leonard's speech in "Dana's Story" indicates that this episode
takes place exactally fifteen years after the destruction of the
SDF-1 and -2. This puts "Dana's Story" around December 2028 or
January 2029. "False Start", the next episodes, takes place an
appreciable time later - time enough for the crisis caused by the
attack on Moon Base Luna in "Dana's Story" to have subsided, and for
more people to have been sent there (this is known because Liberty,
which was not cut off until the beginning of "False Start", tries to
radio Luna. If Luna had no one on it by the beginning of "False
Start", Liberty would have known that.
- Dana is still a teenager (less than 19), but she is a graduate
of the Robotech Academy (can't be too young). This is established in
the episode "False Start". If she is born in 2012 (from above), then
a good guess for the arrival of the Robotech Masters would be
between 2028 and 2031.
- Major Carpenter's aide refers to their ship as their home for 15
years in the episode "Outsiders", limiting the date of the departure
of the REF.
- A major task force arrives from hyperspace to aid the Southern
Cross in "Mind Games" - every indication is given that this group is
from the SDF-3 Pioneer Mission (though that is not explicitly
stated). In "Eulogy", Wolff is said to have been sent to Earth with
the "first wave against the Robotech Masters". Carpenter's ship
could hardly be counted a wave, but this fleet could. In other
words, it's very likely that Wolff arrived with the fleet from
hyperspace in "Mind Games".
- The cues from the climate and foliage seem to indicate that the
entire saga, from "Dana's Story" to "Catastrophe", lasts on the
order of a year and a half.
New Generation:
- Most of the crew has never seen Earth, and was born on a
Robotech ship in deep space, established in "The Invid Invasion"; if
the median age of the crew were 22, then that means that this
episode is set 22 years after the departure of the REF.
- The Invid seem to have run Earth for many years. This is
especially true from the scenes in "The Secret Route". Carla and
Lancer have not seen each other in three years. When Lancer crashed,
three years plus the time the two spent as refugees together ago,
the Invid had a network of sympathizers already.
- Scott was a kid (10?) when Wolff departed for Earth, from the
episode "Eulogy". Wolff was also sent with the "first wave against
the Robotech Masters". See above.
- A crashed vessel from the expeditionary force is seen in "Ghost
Town". Its crew are old men, in their sixties and seventies, except
for one man in his late forties (who doesn't seem, from the way he's
treated, to be part of the crew). They are said to have been sent to
help fight the Robotech Masters.
- Lunk apparently made his promise to Nader "a year ago, during
the Invid invasion". This contradicts everything else in this
section - and is most likely an error of some sort. Lunk could have
meant 'occupation' rather than 'invasion', but there is no good
resolution for this reference, other than that it is another
internal contradiction.
- The pacing of the episodes seems to indicate that Scott crashes
to Earth in the Southern Hemisphere spring (September). The group is
expecting the onset of the Southern Hemisphere's winter in "The
Secret Route" (implying July or so), travels to the Northern
Hemisphere to see another winter in "The Midnight Sun" and
"Frostbite" (implying December or January), up through perhaps a
Northern Hemisphere summer (July or so) by the battle of Reflex
Point. All in all, about a year and a half, perhaps a little more,
appears to pass from "The Invid Invasion" to "Symphony of Light".
Sentinels:
- Lisa tells Rick that he's had "nine years to prepare for this
mission [to Tirol], not to mention our marriage". The narrator also
tells us that the RDF suffered from ten years of inactivity and
overconfidence. From the best date we can get for the end of Macross
(when Rick first learned of the mission - as well as the earliest
possible date at which he could have become engaged to Lisa), this
would indicate that the REF left in 2022, which coincides with the
date Macek gives for it in _Robotech Art 3_.
Obviously, it is difficult to generate a calendar that agrees with
every cue from the series - because there are vestiges of the
pre-Robotech plot-lines still in the dialogue, and some outright
errors (Lunk, in "Paper Hero", places the Invid invasion a mere year
before that episode, in contradiction to every other cue).
As an alternative to those in the novels and the RPG, this FAQ
includes a composite solution. Built from the original Macross
timeline by Shoji Kawamori (which was modified to include specific
changes in the Robotech version), the events of the Sentinels as
described by Macek in _Robotech Art 3_, and the extrapolations of
fanfic authors Peter Walker and Aubry Thonon. The full technique for
deriving the core of timeline is discussed in the essay "A Methodology
for Constructing a Coherent Timeline for the Robotech Television
Series", by Peter Walker (pww@spacsun.rice.edu).
