Earth during the First Robotech War
Earth during the Second Robotech War. (Masters Saga: "Stardust")
Invid Invasion of Earth.
The Earth shortly before the Fourth Robotech War. (Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles)
Earth was the third planet in the Solar System and the homeworld of the Human race.
Earth withstood two alien invasions during the First and Second Robotech Wars only to fall to the Invid at the start of the Third Robotech War. It was liberated at the end of the Third Robotech War.
History[]
The Global War: A.D. 1990–1999[]
The Global War was a period of intense and widespread conflict on Earth that took place during the late 1990s. The war was driven by escalating regional tensions that eventually merged into a larger, devastating global conflict. Earth’s major military powers were overwhelmed and stretched thin, attempting to manage the chaos as the war intensified across multiple continents. Territorial disputes, resource shortages, and ideological conflicts fueled the escalation, plunging humanity into one of the most destructive wars in history.
By the late 1990s, the planet was on the brink of collapse, with vast portions of Earth’s population caught in the crossfire of military operations. Despite the overwhelming destruction, the warring factions of the world were unable to come to a conclusive peace. Instead, the war continued to spiral out of control, consuming the global military resources and ravaging entire nations.
The Macross Incident (1999 A.D.)[]
On July 1999, Zor’s Battlefortress—a colossal alien spacecraft—crashed into Macross Island, initiating the Macross Incident. This was a pivotal moment in Earth's history, as the ship's technology, which contained advanced Robotechnology, would dramatically alter Earth’s future. As humanity began to study the wreckage, it quickly became apparent that Earth was not alone in the universe.
The crash marked the end of the Global War, as nations ceased hostilities in response to this unprecedented alien arrival. Shortly thereafter, the global powers turned their attention to understanding the technology of the SDF-1.[1]
The Formation of the United Earth Government (2000s)[]
In the wake of the Macross Incident, the various factions and governments on Earth began to unite under the banner of a single governing body, the United Earth Government (UEG). This new global government was formed to maintain order on Earth in the face of the unknown. The UEG was officially ratified in 2005, creating a unified military and political entity dedicated to defense, research, and the integration of Robotechnology into Earth's infrastructure.
The Anti-Unification League (2003 - 2009)[]
As the United Earth Government solidified its control, not everyone agreed with the formation of a single, unified Earth. The Anti-Unification League (AUL) emerged as a resistance movement, initially composed of peaceful protesters who opposed the establishment of the UEG. However, the AUL quickly became more radical, with some factions turning to terrorism and guerrilla tactics in their fight against the new government.[2]The group was particularly active in Yokohama, Japan by 2003, where they began to gain support among those who felt the UEG was too authoritarian.[3]
While the AUL claimed to be a peace movement,[4]its extremist elements escalated the conflict, leading to violent confrontations with the Robotech Defense Force (RDF), a military force created to combat alien threats.[5] The AUL’s guerrilla fighters, including their use of stolen technology like the MiM-31 Karyovin fighters, became a significant threat to the fledgling UEG’s authority.[6]
The AUL was largely blamed for the destruction of Mars Base Sara—a military outpost that served as an integral part of Earth's defense strategy. While the UEG initially framed the AUL as responsible, it was later revealed that the attack was not orchestrated by them but was a part of the opening moves in an interstellar conflict.[7] The Zentraedi, a massive alien force, were preparing to invade Earth. Just as Earth prepared for the incoming Zentraedi threat. The League’s most notable act was the hijacking of Armor-1, which was thwarted by RDF forces but led to further instability.[8]
First Robotech War: A.D. 2009-2011[]
Prelude to war (2000s)[]
Following the formation of the United Earth Government (UEG) in 2005, Earth underwent rapid military and technological advancements. The discovery of the SDF-1, the crashed alien battleship on Macross Island, fueled an arms race to understand and harness Robotechnology—an advanced alien science hidden within the wreckage
Over the next decade, scientist and engineers worked tirelessly to revers-engineer the ship's systems, leading to creation of mecha, space faring warships, and energy-based weaponry. The UEG established the Robotech Defense Force (RDF) as its primary military force to defend Earth against potential extraterrestrial threats.
However, as the RDF prepared for external dangers, internal unrest grew. Anti-UE factions opposed the centralization of power, and several nations resisted full integration into the global government. Political tensions remained high, and as Earth grappled with its own divisions, its leaders had no idea that a far greater threat loomed just beyond the stars.
