Third Robotech War

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This article is about the third Robotech series. For the original Japanese animated series that it adapted, see Genesis Climber Mospeada.
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Third Robotech War
Part of Robotech Wars
Date 2031-2044 (previous estimates placed the third Robotech War around 2035-36)
Location Earth
Result Invid retreat from Earth
Belligerents
Robotech Expeditionary Force, Earth-based resistance cells the Invid
Commanders
The resistance cells operated independantly though later their efforts were coordinated by advanced elements of the REF; REF forces involved in the assault commanded by General Gunther Reinhardt (who was given this authority by Admiral Rick Hunter the Invid Regess
Strength
Possibly as many as several thousand to tens of thousands of resistors worldwide; exact REF strength unknown but consisted of all available REF forces, included over one hundred and fifty capital ships and thousands of fighters and support craft. Entire Invid race
Casualties and losses
Unknown; estimated to be tens of thousands of military personnell and civilians. Unknown; estimated to be in the millions

The fictional Third Robotech War (2031-44) is the third major conflict in the Robotech science fiction universe. Unlike the previous Robotech Wars, which were fought by Earth-based human forces against invading alien enemies, the Third War was fought by the returning Robotech Expeditionary Force to liberate the occupied Earth from the alien Invid. The Robotech Television series ended with the conclusion of the Third Robotech war in 1986, and it would be 20 years before Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, which was released in 2006, would continue the Robotech Saga.

Contents

[edit] Roots

The crash-landing of the SDF-1 on Macross Island in 1999 during the first saga of Robotech, known as the Macross Saga was the root cause of all of the Robotech Wars: see First Robotech War for further details.

The Second Robotech War, depicted in the second saga of Robotech known as the Robotech Masters' Saga left the Earth's defense forces weakened and leaderless with both Supreme Commander Anatole Leonard and Major General Rolf Emerson being killed. The war also left the industrial and political infrastructure of the Earth in tattered shape. With the Japanese centers of Robotech research disrupted and the North American center of the United Earth Government nearly destroyed, the defensive capabilities of the Army of the Southern Cross swiftly degraded from advanced mecha and starships to late 20th century (pre-SDF-1) technology. Because of this damage, the defense forces could put up only a token fight against the Invid with conventional ordinance and a small supply of Nuclear weapons when they invaded in 2031, barely a year after the Second Robotech War's end.

However, the lack of Protoculture was not the only reason for the fall of Earth to the Invid. The Second Robotech War had not only devasated Earth cities (in particular the capital, Monument City) and military, but the collapse of the United Earth Government led the once united world to slide into lawlessness as surviving cities became city-states and warred with one another and men and women rose quickly to positions of power only to fall just as swiftly. Greed and butchery ruled, and what little remained of the northern hemisphere's dignity collapsed. The people of Earth had been reduced to squabbling factional states that were more interested in fighting each other than preparing for the coming Invid Invasion. With the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) still unable to send significant aid back to Earth, efforts were made to try and evacuate the populace before the Invid arrived but the devasation from the war left only a handful of spaceworthy ships available, and the vast majority of Earth's population could not be evacuated in time.

The Invid invasion in 2031, depicted in the third saga of Robotech known as The New Generation, destroyed what was left of the Army of the Southern Cross and left Earth completely devastated. The Invid established a central hive, Reflex Point, in the Great Lakes region of North America over the site of the remains of the SDF-1, and secondary hives across the planet. The Invid immediately began hunting down and destroying any and all remaining military personnel, and set up an aggressive operation to harvest the Invid Flower of life (and the Protoculture it yielded) utilising the remaining civilian human population as forced labour.

The Invid also began experiments to improve their survivability, including experimenting on captured humans. Some humans collaborated with the Invid in exchange for power and/or protection and helped hunt down those who resisted or helped with the harvesting and management of Protoculture. Many humans escaped the notice of the Invid by relocating to remote areas where the Invid Flower of Life was scarce such as the mountains, deserts, and wilderness, with some even reverting to simple hunter/gather communities.