ROBOTECH CHRONOLOGY
Compiled by:
Aubry Thonon
and
Peter Walker
Sources:
MACROSS CHRONOLOGY by Kawamori Shooji
from Macross Perfect Memory, pg. 54 - 55
Copyright 1983 by Minori Library, Big West and MBS
Published Aug. 10, 1984 by Minori Library
Original Translation 1990 by Michael House
Additional fact-checking by Egan Loo
ROBOTECH ART 3 by Carl Macek
Copyright 1988 by Carl Macek
Published July 1988 by Donning/Starblaze
ROBOTECH: OBJECTIVE REFLEX POINT by Peter Walker and Anand Rao
Book 1: ROLL CALL, Glossary
Archived for anonymous ftp at ftp.tcp.com
Copyright 1993 Peter Walker
Note: The Sentinels storyline is inspired by Macek's outlines in
_Robotech: Art 3_, and not the McKinney novels. The version of the
timeline published here omits all explicit fanfic references and
hypothetical pre- and postRobotech timelines. A full version of this
timeline can be obtained from Aubry Thonon (ess6alt@qed.qld.gov.au) or
Pete Walker (pww@spacsun.rice.edu).
Feb, 1996 World War III. No nuclear weapons are used,
but several chemical and biological weapons
are tested. WWIII continues until July
1999.
Dec, 1996 First introduction of power armor in the
US, CIS and Japanese forces.
Jan, 1998 Experimental nuclear fusion reactor
at Princeton achieves break-even point.
Feb, 1999 Zor killed by an Invid ambush on a seeding
mission. Macross is sent to Earth.
Invid closing on Imperial core systems.
Jul, 1999 A colossal meteorite impacts with Earth,
coming to rest on South Atalia Island.
Investigation reveals that it is an alien
spacecraft. It is code-named ASS-1 (Alien
Star Ship). Public announcements are that
an asteroid 3 km in diameter, composed of
great quantities of metal, impacted with
Earth. The matter is treated as top
secret until the chaos and confusion are
brought under control. What begins as an
emergency meeting between the heads of the
US and CIS becomes an assembly of all
nations.
Aug, 1999 UN Investigating Teams organized. Precise,
accurate, minute investigation of ASS-1
begins. South Atalia Island designated UN
sphere of jurisdiction.
Sep, 1999 Robotech Masters authorize Dolza to use
'any means necessary' to recapture Zor's
Fortress.
Dec, 1999 According to first report of the study of
ASS-1, it is discovered that the alien
spacecraft is a warship, and its crew are
fully five times the size of human beings.
Terrified by the all too real prospect of
invasion from deep space, a project is begun
to unite Earth into one nation.
Mar, 2000 Otech Corporation, a research
organization analyzing the alien
technology, is established through joint
Japanese-US-CIS-German-English-French
collaboration.
Apr, 2000 Development of weapons systems for use in
combat against the giants begins.
Jun, 2000 Aliens' existence formally announced
(excepting the fact of their size, which is
kept top secret). Following this, framing
plan for United Earth Government officially
proclaimed.
Jul, 2000 Outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
The disputes and rebellions and civil wars
frequently occurring hereafter in various
parts of the world, coupled with World War
III, came to be known (somewhat inaccurately)
as the Global Civil War.
Oct, 2000 Construction of the gigantic, permanent,
Apollo Lunar Base begins in the Sea of
Tranquillity, later known as Moon Base Luna.
A civilian station is also begun on the moon's
surface, known as Advance Lunar Chemical and
Engineering station (ALuCE-1). Plans are
made (but are never realized) for a second
ALuCE base.
Jan, 2001 United Earth Government inaugurated.
Founding Prime Minister, Harlan J Niven.
United Earth Forces established.
Feb, 2001 Repair and remodeling of ASS-1 for use as
main battleship of United Earth Forces
begins, with Otech Corporation as heart
of project.
ASS-1 renamed SDF-1 (Super Dimension
Fortress-1) "Macross", the apparent name of
the vessel in the language of its original
owners. Estimated date of launch: May, 2006.
Much of Earth's industrial economy is
diverted to the space effort.
Mar, 2001 Announcement of the discovery of a large
number of major material science advances
by Otech.
May, 2001 Construction of giant space manufacturing
station begins at L-5, in Lunar orbit.
Jul, 2001 Construction of permanent base on Mars,
named Sara, begins.
Civilians begin to immigrate to South
Atalia Island, to work on repair of SDF-1.
South Atalia Island renamed Macross Island.
Aug, 2001 Theory of SDF-1's thermonuclear Reflex
system explained. Reflex Engines still a
mystery.
Sep, 2001 The "Destroid System," ground-combat
anti-giant weaponry, begins trial
production.
Nov, 2001 Theory of firing system for SDF-1's main
cannon explained.
Feb, 2002 Tentative plan introduced for variable
all-purpose combat system for use against
the giants.
Mar, 2002 Grand Cannon Theory finished.