The Zentraedi Arrival & The Battle of Macross Island (2009)[]
On February 2009, Earth's worst fears became reality. A massive fleet of Zentraedi warships, led by Commander Breetai, entered the solar system, searching for Zor's battlefortress. The Zentraedi were a genetically engineered warrior race, bred solely for combat and serving the mysterious Robotech Masters. They were drawn to Earth not by conquest, but by the lost technology hidden within the SDF-1.
The Zentraedi launched a sudden and overwhelming assault on Macross Island, catching the RDF off guard. The SDF-1, which had been retrofitted for human use, was unprepared for immediate battle. However, Captain Henry Gloval and his crew managed to activate its systems in time to repel the initial attack.
Realizing that Earth was in grave danger, the RDF attempted to launch the SDF-1 into space, intending to draw the Zentraedi away from the planet. However, during its first spacefold maneuver, the ship accidentally transported itself—along with the entire Macross City—into deep space near Pluto.
Anti-Unification League role[]
When the Zentraedi attacked in 2009, the UEG falsely blamed the Anti-Unification League for the destruction of SDF-1, hiding the true nature of the alien invasion.[9] While the League dissolved after their failed hijacking, their actions had unintentionally set the stage for Earth’s involvement in the First Robotech War.[10]
The War in Space & The Earth Under Siege (2009–2011)[]
With the SDF-1 now trapped far from home, its crew and civilian passengers had to fight their way back to Earth while constantly evading and engaging the Zentraedi fleet. The RDF, using Veritech Fighters and Destroids, waged numerous battles against Zentraedi warships, gradually uncovering the true nature of their enemy.
Back on Earth, the war was kept a strict secret from the general population. The UEG feared mass panic and withheld information, only reporting vague details about a military operation in deep space. However, isolated Zentraedi scouting forces occasionally engaged Earth’s defenses, leading to rumors of an alien invasion.
As the SDF-1 journeyed home, a crucial discovery was made: the Zentraedi had no understanding of human culture. The concept of emotions, relationships, and civilian life was entirely foreign to them. This led to a cultural contamination among the Zentraedi ranks, with some of their warriors beginning to question their purpose.
The Rain of Death (April 2011)[]
The war reached its climax in April 2011, when Supreme Commander Dolza, leader of the entire Zentraedi race, ordered a full-scale planetary assault. Over five million Zentraedi warships descended upon Earth, unleashing the Rain of Death—a cataclysmic orbital bombardment that devastated the planet. Entire cities were wiped out, and the UEG's command structure was crippled. In mere hours, over 70% of Earth's population perished.
In a desperate final stand, the RDF and their Zentraedi defectors, led by Breetai and Exedore, launched a counteroffensive. Using the SDF-1 and the last remnants of Earth's forces, they managed to destroy Dolza's flagship and shatter the Zentraedi fleet. The war ended in a Pyrrhic victory—humanity had survived, but at an unimaginable cost.
Earth was left in ruins, and only a few million survivors remained. The world had changed forever. Now, with the Zentraedi scattered and remnants of their forces still posing a threat, humanity had to rebuild while preparing for future wars—wars that would arise from the very Robotechnology they had sought to master.
The Reconstruction Era: 2011-2014[]
Zentraedi help reconstruct. (Robotech: Battlecry)
The end of the First Robotech War in 2011 left Earth in ruins. What had once been a thriving planet, home to billions, was now a wasteland. The Rain of Death, unleashed by Dolza’s Grand Fleet, had obliterated nearly 70% of the human population, leaving behind a broken world where civilization barely clung to survival. The few remaining cities were either heavily damaged or struggling to function. Humanity faced an uncertain future, and the fragile peace that followed the war was soon shattered by new conflicts.
As the survivors worked to rebuild, the United Earth Government (UEG) and the Robotech Defense Force (RDF) launched a massive reconstruction effort. With much of Earth's infrastructure destroyed, the focus was on restoring order, rebuilding lost technology, and managing the growing Zentraedi integration crisis. Many Zentraedi, now stranded on Earth, attempted to assimilate into human society, but a significant number resisted. For these warriors, bred for battle, peace was a foreign concept. Their growing discontent would soon ignite a new war.
The Rise of the Malcontent Uprisings[]
In the years following the war, the greatest threat to stability came from rogue Zentraedi factions, collectively referred to as the Malcontents. Scattered across the wastelands, these rogue warriors saw humanity not as allies, but as a weaker species unworthy of ruling the planet. Some refused to abandon their genetic programming, believing that the Zentraedi were meant only for war. Others, disillusioned by their defeat, turned to raiding human settlements, hoping to carve out their own dominions.
