SECTION II: THE TV SERIES

2.1: MAIN CHARACTERS IN ROBOTECH

THE MACROSS SAGA

THE MACROSS SAGA
1. Boobytrap The SDF-1 comes to Earth.
2. Countdown Rick Hunter encounters the giant Zentraedi.
3. Space Fold The SDF-1 is stranded near Pluto.
4. The Long Wait Rick and Minmei are trapped, alone together.
5. Transformation The SDF-1 adopts an Attack Mode.
6. Blitzkreig Lisa Hayes conceives the Daedalus Attack.
7. Bye-Bye Mars Khyron attacks the SDF-1 on Mars.
8. Sweet Sixteen Rick is promoted and Minmei has a birthday.
9. Miss Macross The Zentraedi monitor a TV beauty contest.
10. Blind Game Rick and his team are captured by the Zentraedi.
11. First Contact The Zentraedi are terrorized by human affection.
12. The Big Escape Miriya plants micronized Zentraedi spies.
13. Blue Wind The SDF-1 finally makes it back to Earth.
14. Gloval's Report Captain Gloval summarizes the story so far.
15. Homecoming Minmei visits her parents and returns with Kyle.
16. Battle Cry Rick's has a near-fatal accident in combat.
17. Phantasm Rick has a bizarre dream.
18. Farewell, Big Brother Max battles Miriya and Roy is fatally wounded.
19. Bursting Point The Omnidirectional Barrier kills Ben Dixon.
20. Paradise Lost The "Small White Dragon" cast party.
21. A New Dawn Rick and Lisa become allies in adversity.
22. Battle Hymn Khyron leads his troops into the SDF-1.
23. Reckless Some Zentraedi desert and are given asylum.
24. Showdown Lisa leaves the SDF-1; Max meets Miriya.
25. Wedding Bells Max & Miriya are married, and fly together, too.
26. The Messenger Exedore warns the SDF-1 of impending disaster.
27. Force of Arms Rick and Lisa are reunited; the SDF-1 triumphs.
28. Reconstruction Blues The SDF-1 crew now build their lives on Earth.
29. Robotech Masters The Robotech Masters set off for Earth.
30. Viva Miriya A Zentraedi factory satellite is captured.
31. Khyron's Revenge Malcontent Zentraedi on Earth oppose the humans.
32. Broken Heart Rick rescues Minmei from Khyron.
33. A Rainy Night Lisa and Claudia Grant talk about Roy and Rick.
34. Private Time Minmei comes between Lisa and Rick.
35. Season's Greetings Khyron prepares for a final attack on the SDF-1.
36. To the Stars The SDF-1 is destroyed; Rick and Lisa make up.

    THE ROBOTECH MASTERS

37. Dana's Story The Robotech Masters engage the humans in combat.
38. False Start Dana Sterling is put in charge of her squadron.
39. Southern Cross Dana repels the Bioroids and is promoted.
40. Volunteers In Earth orbit, Dana panics under fire.
41. Half Moon Bowie Grant is captured by the Robotech Masters.
42. Danger Zone Dana's squadron takes down an enemy Fortress.
43. Prelude to Battle Bowie is arrested by the Global Military Police.
44. The Trap Inside the Master's ship, Bowie meets Musica.
45. Metal Fire Dana argues that the enemy aren't androids.
46. Stardust A GMP agent assists Dana in fighting the Masters.
47. Outsiders A single ship from the REF returns to Earth.
48. Deja Vu Dana meets the captured Bioroid pilot, Zor.
49. A New Recruit Zor unwittingly becomes a spy for the Masters.
50. Triumvirate Invid Flowers of Life are found inside the SDF-1.
51. Clone Chamber Marie Crystal's team rescue the Earth Fleet.
52. Love Song General Emerson is assigned to a combat mission.
53. The Hunters The military perverts Louie Nichols' invention.
54. Mind Game Dana's squad is sent to help Emerson's fleet.
55. Dana in Wonderland The humans encounter the Masters' society.
56. Crisis Point In the Masters' ship, Zor and Musica find Dana.
57. Daydreamer Zor, Musica and Dana's squad return to Earth.
58. Final Nightmare Zor suffers a flashback inside the SDF-1 ruins.
59. The Invid Connection The Masters issue an ultimatum to Earth.
60. Catastrophe Zor destroys the Masters, but attracts the Invid.

    THE NEW GENERATION

61. The Invid Invasion Scott Bernard crash lands on the planet Earth.
62. The Lost City Annie joins Scott and Rand against the Invid.
63. Lonely Soldier Boy Rook, Lancer and Lunk join the team.
64. Survival The Invid sense the Protoculture in the mecha.
65. Curtain Call Scott's team pull off a Protoculture raid.
66. Hard Times Rook has a violent bout with her past.
67. Paper hero Lunk tries to fulfill a friend's dying wish.
68. Eulogy Scott meets his hero, Colonel Jonathan Wolff.
69. The Genesis Pit Invid evolution experiments are discovered.
70. Enter Marlene An amnesiac woman joins Scott and company.
71. The Secret Route Lancer falls foul of his old flame, Carla.
72. The Fortress A decisive victory for Scott and the others.
73. Sandstorm Rand has a dream influenced by the Invid.
74. Annie's Wedding Annie woos a young would-be tribal warrior.
75. Separate Ways The teams' personal conflicts become arguments.
76. Metamorphosis The Regiss creates two new humanoid agents.
77. The Midnight Sun The Invid Sera is disturbed upon seeing Lancer.
78. Ghost Town Word of a new REF offensive reaches Scott.
79. Frostbite Marlene puts a dent in Scott's emotional armor.
80. Birthday Blues "Mint" LaBelle has the best birthday ever!
81. Hired Gun Rook meets a man with a cruel vendetta.
82. The Big Apple An attack on an Invid hive in New York City.
83. Reflex Point Scott discovers that Marlene is an Invid.
84. Dark Finale The team joins the REF in a final assault.
85. Symphony of Light The Regiss changes form and leaves the Earth.

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:

1. The SDF-1 lands on Earth in 1999. This is made explicit in the narration in the episode "Boobytrap".
2. 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".
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The episode "Season's Greetings" is set at Christmas.
7. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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".
5. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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:

1. 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 ([email protected]).

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

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.

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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.