May, 2002 Construction of United Earth Military
Anti-Stellar-Warfare Headquarters begins,
in Alaska. On the same site, Grand Cannon
No. 1 is begun.
Jul, 2002 First Battle for Macross Island fought
against the Anti-Unification Forces.
Nov, 2002 First successful test of an Earth-made
protoculture Reflex plant, at Otech
Corporation. What is known of the
principles behind protoculture is kept
top secret.
Apr, 2003 Construction of Armored Series of space
carriers begins, as well as space
destroyers, at the L-5 manufacturing
station.
Nov, 2003 In a factory beneath Apollo Lunar Base,
using feedback from repair work on SDF-1,
construction begins on SDF-2, a massive
space battleship purely of terrestrial
design.
Mar, 2004 Construction on Grand Cannon No. 2 begins
in the Australian Autonomous Region.
Sep, 2004 Super miniaturized protoculture power-
plant finished by Otech. Understanding
of alien technologies minimal but sufficient
to adapt systems on SDF-1 to Terran weaponry
and mechanisms.
Oct, 2004 Grand Cannon No. 3 planned in South
America, in the Brazil Autonomous Region.
Nov, 2004 Increases in defense expenses for the SDF-1
Restoration Project cause deterioration of
world economy, forcing drastic delays in the
restoration.
Jan, 2005 Rioting breaks out in Kazakhstan, Central
Asia Autonomous Region.
The Second Battle for Macross Island is
fought.
Mar, 2005 The first Ophelia-class Space Destroyer is
commissioned.
Apr, 2005 Harlan J Niven, Founding Prime Minister of
the United Earth Government, is
assassinated. His successor is Robert A
Rhysling.
Jul, 2005 Frequent occurrences of guerrilla warfare
all over America.
Aug, 2005 Withdrawal from Mars Base after threat of
destruction by the Anti-Unification Forces.
Sep, 2005 To inaugurate the Anti-Unification Forces'
Space Force, the third Ophelia-class Space
Destroyer to be commissioned is hijacked and,
in that raid, the return fleet from Mars is
destroyed. A UEG Space Destroyer quickly tracks
down and destroys the rogue ship.
Nov, 2005 In a retaliatory attack, the United Forces'
Grand Cannon No. 2 is destroyed during
construction in Australia. Efforts moved
to Grand Cannon No. 3 in Brazil.
Dec, 2005 The giant semi-submersible aircraft
carrier Prometheus, CVS-101 (later
designated simply as "assault carrier"), is
commissioned, for Robotic Technology
Mechanism use.
Jan, 2006 First recorded usage of the words "Robotech
Mecha" as an abbreviation of Robotic
Technology Mechanism.
Mar, 2006 Grand Cannon No. 4 planned in the Lunar
North Polar Region.
Apr, 2006 The gigantic assault landing ship
Daedalus, SLV-111, is commissioned.
May, 2006 Outbreak of the Third Battle for Macross
Island.
Jun, 2006 Decision made to develop the MBR-04
series of Destroids.
Oct, 2006 In the Central Russia Administrative
Region, the Anti-Unification Army uses
tactical nuclear weapons to annihilate
St. Petersburg.
Nov, 2006 Battle for Macross Island ends.
Jan, 2007 Global Civil War concluded.
Training Center for crew of SDF-1
established on Macross Island.
Mar, 2007 The VF-X1, prototype of the variable-combat
machines, begins flight testing.
May, 2007 Stationing of Destroids aboard the SLV-111
Daedelus begins.
Jul, 2007 Grand Cannon No. 5 planned in the Victorian
Autonomous Region, Africa.
Sep, 2007 MBR-04 mk III Destroid Tomahawk enters service.
Oct, 2007 Testing of the VF-X1's usefulness in space
begins.
Jan, 2008 MBR-07 mk I Destroid Spartan enters service.
Mar, 2008 Decision made to formally introduce the
VF-X1. Mass production of the VF-1 series
begins. Variable Fighter series code-named
"Valkyries". First recorded usage of the
words "Veritech Mecha" as an abbreviation
of Variable Technology Mechanism.
May, 2008 Space Carrier ARMD-1 and ARMD-2
commissioned.
Oct, 2008 ARMD-3 and ARMD-10 commissioned. ARMD-10 is
a new design, specialized (unlike the
others) for Valkyrie Veritechs.
Feb, 2009 HWR-00 mk I Destroid Monster enters service.
Mar, 2009 VF-1 series begins deployment for actual
combat. (However, usage is limited to
aircraft configuration only, for reasons of
internal security.)
ARMD-4 and ARMD-5 commissioned.
ADR-04 mk X Destroid Defender enters service.
Jun 23-30, 2009 Launching ceremonies for SDF-1 Macross
scheduled.