One of the most dangerous figures to emerge in this chaotic time was Khyron. Alongside his loyal followers, including Azonia and Grel, Khyron went into hiding, gathering surviving Zentraedi warriors who rejected peace. From the shadows, he plotted revenge against humanity and, more importantly, against the SDF-1 and its crew. Among those who rallied to Khyron’s cause was Zeraal, a former Zentraedi flag officer. Though the two shared a common hatred for humanity, they clashed over their methods. While Khyron was obsessed with the destruction of the SDF-1 and its defenders, Zeraal sought to establish Zentraedi-controlled territories, ruling over the wastelands as a true warlord. Their uneasy alliance would shape the course of the Malcontent Uprisings.
New Macross City & The SDF-2[]
Despite the rising threat of the Malcontents, the UEG pressed forward with its long-term plans for Earth’s future. In 2012, the construction of New Macross City was underway, built around the damaged but still-standing SDF-1. This new city represented humanity’s hope for renewal, a place where both humans and Zentraedi could coexist and move beyond the devastation of war.
At the same time, work had begun on the SDF-2, a second battle fortress intended to lead the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) into deep space, to search the Robotech Masters homeworld. The REF was expected to launch in 2014, marking the beginning of humanity’s expansion beyond its ruined homeworld.
However, these efforts were continuously disrupted by Malcontent attacks. Khyron’s forces launched raids on RDF supply lines, while Zeraal expanded his domain in the wastelands, attacking both human settlements and Zentraedi defectors who had chosen to side with humanity. RDF forces, already stretched thin, struggled to contain the growing threat.
The Rise of Khyron and the Road to War (2013-2014)[]
By May 2013, the Robotech Masters, the original creators of the Zentraedi, concluded that their forces had been destroyed and began their journey toward Earth, unaware of the continued existence of Protoculture on the planet. Meanwhile, Khyron, once a high-ranking Zentraedi officer, had risen to power among the Malcontents, gathering a formidable army of rogue Zentraedi. He waged a brutal campaign against RDF forces, disrupting reconstruction efforts and launching attacks on New Macross City.
In June 2013, a combined Earth-Zentraedi force successfully captured a Robotech Factory Satellite, an essential asset in humanity’s efforts to build new warships and mecha. However, Khyron’s forces responded aggressively, seizing a Protoculture Sizing Chamber in July and later stealing a Protoculture Storage Matrix in December, ensuring they had the resources to sustain their rebellion.
On December 25, 2013, in a bold move, Khyron launched a Christmas Day raid on New Macross City, striking at the RDF’s Protoculture supply lines. The attack resulted in heavy casualties and was a prelude to his ultimate plan: the complete destruction of the SDF-1.
The Battle of New Macross City & The Destruction of the SDF-1 & SDF-2 (January 2014)[]
The Battle of New Macross City was the final, devastating conflict of the First Robotech War, marking the end of Admiral Gloval’s leadership and the destruction of Earth’s greatest warships—the SDF-1 and SDF-2.
By January 2014, construction of the SDF-2, a second battle fortress designed for the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF), was nearly complete. It was meant to spearhead an interstellar mission to locate the Robotech Masters Homeworld. However, before the launch could take place, Khyron launched a final, desperate attack on New Macross City.
As Khyron, now a rogue warlord, gathered his forces for a final assault, Admiral Henry Gloval and the Robotech Defense Force (RDF) prepared a desperate counterattack. Recognizing the need for leadership beyond the war, Gloval promoted Lisa Hayes to Captain of the SDF-2, which was intended to be humanity’s next great interstellar vessel. Before she could take command, Lisa found the courage to confront Rick Hunter about her feelings, forcing him to choose between her and Lynn Minmei. As the battle unfolded, Rick realized that it was Lisa whom he truly loved.
The Final Stand[]
As Khyron and Azonia launched their all-out attack on New Macross City, the repaired SDF-1 took to the sky one last time, its crew determined to defend humanity. A massive crowd of civilians and soldiers alike cheered the fortress’ final ascent. However, the battlefortress had only enough power for a single shot.
Gloval and his crew fired their last blast at Khyron’s warship, crippling it. But the SDF-1’s power was fully depleted in the process, causing it to crash into the waters surrounding New Macross City. Realizing that the SDF-1 could no longer erect a defense barrier, Khyron and Azonia, in their lust for vengeance, locked their warship’s guidance system into a head-on collision with the powerless fortress.
The impact was catastrophic. The SDF-1, SDF-2, and Khyron’s warship were all obliterated in the blast. Among the fallen were:
- Admiral Henry Gloval
- Claudia Grant
- Vanessa Leeds, Kim Young, Sammie Porter
- Khyron, Azonia, and Grel
- Hundreds of human and Zentraedi soldiers
The explosion not only devastated New Macross City but also released dangerous levels of radiation, forcing the immediate evacuation of the surviving population.
