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
THE MACROSS SAGA
- Boobytrap The SDF-1 comes to Earth.
- Countdown Rick Hunter encounters the giant Zentraedi.
- Space Fold The SDF-1 is stranded near Pluto.
- The Long Wait Rick and Minmei are trapped, alone together.
- Transformation The SDF-1 adopts an Attack Mode.
- Blitzkreig Lisa Hayes conceives the Daedalus Attack.
- Bye-Bye Mars Khyron attacks the SDF-1 on Mars.
- Sweet Sixteen Rick is promoted and Minmei has a birthday.
- Miss Macross The Zentraedi monitor a TV beauty contest.
- Blind Game Rick and his team are captured by the Zentraedi.
- First Contact The Zentraedi are terrorized by human
affection.
- The Big Escape Miriya plants micronized Zentraedi spies.
- Blue Wind The SDF-1 finally makes it back to Earth.
- Gloval's Report Captain Gloval summarizes the story
so far.
- Homecoming Minmei visits her parents and returns with
Kyle.
- Battle Cry Rick's has a near-fatal accident in combat.
- Phantasm Rick has a bizarre dream.
- Farewell, Big Brother Max battles Miriya and Roy is
fatally wounded.
- Bursting Point The Omnidirectional Barrier kills Ben
Dixon.
- Paradise Lost The "Small White Dragon" cast party.
- A New Dawn Rick and Lisa become allies in adversity.
- Battle Hymn Khyron leads his troops into the SDF-1.
- Reckless Some Zentraedi desert and are given asylum.
- Showdown Lisa leaves the SDF-1; Max meets Miriya.
- Wedding Bells Max & Miriya are married, and fly
together, too.
- The Messenger Exedore warns the SDF-1 of impending
disaster.
- Force of Arms Rick and Lisa are reunited; the SDF-1
triumphs.
- Reconstruction Blues The SDF-1 crew now build their
lives on Earth.
- Robotech Masters The Robotech Masters set off for Earth.
- Viva Miriya A Zentraedi factory satellite is captured.
- Khyron's Revenge Malcontent Zentraedi on Earth oppose
the humans.
- Broken Heart Rick rescues Minmei from Khyron.
- A Rainy Night Lisa and Claudia Grant talk about Roy
and Rick.
- Private Time Minmei comes between Lisa and Rick.
- Season's Greetings Khyron prepares for a final attack
on the SDF-1.
- To the Stars The SDF-1 is destroyed; Rick and Lisa
make up.
THE ROBOTECH MASTERS
- Dana's Story The Robotech Masters engage the humans
in combat.
- False Start Dana Sterling is put in charge of her squadron.
- Southern Cross Dana repels the Bioroids and is promoted.
- Volunteers In Earth orbit, Dana panics under fire.
- Half Moon Bowie Grant is captured by the Robotech Masters.
- Danger Zone Dana's squadron takes down an enemy Fortress.
- Prelude to Battle Bowie is arrested by the Global Military
Police.
- The Trap Inside the Master's ship, Bowie meets Musica.
- Metal Fire Dana argues that the enemy aren't androids.
- Stardust A GMP agent assists Dana in fighting the Masters.
- Outsiders A single ship from the REF returns to Earth.
- Deja Vu Dana meets the captured Bioroid pilot, Zor.
- A New Recruit Zor unwittingly becomes a spy for the
Masters.
- Triumvirate Invid Flowers of Life are found inside
the SDF-1.
- Clone Chamber Marie Crystal's team rescue the Earth
Fleet.
- Love Song General Emerson is assigned to a combat mission.
- The Hunters The military perverts Louie Nichols' invention.
- Mind Game Dana's squad is sent to help Emerson's fleet.
- Dana in Wonderland The humans encounter the Masters'
society.
- Crisis Point In the Masters' ship, Zor and Musica find
Dana.
- Daydreamer Zor, Musica and Dana's squad return to Earth.
- Final Nightmare Zor suffers a flashback inside the
SDF-1 ruins.
- The Invid Connection The Masters issue an ultimatum
to Earth.
- Catastrophe Zor destroys the Masters, but attracts
the Invid.
THE NEW GENERATION
- The Invid Invasion Scott Bernard crash lands on the
planet Earth.
- The Lost City Annie joins Scott and Rand against the
Invid.
- Lonely Soldier Boy Rook, Lancer and Lunk join the team.
- Survival The Invid sense the Protoculture in the mecha.
- Curtain Call Scott's team pull off a Protoculture raid.
- Hard Times Rook has a violent bout with her past.
- Paper hero Lunk tries to fulfill a friend's dying wish.
- Eulogy Scott meets his hero, Colonel Jonathan Wolff.
- The Genesis Pit Invid evolution experiments are discovered.
- Enter Marlene An amnesiac woman joins Scott and company.
- The Secret Route Lancer falls foul of his old flame,
Carla.
- The Fortress A decisive victory for Scott and the others.
- Sandstorm Rand has a dream influenced by the Invid.
- Annie's Wedding Annie woos a young would-be tribal
warrior.
- Separate Ways The teams' personal conflicts become
arguments.
- Metamorphosis The Regiss creates two new humanoid agents.
- The Midnight Sun The Invid Sera is disturbed upon seeing
Lancer.
- Ghost Town Word of a new REF offensive reaches Scott.
- Frostbite Marlene puts a dent in Scott's emotional
armor.
- Birthday Blues "Mint" LaBelle has the best birthday
ever!
- Hired Gun Rook meets a man with a cruel vendetta.
- The Big Apple An attack on an Invid hive in New York
City.
- Reflex Point Scott discovers that Marlene is an Invid.
- Dark Finale The team joins the REF in a final assault.
- Symphony of Light The Regiss changes form and leaves
the Earth.
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 forseeable
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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