Jun 27, 2009 A Zentraedi fleet, commanded by Breetai,
arrives in the solar system.
Outbreak of First Robotech War between Earth
and the Zentraedi. ARMD-01, -02, -03 and
-10, as well as four Ophelia-class Space
Destroyers, are destroyed in the initial
battle. Macross makes a serious mistake
in Fold navigation, sending it, without
the Fold System, to Pluto's orbit.
Jul, 2009 ARMD carrier production resumes.
City completed within Macross.
Jul 22, 2009 Macross Transformation.
Aug, 2009 ARMD-6 commissioned.
SDR-04 mk XII Destroid Phalanx enters service.
Sep 14, 2009 Macross engages in the Battle of Saturn's
Rings. Daedelus Maneuver first used.
Oct, 2009 ARMD-7 commissioned.
Jan, 2010 ARMD-8 commissioned.
Feb 12, 2010 Macross engages in Battle of Mars Base.
Mars Base Sara is destroyed during the battle.
Apr, 2010 Macross shipboard TV station begins
broadcasting.
May, 2010 First Officer Lisa Hayes and several pilots
are captured by the Zentraedi and are
interrogated by Dolza, the Zentraedi Supreme
Commander. At the same time they are
rescued, three Zentraedi spies infiltrate
the SDF-1.
Jun 12, 2010 Macross returns to Earth. Captain Gloval
reports his experiences to the General
Staff.
Jun 25, 2010 Khyron launches an unauthorized attack on
the SDF-1, sitting in the Pacific Ocean.
Rick Hunter is injured by friendly fire.
Jul 8, 2010 Miriya Paarino launches her first attack
against the SDF-1, and is beaten by Max
Sterling. Roy Fokker is killed in the battle.
Jul 21, 2010 Rick Hunter returns to active duty, now as
the SDF-1's Commander Air Group.
Jul 28, 2010 During an attack by Zentraedi starships on
the SDF-1 in Earth's atmosphere, Ottowa and
much of the surrounding countryside is
destroyed when Macross' omnidirectional
barrier overloads.
Breetai given command of the Imperial Class
"Ado" fleet.
Aug 14, 2010 Macross, under orders to sortie away from
Earth, once again leaves Earth's
atmosphere.
Zentraedi spies return to their fleet and
report their findings. Zentraedi soldiers
begin to be contaminated by culture.
Nov, 2010 Grand Cannon No. 1 completed in Alaska.
Feb 7, 2011 The film "Zhao Bai Lung" (Small White
Dragon) premieres.
Apr 13, 2011 The Zentraedi launch a major assault
against the SDF-1, taking advantage of
the Daedelus attack. Macross City is
badly damaged in the fighting, though
the Zentraedi are beaten back.
Zentraedi begin seeking refuge aboard
Macross.
May 15, 2011 Lisa Hayes returns to Earth in an attempt
to convince the United Earth High Command
to use the Zentraedi defectors as a
starting point for negotiations with the
Zentraedi.
May 29, 2011 The interstellar wedding of the Terran
Maxmillian Sterling and the Zentraedi
Miriya Paarino is broadcast.
Jun 18, 2011 A peace agreement is reached between
Macross and Breetai's fleet.
Dolza's Grand Fleet arrives in the solar
system, leaving the Tirolian Empire
virtually undefended. Earth is heavily
bombarded from orbit. Dolza's fleet is
annihilated through Operation "Lynn
Minmei". Surface battle begins.
Jul, 2011 First Robotech War ends. Atmospheric
purification operation executed.
Nov, 2011 United Earth Government re-established.
Education and micronization of Zentraedi
begins.
May, 2012 Reconstruction of New Macross City well
underway.
Restoration of Nature Project begins.
Jun, 2012 Construction begins anew on SDF-2, now
christened "Megalord," at New Macross,
the ship having been transferred from
Apollo Lunar Base.
First mixed-breed birth, to Max and Miriya
Sterling.
Nov, 2012 UEG appropriates funds for the development
of new classes of Veritechs, Destroids and
combat spacecraft.
Dec, 2012 Repairs to Breetai's ship are completed,
and it is recommissioned as the flagship
of the New United Forces.
Percentage of Zentraedi converted to
Micronians exceeds 50%.
Aug, 2013 Rioting by Zentraedi the world over begins
occurring. Patrols begin for sake of
maintaining public law and order.
Sep, 2013 Study of plan for project for voyage to
Robotech Masters' home-world begins.
Oct, 2013 Armed resistance by Zentraedi breaks out.
Operation to seize Factory Satellite
begins.
Robotech Masters depart Tirol for Earth.
Nov, 2013 Factory Satellite arrives at Earth, soon
breaking down. Extensive repairs will be
needed for even partial function of the
facility. Factory Satellite is renamed
Space Station Liberty.