Aftermath and Legacy[]
Miraculously, Lisa Hayes survived, ejected at the last moment by Gloval’s quick thinking. After the battle, she was found by Rick Hunter, who had finally chosen his path forward. Saddened by the loss of their friends and shipmates, Rick and Lisa vowed to rebuild.
Though the First Robotech War had ended in fire and ruin, the battle for Earth’s future had only just begun.
Aftermath: A.D. 2014-2022[]
Prelude to the battle of New Macross City (2014)[]
The year marked the end of the First Robotech War, with the Battle of New Macross City. Zentraedi forces, led by Khyron, launched a devastating attack that destroyed the SDF-1 and SDF-2, and many key figures, including Henry Gloval and the SDF-1 command staff, were lost. However, Lisa Hayes survived, and the battle ended with the radiation hazard from the wreckage forcing the site to be declared off-limits. The remains of the two ships and the city were buried, marking the end of an era. The Zentraedi forces fractured, leading to infighting and the formation of new factions across the Americas. The United Earth Government (UEG) responded by declaring the site a historical landmark and shifting its capital to Monument City.
Reconstruction and the Southern Cross (2015)[]
The United Earth Defense Forces (UEDF) focused on rebuilding and fortifying Earth after the destruction. Construction of the SDF-3 began aboard the Robotech Factory Satellite in preparation for the Pioneer Mission to search for the Robotech Masters. Meanwhile, the Southern Cross forces, led by Anatole Leonard, became increasingly influential, with a more authoritarian attitude emerging. They played a key role in maintaining Earth’s stability, but tensions simmered over their approach.
Stabilization and the Malcontent Uprisings (2016-2021)[]
In 2021, the Malcontent uprising led by Zeraal escalated as they sought to exterminate humanity, seeing them as a threat. Pegasus Squadron was formed to counter this genocidal campaign. Despite these struggles, the Malcontent forces slowly collapsed by the end of 2021, thanks to UEG military operations, leaving some groups to become rogue states or even integrate into the UEG.
The Crystal War: A.D. 2021-2022[]
In 2021, Earth faced a new threat when a group of Zentraedi folded near Venus’ orbit, catching the attention of Earth's forces. The war began shortly after, triggered by a mysterious Zentraedi faction that had escaped the last battle of the First Robotech War.
Kyle Bartley, an ex-RDF pilot who had disgraced himself years earlier, was sent to the incomplete SDF-3 to report on the Zentraedi anomaly. He and Max Sterling helped defend the SDF-3 from the new Zentraedi threat, marking the first battle of the Crystal War.[11]
The war, fought between Earth’s forces and the Zentraedi, was over by 2022, with humanity victorious. Despite the victory, there was unease, and many feared that Earth’s defenses would be weakened after the departure of the SDF-3.
The Launch of the SDF-3 and the Pioneer Mission (2022 A.D.)[]
Rick and Lisa stand by the window of the Robotech Factory Satellite, Earth's reflection shimmering before them. (Robotech II: The Sentinels)
In January 2022, Anatole Leonard was appointed the supreme commander of Earth’s defense forces, solidifying the UEG's control over Earth’s military. A significant portion of the Zentraedi population volunteered for migration to offworld colonies, marking an important step in Earth’s healing process. By June, Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes were married aboard the Robotech Factory Satellite, signaling the strengthening of key military alliances.
By December, the SDF-3, the flagship of the Robotech Expeditionary Force, launched on its mission to explore the stars and seeking out the Zentraedi's masters on the planet Tirol.
Section Incomplete
Second Robotech War: A.D. 2027-2031[]
Prelude to War (2012–2029)[]
After the First Robotech War (2009–2011), Earth was left in ruins following the Zentraedi Holocaust, which killed most of the human population. Over the next decade, the Army of the Southern Cross (ASC) rose as Earth’s new military force, preparing for future alien threats.
Meanwhile, the Robotech Masters, the creators of the Zentraedi, detected the defeat of their forces in 2011 and realized their Protoculture supply was at risk. They departed their homeworld, Tirol, on a long journey toward Earth. Their goal was to reclaim the Protoculture Matrix, which had been hidden inside the SDF-1 by the original Zor before his death. (Macross Saga: "Robotech Masters", Robotech II: The Sentinels).
In 2022, the newly formed Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) launched an expedition to Tirol, hoping to negotiate with the Masters. However, they were ambushed by the Invid, who destroyed their fold drives, leaving them stranded in deep space. This prevented the REF from returning to Earth, leaving the planet vulnerable to future attacks (Robotech II: The Sentinels).