Fortunately the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF), had long been self sufficient with the help of other recently established extraterrestrial settlements, and was only minimally hampered by the loss of Earth. In addition, Moon Base ALUCE (Advanced LUnar Chemical Engineering) was also able to continue to function despite its close proximity to Earth. Space Station Liberty was also able to continue to function. Unfortunately, events in deep space that kept the REF from sending aid during the Second Robotech War continued to plague them and kept them from turning their full attention to reclaiming Earth for another decade.

In 2038, the 10th Mars division of the REF launched an assault against the Invid forces on Earth. The attack failed, resulting in the complete destruction of the REF 10th Mars Division. Some survivors managed to reach Earth including Lieutenant Lance "Lancer" Belmont, who subsequently assumed the identity of Yellow Dancer, a female singer, to evade capture by the Invid and their collaborators. Lance "Lancer" Belmont served as a courier and spy for resistance forces.

In 2042, the 21st Mars division launched another offensive against Invid, but this attack also proved disastrous, with the entire division being wiped out. One confirmed survivor was Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard, who successfully reached Earth and formed a resistance cell of his own.

In 2033 and again in 2044 two more attempts by the REF to gain footholds on Earth in preparation for an invasion also met with disaster.

In 2044, a final full-scale assault, ordered by Admiral Rick Hunter, was launched with all available REF forces against Reflex Point to destroy the Invid. This force consisted of several dozen Ikazuchi class carriers, hundreds of Garfish class cruisers and Horizon T class support ships, thousands of mecha and fighters, four Shimakaze class battlecruisers, and the massive SDF-4 Izumo. A large force of ground troops including both REF and guerilla forces armed with mecha and new Shield Destabilizers to get past the Invid Protoplex Energy Barrier Hive Shields also attacked Reflex Point simultaneously. In this latest attempt the REF made use of new stealth and weapons technologies including Shadow Technology, which rendered their ships and mecha virtually invisible to Invid sensors, and Synchro Cannons, much improved versions of the older Reflex Cannons. Among pilots of the new shadow fighters are Marcus Rush, Alex Romero and Maia Sterling, all of whom had been born in space and had never seen Earth until now.

The final battle of the Third Robotech War saw both the REF and Invid resort to tactics of desperation, with the Invid overcomeing their technological disadvantages with overwhelming numerical superioraty and making suicide runs against the REF forces both in space and on the ground in waves. The REF, led by General Reinhardt, responded by launching their new Neutron-S missiles, powerful new weapons given to the REF by their new allies, the Haydonites, that were believed to be able to easily destroy Reflex point but also wipe out a large portion the surface of the Earth, a last resort weapon authorised by Admiral Rick Hunter. The Invid Regess, recognizing the true power of the missiles, which is to create micro black holes capable of swallowing the Earth entirely, decided to retreate. The Invid exodus from Earth proceeded much along the same lines as their initial invasion, with the Invid Regess converting herself and her race into energy and leaving the planet in a stream of light. The Invid Regess, as a final gift to her daughter Ariel who chose to stay behind with the humans, destroys the Neutron-S missiles as the Invid energy form leaves, though a small number of REF ships are destroyed in the process as well.

Although victorious, the losses to the REF were heavy in both ships and manpower. For the first time in 13 years, Earth was again under the control of humanity but Earth's future remained uncertain. Most of its cities and industries lay in ruins. During the occupation, many had allied with the Invid in exchange for power. Areas not under Invid control were often controlled by criminal gangs and other self-proclaimed leaders who ruled through brute force.

Further, the SDF-3 Pioneer, which was intended to join the final assault, was damaged during the test-firing of a Neutron-S missile in the Omicron Sector, which resulted in the unexpected creation of a micro black hole. The Deukalion, a Garfish class cruiser converted into a science vessel to record and study the test, was heavily damaged by the resulting blast and all aboard were killed save one android named JANICE, which was later repaired. The SDF-3 Pioneer was then attacked by the REF's former allies, the Haydonites, who were attempting to capture the ship and its Protoculture Matrix. The fate of the SDF-3, which was last seen adrift surrounded by Haydonite forces is currently unknown.