Zentraedi attack on New Detroit leads to the
capture of a sizing chamber.
Khyron's group goes into action. The Lynn
Minmei hostage operation.
Dec 24, 2013 Khyron captures a Protoculture Generator.
Jan 8, 2014 Battle for New Macross City. SDF-1 and -2
are destroyed.
Project for pioneer mission to Tirol is
made public.
Feb, 2014 Several Nations declare independence of the
UEG.
Mar, 2014 Zentraedi Control Zone is defined. RDF
surrounds the Zone with troops and tries
to minimize the Zentraedi threat.
Skull squadron liberates Brazilian Grand
Cannon.
Feb, 2015 Army of the Southern Cross is formally
established. Construction of the Monument
City Southern Cross Headquarters is begun.
Chimera-class escorts (CTC) enter service.
Dec, 2014 Tristar-class light cruisers enter service.
Mar, 2015 XAF-3 Alpha pilotless prototype completed
and tested.
Apr, 2015 VHT-1 Veritech Hovertank enters service.
May, 2015 First Tokugawa-class battlecarrier
commissioned.
Breetai's flagship, the last operational
Zentraedi vessel remaining in Terran space,
is decommissioned and its parts form the
core of the new SDF-3, now being designed
at the Robotech Factory Satellite.
Aug, 2015 Battle-class heavy destroyers (DSS) enter
service.
Jan, 2016 More nations declare independence of UEG.
May, 2016 SF-6 Vulture space fighter enters service.
May, 2017 VAF-5A Alpha fighter enters production.
Oct, 2017 Development of the new Destroids begins.
# First Hargun prototype completed.
Development delayed due to REF priority.
Aug, 2018 Command staff of the SDF-3 selected, and
the ship's construction is begun.
Development of the Logan and Hovertank
begins.
Apr, 2019 ADR-10 mk I Catapult enters service.
Apr, 2021 MBR-09 mk II Gladiator enters service.
Jul, 2021 Z1 REF Zentraedi Battle Pod enters
service.
Nov, 2021 Z2 REF Zentraedi Officer's Pod enters
service.
Dec, 2021 MBR-10 mk II Excalibur enters service.
2022-2023 Troops for REF are selected. Ultimately -
including troops, ships' crews, reserves,
support and dependents - 210,000 Terrans
and 23,000 micronized Zentraedi will make
the journey to Tirol.
Mar, 2022 SDR-10 mk II Shark enters service.
Dec, 2022 XAF-6 Alpha and XBF-1 Beta docking first
tested with mixed success by pilots Max
Sterling and Karen Penn. both planes
immediately enter production as the VAF-6
and VBF-1.
Invid invade Tirol, conquering it swiftly.
Hunters are wed.
SDF-3 departs for Tirol.
Southern Cross takes possession of all
RDF bases and facilities. Apollo Lunar
Base is redesignated Moon Base Luna.
The Factory Satellite (aka SS Liberty)
folds one final time to the asteroid belt
to serve as a hyperspace relay station
to the fleet.
2023-2028 Southern Cross Battloids and AJACS are
developed.
Jan, 2023 REF arrives in the Valivarre system and
begins to liberate Tirol from the Invid.
Mar 3, 2023 Scott Bernard born on Tirol.
Jul, 2023 Tiresia Base is completed and staffed by
REF troops. Massive relief effort for the
Tirolian citizenry begins.
Jan, 2024 Sentinels' ship Farrago arrives at Tirol.
After heated debate, much of the REF splits
off from Tirol and joins the Sentinels.
Mar, 2024 # MODAT conceived as a next-generation
Hargun.
May, 2024 Logan enters service as the premier Southern
Cross light Veritech fighter.
Apr, 2025 Karbarra is liberated.
Jun, 2025 # Harguns enter service with the Southern
Cross.
Sep, 2025 Praxian campaign begins.
Jun, 2026 # MODAT 1 completed. Weapon system
enhanced. Hargun system successful and in
production at Tokyo facilities, slowing
MODAT development.
Dec, 2026 Praxis liberated. Sentinels proceed to
Garuda.
Jan, 2027 # MODATs 2, 3, 4, and 5 built as variant
prototypes.
May, 2027 # Space Harguns enter service with the
Southern Cross' Cosmic Unit.
Nov, 2027 Garuda is liberated. Many soldiers breathe
Garudan air, forcing the Sentinels to delay
while the soldiers receive treatment.
Jan, 2028 Katana-class destroyers enter service with
REF.
Jun, 2028 Sentinels arrive at Haydon IV.
Jan, 2029 Robotech Masters arrive and attack Moon
Base Luna.