Pre-Second Robotech War (2027)[]
In 2027, Earth came under attack from an unknown race of invaders, who launched an assault on one of Earth's cities. Colonel B.D. Andrews, a high-ranking officer in Earth's military forces, led his hover tank squadron in an attempt to repel the enemy. However, his mecha was damaged in a surprise Bioroid ambush, leading to his capture, along with numerous civilians.
Andrews was taken before the Robotech Masters, who discovered his importance among the Humans. Seeing an opportunity, they created a bio-genetic clone of Andrews, a Simulagent, to infiltrate Earth’s military and retrieve critical data from the Mother Computer, which had been lost on Earth long ago. The real Andrews was executed, leaving only the clone in his place.
The Simulagent was inserted back into Earth's forces, where he quickly denied the existence of any attack in the Northern Province to prevent suspicion. However, his mission was complicated when a former soldier of Andrews, Todd, stole the prototype MODAT-5, a critical link to the Mother Computer. Todd gave the MODAT-5 to his friend, Mark Landry, leading the Simulagent to dispatch forces to retrieve the stolen prototype and eliminate witnesses.
At the same time, the clone continued feeding intelligence to the Robotech Masters, even warning them about an upcoming Earth attack on their mothership. Using the failed attack as leverage, the Simulagent proposed a new strategy to the Security Council, convincing them to use the EVE supercomputer to coordinate Earth's defense against alien threats. However, this was a deception, as his true goal was to seize control of EVE and download its database into the Masters’ mothership.
Before he could complete his mission, Mark Landry piloted the MODAT-6 and killed the Simulagent, stopping the Robotech Masters’ infiltration. (Robotech: The Movie)
The War Begins (2029)[]
In January 2029, the Robotech Masters’ fleet arrived in Earth’s orbit, launching an invasion to reclaim the Protoculture Matrix. Moon Base Luna was destroyed, and communications between Southern Cross HQ and Space Station Liberty were cut off due to heavy jamming.[12] CDU Captain Maury Komodo launched a hyper-cobalt missile strike against the Masters’ mothership, prompting a retaliatory Bioroid assault on Southern Cross forces outside Monument City.[13] The Army of the Southern Cross mobilized its forces, but early battles resulted in devastating losses for both sides.[14]
Officers Dana Sterling and Marie Crystal successfully reestablished contact, allowing Liberty to alert the REF.[15] However, the REF, still engaged in battle with the Invid, was unable to send reinforcements.[16] By July, the Masters began a secret excavation of the SDF-1 ruins at SX Point 83 in search of the Protoculture Matrix. Discovered by the 15th ATAC on patrol, the operation escalated when Bowie Grant was captured. Dana Sterling led an unauthorized rescue mission, resulting in the Masters’ retreat but at the cost of significant ASC losses.[17]
In August, Supreme Commander Anatole Leonard ordered an immediate retaliation against the advice of his senior staff, resulting in a disastrous defeat for the Army of the Southern Cross. Soon afterward, the 15th ATAC discovered a weakness in the Masters’ mothership, launched a strike to disable it, and caused it to crash outside Monument City.[18] During the subsequent infiltration, the unit captured a Bioroid mecha for study.[19]
Section Incomplete
Third Robotech War: A.D. 2031-2044[]
to be added
Fourth Robotech War: A.D. 2044-????[]
to be added
| This article is a stub. You can help Robotech Saga Wiki by expanding it. |
Known Locations[]
Continents[]
Countries[]
 For the Macross equivalent, visit Earth. |
Reference[]
- ↑ (Macross Saga: Boobytrap, Robotech 3D 1: Booby Trap!, Robotech: The Graphic Novel)
- ↑ (Macross Saga: "Homecoming," From the Stars, et. al)
- ↑ (Mars Base One: Part Two)
- ↑ (Macross Saga: "Homecoming")
- ↑ (Mars Base One: Part Two, Love & War: Part 1)
- ↑ (From the Stars, Macross Saga: "A Rainy Night")
- ↑ (Mars Base One Part Five)
- ↑ (From the Stars: Commitment)
- ↑ (Macross Saga: "Homecoming")
- ↑ (Robotech: From the Stars, Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles)
- ↑ (Robotech: Crystal Dreams 1, Robotech: Crystal Dreams)
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "Dana's Story", Robotech Special 1: Dana's Story)
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "False Start")
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "Southern Cross")
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "Volunteers")
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "Volunteers", Robotech II: The Sentinels, Robotech II: The Sentinels (comic series))
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "Half Moon")
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "Danger Zone")
- ↑ (Masters Saga: "The Trap")