The retreate of the Invid ended the Third Robotech War, though it also marked the start of the Shadow Chronicles, the fourth Robotech war between the REF and their former allies, the Haydonites who betrayed and manipulated the REF during the war with the Invid.

[edit] New Generation episode list

Japanese
Air Date		 Genesis Climber Mospeada
Episode		 New Generation
Episode
1983.10.02 1. Prelude to the Offensive 61. The Invid Invasion
1983.10.09 2. The Broken-Hearted Girl's March 62. The Lost City
1983.10.16 3. Showdown Concert at High Noon 63. Lonely Soldier Boy
1983.10.23 4. Survival Song Feeling 64. Survival
1983.10.30 5. Live Inn Scorched Earth Policy 65. Curtain Call
1983.11.06 6. Support Girl Blues 66. Hard Times
1983.11.13 7. Fallen Hero's Ragtime 67. Paper Hero
1983.11.20 8. Johnson's Elegy 68. Eulogy
1983.11.27 9. Lost World Fugue 69. The Genesis Pits
1983.12.04 10. Requiem of the Battlefield 70. Enter Marlene
1983.12.11 11. Lullaby of Distant Hope 71. The Secret Route
1983.12.18 12. Fortress Siege Boogie 72. The Fortress
1983.12.25 13. Sandstorm Playback 73. Sandstorm
1984.01.08 14. Mint's Wedding March 74. Annie's Wedding
1984.01.15 15. The Ballad of Breaking Up 75. Separate Ways
1984.01.22 16. Trap Reggae 76. Metamorphosis
1984.01.29 17. White Night Serenade 77. The Midnight Sun
1984.02.05 18. The Nature of Old Soldier's Polka 78. Ghost Town
1984.02.12 19. Forte of the Ice River City 79. Frost Bite
1984.02.19 20. Birthday Song of the Night Sky 80. Birthday Blues
1984.02.26 21. Arpeggio of Assassination 81. Hired Gun
1984.03.04 22. New York Bebop 82. The Big Apple
1984.03.11 23. Black Hair's Partita 83. Reflex Point
1984.03.18 24. The Dark Finale 84. Dark Finale
1984.03.25 25. Symphony of Light 85. Symphony of Light

[edit] New Generation timeline

2031

  • The Third Robotech War begins as the Invid arrive on Earth in an event known afterwards as the Invid Invasion. The battered and beleaguered forces of the Army of the Southern Cross are completely destroyed and Earth falls quickly to the alien onslaught.
  • Several ships manage to escape the invasion and head out to rendezvous with the REF in deep space with the intention to return to Earth to liberate it from Invid control.
  • Many major Earth population centers are destroyed, while others are simply abandoned. Invid occupation and protoculture harvesting begins. Anti-Invid groups are eventually formed, but struggle as the Invid cultivate collaborators to suppress the resistance networks.

2038 September

  • The Robotech Expeditionary Force launches its first large scale assault on Reflex Point. The attack fails miserably, resulting in heavy losses for the REF 10th Mars Division.
  • Lieutenant Lance Belmont (aka. "Lancer") of the 10th Mars Division crashes to Earth and is rescued from Invid collaborators by Carla Morales, who nurses him back to health.

2040 May

  • Lancer joins the shattered resistance in the Americas. Travelling under the guise of a female singer, "Yellow Dancer," Lancer travels as a covert courier for the much-weakened resistance network, gathering vital intelligence and information along his travels. Yellow Dancer's music becomes an instant hit, with the promise of hope, and slightly subversive message of resistance. Yellow Dancer's recordings spread throughout the Americas.

2042 September

  • The 21st Mars Division arrives at Earth as part of the second Earth Reclamation Force. The fleet is intercepted before its troops can begin their atmospheric insertion, and is quickly destroyed by the Invid.
  • Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard survives and crash lands in South America and begins his quest to reach the Invid "Reflex Point", forming a potent resistance group along the way.

2043 March

  • Geological disturbances destroy an Invid Genesis Pit in South America, just as the Regess decides on the human form as the model for the pending transmutation of her race.
  • Invid assemble a massive force to attack and destroy Point K, as well as the near-by towns that had kept it supplied with food and other goods.