# One of the Masters' motherships tries to
steal the EVE memory core by inserting a
clone simulagent of a Southern Cross soldier,
B.D. Andrews, who is assigned to the Robotech
Research Center in charge of the EVE computer.
Todd Harris shot to death by B.D. Andrews'
forces, after passing the MODAT 5 to his
civilian friend Mark Landry. The simulagent
begins transmitting the contents of the
computer core to an abandoned Earth satellite,
to be intercepted by the Robotech Masters.
Mark Landry attempts to expose the Andrews'
simulagent with the help of EVE. Threatened
by a minister in the Earth Government, the
simulagent stages a coup in Japan, only to
be killed by Landry.
Mar, 2029 Anatole Leonard becomes Field Marshall.
Southern Cross strengthens its forces,
anticipating a new invasion. The previous
incident is kept a tight secret, although
rumors of the prior attack abound.
Haydon IV is liberated. Sentinels proceed
to Spheris.
Apr, 2029 Second Robotech War begins when the Robotech
Masters descend en masse on Earth and
destroy Earth's satellite network. Contact
with Space Station Liberty cut off.
Jun, 2029 Contact with Space Station Liberty re-
established. Message is sent to the REF
requesting assistance in defending the
homeworld.
Jul, 2029 A Tirolian system battleship descends to
Earth to excavate the ruins of the SDF-1. The
ship is discovered by a patrol of the 15th
ATAC. After a soldier is taken prisoner by
the Masters, the 15th launches an unauthorized
rescue attempt, which turns into a full assault
when Southern Cross reinforcements arrive.
The prisoner is rescued, and the alien ship
is driven from the surface.
Aug, 2029 First Robotech Master flagship is downed by
the 15th ATAC.
15th ATAC penetrates downed flagship on a
recon mission.
Sept, 2029 Downed Robotech Masters flagship docks with
another mothership, and the two lift free of
Earth.
Zor Prime is captured by the Southern Cross.
Carpenter leaves in Tokugawa for Earth.
Edwards makes a secret pact with the Regent.
MBR-12 Destroid Cougar enters service with
the REF.
Oct, 2029 Tokugawa arrives on Earth and is destroyed,
taking a Robotech Master mothership with it.
Carpenter warns Leonard that he can expect
no more aid from the REF at this time.
Spheris is liberated.
Mar, 2030 Earth launches first major offensive against
the Robotech Masters. It is quickly defeated
and the survivors are sent to refurbish
ALuCE-1 as a fall-back position.
Apr, 2030 Mission from Earth to relieve ALuCE-1 is
ambushed by the Robotech Masters, and escapes
with the aid of the returning troops from
the moon.
Peryton is liberated; its 'curse' broken.
Sentinels decide to split up. Wolff, Hayes-
Hunter, Exedore and the Sterlings lead a
portion of the fleet back to Tirol; the
rest proceed to Optera under Richard Hunter.
Breetai discovers Edwards' treachery and is
ordered arrested by Edwards. Breetai and his
Zentraedi loyalists steal the battlecarrier
Valivarre and go into hiding.
Remaining Sentinels begin Opteran campaign.
The Regent arrives secretly on Tirol, and
is assassinated by Edwards.
Ikazuchi cruisers enter service with REF.
May, 2030 Emerson's flagship, Tristar, leads expedition
to reinforce Moon Base Luna. His fleet is
attacked en-route by a Tirolian battleship
and several destroyers, but manages to defeat
the alien battlegroup and deliver the troops
and supplies to the base.
Message arrives on Tirol from Space Station
Liberty, requesting help from the REF to fight
the Masters. The Plenipotentiary Council, at
Edwards' and Admiral Hayes-Hunter's urging,
orders a relief expedition to be sent as soon
as possible. Edwards recruits the ships and
troops mostly from the group that has just
returned from the Sentinels' expedition on
Peryton, keeping his own loyalist troops
close-by.
Marcus Antonius leaves for Earth, with the
3rd Planetary Corps, the 5th REF Air Force
and a large flotilla of destroyers and escorts
to assist the Southern Cross' defense of Earth.
Colonel John Wolff is among the departing
troops.
Soon after the relief group's departure,
Edwards stages a coup on Tirol and holds the
Plenipotentiary Council and the General Staff
hostage. Breetai returns and attempts a
rescue mission, and is fatally wounded in the
attempt.
Jul, 2030 Relief Group arrives at Earth and links up with
fleet from Liberty, Earth and the Moon for a
massive offensive against the Robotech Masters.
15th ATAC is inserted into the Masters'
flagship again. Zor Prime rebels against the
Masters and destroys the power core of the
flagship. The Masters evacuate the vessel
before it is destroyed and transfer their flag
to another ship.