2043 April

  • Invid simulagent, Ariel, is transmutated and inserted near the ruins of Point K. Her deployment is a failure, as she loses her memory upon landing and attempts for the Regess to communicate with her are unsuccessful.
  • Ariel is discovered by Lt Cmdr Scott Bernard's group and is taken along with them as an amnesia victim.

2043 July

  • Invid Princess Sera and Prince Corg are transmutated, and are assigned to track down and destroy resistance groups.

2043 October

  • A crippled destroyer from the Expeditionary Forces, with an aging crew, destroys a key Invid broadcast tower in the American West in a suicide run.

2044 January

  • The geothermal generator that powered Denver, which has been trapped under a decade's worth of heavy snow and ice, is destroyed by LCDR Scott Bernard in an attempt to escape an Invid assault. The thawed "bubble" of city created by the heat from the generator is also destroyed.

2044 May

  • Corg begins a genocidal rampage in New York City against Sera's direct order. Resistance fighters in town to raid the protoculture warehouse located in Carnegie Hall destroy the local Invid hive, and the attack is suspended.

2044 July

  • Large numbers of ground troops from the fleet and the resistance forces assemble near Reflex Point for a major assault.

2044 July 2

  • The main fleet of the Robotech Expeditionary Force returns to Earth. The fleet assembles at ALuCE, at the edge of the far side of the moon, and awaits the arrival of the flagship, the SDF-3, which fails to defold with main group. The SDF-4 takes command in Admiral Hunter's absence.

2044 July 18

  • The Robotech Expeditionary Force launches its final mission to reclaim the Earth from the Invid. Suffering heavy losses, a surgical strike comprised of stealthy Shadow fighters and drones are dispatched to Reflex Point.
  • Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard and his group of resistance fighters is granted an audience before the Invid Regess at the initiative of Ariel. When it becomes apparent to the Regess that the continuation of battle would lead to the mutual destruction of both races, she makes preparations to leave to an undisclosed location.
  • Invid Prince Corg is killed in battle by Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard.
  • Fearing that this final Earth Reclamation Mission might end in failure, the SDF-4 orders the use of the Neutron-S warheads to kill all life on Earth's surface. The resistance and the Invid join forces to counteract the Expeditionary Force's assault on Reflex Point to give the Regess time to depart.
  • The Invid leave at the command of the Regess. During their departure, the Neutron-S warheads and much of the Expeditionary Force's fleet is also destroyed. The majority of available protoculture on Earth is consumed by the Invid, leaving the Expeditionary Force with a one-year supply (mostly stored on Moon Bace ALuCE).

2044 July 24

  • A concert is held near the ruins of Reflex Point to celebrate the end of the Third Robotech War. Lancer reveals his identity to a shocked crowd.
  • Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard leaves Earth to join the remainder of the Expeditionary Forces at ALuCE.

[edit] Major characters

[edit] Continuation

Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles answers a long-debated story point: exactly how much of the Expeditionary Force main fleet was destroyed in the Regis's departure. These points had been the subject of some debate in Robotech fandom; while the last episode of the series only shows a handful of ships caught up in her wake and destroyed, the Jack McKinney novels stated that nearly the entire fleet, including the Izumo and it's commander had been destroyed, and for many years many fans had regarded the novels as more definitive despite breaks from the show's canon. In Shadow Chronicles, the Invid are shown to depart without affecting the EF ships in orbit. Additionally, the Izumo commander, now named General Reinhardt was a key character in Shadow Chronicles. It was said, however, that ships damaged in battle were diverted to Space Station Liberty for repair- most of those ships were destroyed there when Haydonites turned on the REF.

Although the Shadow Chronicles depicts some of the same events of the final two episodes of the series, it excludes Rand, Rook, Lancer, Lunk, Annie, and Sera although they were present at Reflex point and in the Regess' chamber during those episodes. The writers wanted to avoid including previous characters with too much backstory, particularly when those characters were not going to factor into the films storyline.

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