Aug, 2030 Robotech Masters launch an all-out offensive
against Earth. Emerson is captured. 15th
ATAC agrees to a prisoner transfer aboard the
flagship. The Robotech Masters break the
truce and Emerson is killed in the ensuing
fight.
Optera is captured.
Aug 8, 2030 Robotech Masters' flagship is destroyed over
the ruins of the SDF-1. The Flower of Life
grows readily all over Earth. Much of the
fighting dies out, but hostilities continue
for another year.
Nov, 2030 The Sentinels and the Opteran Expedition return
to Tirol and, thanks to a betrayal by Edwards'
most senior aide, Lieutenant General Horace
Peckenham, the combined loyalists rout Edwards'
forces. Edwards is killed. Peckenham is
granted amnesty for turning on Edwards.
The Tirolian shipyards are destroyed in the
fighting, damaging the ships on the building-
ways and leaving the REF without naval
construction capacity. The REF enters into
negotiation with the Sentinels, especially the
Karbarrans, and makes plans to replace the
vessels sent to Earth with Wolff with their
new battleship, cruiser, and destroyer designs.
Plenipotentiary Council and REF are asked by
Tirol's citizenry to administrate their world.
Dec, 2030 Concerned with the depleted state of the
Southern Cross forces on Earth, REF commanders
from the Relief Group establish six REF bases
to defend Earth from a possible Invid invasion.
REF Relief Group leaders establish close ties
to the formidable Southern Cross presence still
on the moon, at Luna and ALuCE-1.
Feb, 2031 REF Relief Group commanders decide to reestablish
Mars Base as well as setting up supply stations
throughout the solar system for fall-back
procedures.
Mar, 2032 Cyclone system enters mass production.
Apr, 2033 Marcus Antonius, loaded with Tirolian refugees and
led by the 15th ATAC, folds out of Earth-space
for Tirol. The ship is scrapped on Tirol
because of damage caused by a malfunctioning
fold system.
May 15, 2033 Invid arrive. Moon bases are cut off from Earth.
Invid occupation begins.
Sep, 2033 Invid forces rout last Southern Cross
regulars.
Jun, 2034 Karbarran shipyards are finally retooled and
begin to construct warships for the REF.
Izumo battleships enter service with the REF.
Mar, 2035 Fleet construction underway. Galaxy wide mop-
up operation against the Regent's remaining
outposts commences.
Oct, 2035 Shadow device is conceived.
May, 2037 Resistance movement gains much strength in
North America, Europe and Australia.
Oct 15, 2039 Driven to desperation because of the failure
of the REF to return, a coalition of North
American resistance groups and troops from
ALuCE-1 launch a joint attack on Reflex Point.
Invid succeed in defending the hive and, in
subsequent months, resistance in the Americas
is completely crushed for the foreseeable
future.
Lancer crashes to Earth and is rescued by
Carla from sympathizers.
Traditional date for beginning of Third
Robotech War.
Feb, 2041 In preparation for the upcoming missions to
Earth, 6000 men and 2000 Veritechs are
dispatched to establish an advance attack
base in South America, code-named 'Point K'.
Sep, 2041 Invid troops mass in South America and
successfully destroy Point K.
Aug, 2043 Mars Fleet leaves for Earth.
Sep 14, 2043 Mars Fleet arrives at Earth and is destroyed
to the last ship. Survivors join the
resistance.
Nov, 2043 Shadowdrones perfected and added to
arsenal. Shadow devices installed on
Alphas, Betas and spacecraft.
Jan, 2044 Colonel Johnathan Wolff dies. Invid
attack and destroy Soldiertown soon
after.
Apr, 2044 Invid simulagent, Ariel, is transmutated,
and is inserted into Scott Bernard's
resistance band near the ruins of Point K.
July, 2044 Sera and Corg are transmutated.
Feb, 2045 Scott Bernard's resistance band
finds the city of Denver, which
has been covered in ice.
July 18, 2045 Final attack on Reflex Point.
Invid leave Earth.
As a final note for the curious, the McKinney version of the
Robotech Timeline is available via anonymous FTP from
remus.rutgers.edu in the directory /pub/anime/misc.
2.4: HOW TO SEE THE SERIES
2.4.1: IS ROBOTECH STILL ON TV? WHAT TIME/CHANNEL?
No, Robotech is not on television any longer. It WAS being aired on
the Sci-Fi channel, but is no longer being broadcast. There are rumors
that Harmony Gold is trying to get it back on the air, either on the
Sci-Fi channel or the Cartoon Network. Robotech is not on cable at the
moment. HOWEVER, Harmony Gold IS willing to negotiate single station
contracts for individual stations that want to show the series.
Basically, Robotech is back in syndication. The only difference is
that this time the people who want to see it locally are going to have
to prod their stations into calling Harmony Gold to negotiate a
contract to run the series. Some local stations in America and
Australia have already taken advantage of this offer. HG will NOT turn
away any serious offer by a TV station. I'm passing this information
on because HG feels that syndication will probably be the best way to
show Robotech. They are in negotiations AS WELL to air Robotech on a
cable network. However the individual syndication contracts are not
going to be affected by the impending cable deal. My personal advice
is to contact your local station and demand they get Robotech (network
affiliation is not a consideration. ANY TV station will do).
2.4.2: WHERE CAN I GET ROBOTECH ON VIDEOTAPE?
Robotech videotapes can currently be purchased from FHE and
Streamline Pictures. FHE also released an older version that was
extremely edited. The new FHE videos contain two episodes per tape and
are uncut. The pricing should be around $15 per tape. Streamline is
releasing the Robotech Perfect Collection. Each tape contains two
episodes of Robotech as well subtitled versions of the original
Japanese episodes. Addresses for both companies follow.
Streamline Pictures
PO Box 691418
West Hollywood, CA 90069
The address for FHE (FHE is a division of LIVE Entertainment Inc.)
LIVE Entertainment Inc,
15400 Sherman Way
Van Nuys CA 91406
2.4.3: WHERE CAN I GET ROBOTECH ON LASERDISC?
LIVE Entertainment is releasing collections of ROBOTECH episodes on
LD. Each disk contains 4 episodes, all uncut and original length.
Currently all Macross TV episodes are available and the Southern Cross
episodes are currently being released. Presumably LIVE Entertainment
will release the New Generation episodes after all Southern Cross
episodes are released.
Each disk is $34.95 (manufacturer's recommended price).
LIVE Entertainment is distributing the discs throughout the U.S. to
Laserdisc stores, so if you can't find the discs in your local LD shop
you can probably have them order them for you.
If you don't live near a LD store, then you can order the discs
from a mail- order LD store. Laser Craze in Boston has been
advertising the discs like crazy (no pun intended), so they probably
have a lot of them. You can contact Laser Craze at the address below:
LASER CRAZE 349 Newbury Street, Boston. Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (800) 888-6086 - Orders Only Phone: (617) 338-9820 -
Questions Fax: (617) 338-8098
2.5: ROBOTECH TV SERIES QUESTIONS
2.5.1: WHY ARE THERE CONTINUITY PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE THREE
SEGMENTS?
Most continuity problems arise in the TV show because the original
three series from which the footage was drawn were not intended to be
seen together. Carl Macek used three totally unrelated stories, and
combined them into one, with the usual time constraints associated
with getting a show on the air. The second of the three series,
Southern Cross, wasn't even set on Earth in the original Japanese
version. An imperfect match was inevitable.
2.5.2: WHAT IS PROTOCULTURE?
It has been proposed that there are as many explanations for
Protoculture as there are fans. The best way to answer the question is
to examine the facets seen from the various sources.
What does everyone agree upon? Protoculture is a form of energy
derived from placing the seeds of the Invid Flower of Life in a matrix
that prevents them from dividing. This energy source is completely
clean, abundant, and because of this, the Robotech Masters' entire
empire depended on it.
What also is agreed upon is that the spores of the Flower of Life
(related to the seeds) cause severe hallucinations, and to some
extent, precognition and telepathy, usually mediated through obscure
symbols.
Protoculture is also somehow involved in genetic engineering
technologies of both the Invid and the Robotech Masters, though the
details (from the show) are uncertain.
Later writers (especially Jack McKinney) have dramatically expanded
on this idea. In McKinney's novels, protoculture has moved from a
force that permeates the universe to an intelligence that shapes
events in the universe to its own ends. It also is allegedly
responsible for a symbiotic relationship between man and mecha, and
infusions of it can enhance awareness and intelligence. While some see
the roots of these extrapolations in the TV series itself, others
hotly dispute this, claiming McKinney went off on his own.
2.5.3: WHERE WAS THE SDF-2 IN EPISODE 36?
In a word, nowhere. There is no SDF-2 in the footage, though there
is in the dialogue. In the original Macross TV show, the SDF-2 was to
be built on the moon beginning sometime after the series was over (a
scaled-up version of the idea for this vessel was seen in Macross:
Flashback 2012 as the Megaroad-01; though it is larger than the
Macross source material had previously stated). But the SDF-2 is never
actually seen in the Robotech footage, as it was not in the footage
for the original Macross. There is only one battlefortress to be seen
in the lake.
Carl Macek has explained this away by asserting that the vessels
were back-to- back, but the first glimpse of this explanation not seen
until the Comico adaptation, and has been the standard apologia ever
since. The idea was to have three ships to correspond to the three
mounds seen in the Southern Cross episodes.
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