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Robotech Expeditionary Force

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General


Newref insig

The emblem of the REF

The United Earth Expeditionary Forces, or the Robotech Expeditionary Force was originally part of the Pioneer Expedition, but became a division belonging to the United Earth Forces. The Flagship of the REF is the SDF-3 Pioneer. The REF's mission was to protect Human colonies. However, when the Third Robotech War started, the REF had to create a division called the Earth Reclamation Force (ERF).

History[]

Creation[]

The REF was established after a short conflict known as the Crystal War, where the RDF fought against a Zentraedi fleet that was still loyal to the Robotech Masters. While the conflict was kept outside of Earth, and only lasting a year or less, it left the population of Earth and RDF High Command paranoid that the Robotech Masters would send another fleet to invade Earth and thus began plans to send an Expedition to them before they attacked Earth again. (Robotech: Crystal Dreams)

The Pioneer Expedition was formed sometime before 2021 to search for the Homeworld of the Masters, Tirol. The expedition's objective was to negotiate with the Tirolian Masters to prevent another galactic war. However, in case the Masters refused to negotiate, the expedition was prepared for all-out war. The expedition had tens of thousands of human members, a few hundred Zentraedi, and had the most advanced technology humanity had at the time.

In 2022, the expedition finally left Earth in the SDF-3 under the command of Admiral Lisa Hayes-Hunter. (Robotech II: The Sentinels)

The Sentinels War[]

Upon arriving on the Local Group of Fantoma, The Pioneer Expedition was ambushed by the Invid under the command of the Regent, with the SDF-3's space fold engines being destroyed in the battle, stranding the Expeditionary forces in the Local Group. When the REF liberated Tirol from the Invid, they became aware that the Masters had already left for Earth. With nowhere left to go, they went on to settle Tirol, establishing a human colony and their headquarters, and began a campaign to liberate the Local Group from the Invid occupiers.

Shortly after the liberation of Tirol, the REF made contact with the Sentinels, a coalition of various species that stood against the Invid occupation of the Local Group, with the two factions forming an alliance to defeat the Invid. This alliance led to the creation of a fleet of warships using the Karbarrans' industrial capabilities. Some of the designs born during this time were the Garfish-class frigate, the Horizon-T-class transport and the Shimakaze-class battleship plus the SDF-4 Liberator. (Robotech II: The Sentinels)

During the war, the REF met the Haydonites, an advanced race of mechanoloids that had conflicts with the Invid in the past and had developed technology to fight them. They joined the REF-Sentinels alliance and their contributions where essential to their campaign against the Invid. However, in secret, the REF began to adapt their technology under their guidance with the ensuing results named "Shadow technology". Official policy was that the REF developed Shadow technology by themselves, with only a few high ranking members being aware of the Haydonites' involvement, which was kept secret at their request.

The conflict would eventually last 22 years but the Invid were defeated and Local Group freed. (Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles)

Second Robotech War[]

During the Second Robotech War, the REF was still in conflict with the Invid, still stranded in the Local Group of Sentinels worlds. However, when they attempted to help the struggling Southern Cross Army by sending the Relief Expedition Fleet, the fleet was decimated by the Robotech Masters before it could reach Earth, with the survivors informing the leadership of the Sourthern Cross that the REF was unable to provide more aid. (Robotech: The Masters Saga)

REF Civil War[]

Following the defeat of the Invid on Optera, General T. R. Edwards launched a coup attempt on the REF which led to the destruction of the SDF-3's bridge, Admiral Lisa Hayes-Hunter's crippling and subsequent retirement from the rank of admiral. A civil war soon exploded between the supporters of T. R. Edwards and those of Rick Hunter just as the war against the Invid Regent was ending. Edwards's allies included the Regent, while Hunter was supported by the Sentinels.

The civil war ended in the death of both the Regent and of T.R. Edwards and the surrender of his soldiers on Optera but delayed the return of the REF back to Earth a whole year. (Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles)

Third Robotech War[]

REF final offensive to liberate Earth

REF Offensive to Liberate Earth.

After the Invid invaded planet Earth in 2031, the REF decided to split to create the Earth Reclamation Force to liberate the planet by destroying the main Invid hive in "SX Point 83", later codenamed Reflex Point. (Love Live Alive) Sometime in late-2031, a small REF fleet evacuated the remnants of the Army of the Southern Cross to their bases in Mars, Jupiter and the Moon.

Even with their experience fighting the Invid, the first Earth Reclamation fleet was overwhelmed and most of the fleet was destroyed in 2038, among those that were declared M.I.A were Colonel Jonathan Wolfe and Lieutenant Lance Belmont.

A second fleet arrived in 2042 which had the advantage of better ships and upgraded Alpha Fighters. However, even with the better weaponry, the fleet was overwhelmed and destroyed. Lieutenant Scott Bernard was the only known person to have reached Earth, who proceeded to form a small group of rebels that would eventually reach Reflex Point in 2044.

After the disastrous attempts of two Earth Reclamation fleets to reclaim Earth, the REF regrouped at Moon Base ALUCE after the civil war. On 2044, the Reclamation Force launched an all-out attack against the Invid on Earth with the Shadow technology given by the Haydonites.

The Battle of Reflex Point forced the Invid to leave Earth, but at cost of heavy losses on the REF and led to a Protoculture shortage after the disappearance of the SDF-3.

Fourth Robotech War[]

Ikazuchi-fleet

REF Fleet assigned to Space Station Liberty.

Shortly after the Invid left Earth, taking with them all the protoculture on Earth with them, the Haydonites attacked the stranded SDF-3 and later the Space Station Liberty; destroying much of the defense fleet.

After the remaining ships retreated, the personnel in the station escaped using the Ark Angel, an old ship that didn't have Haydonite technology, while Scott Bernard and Captain Vince Grant entered the station to set up the Neutron-S Missiles inside to self-destruct to prevent the Haydonites from following the survivors of the battle, with its explosion taking a huge part of the attacking Haydonite Fleet. After the debriefing with REF Command, General Gunther Reinhardt sent the Ark Angel to find the missing SDF-3, its' survivors and the Protoculture Matrix before the Haydonites do.

List of known Members[]

Known REF Divisions[]

List of REF starship types[]

Capital Ships[]

Assault Shuttles[]

List of REF mecha[]

Equipment[]

Behind the Scenes[]

The actual composition of the REF has been subject of discussion due to how it was imagined vs. How it was portrayed. The Sentinels meta-storyline portrayed the REF being exclusively based on the SDF-3 with no other ships alongside it, contradicting their portrayal in the Masters Saga and the New Generation where the REF was meant to had been a fleet from the beginning. This topic was addressed in The Sentinels comic and novel adaptations with the Karbarrans building ships for the REF to fight the Invid following the liberation of their planet.

For the canceled TV series, the REF was supposed to feature next-generation Destroids like the Excalibur MK VII, Gladiator MK III, Spartan MK XII, Raidar X, and the M.A.C. III alongside Zentraedi mecha such as the TBP-Z1 Battlepod, OBP-Z2 Officer Pod, and CRP-Z3 Cyclops ship. In addition, there was the Valivarre-class.

The roleplaying game sourcebook Robotech: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One created new versions of each alongside new Cyclone models - Rifleman Cyclone, VR-020 series space Cyclones Nova Cyclone and Comet Cyclone, VR-15 Spider Cyclone, and VR-17 Crusader Cyclone and vehicles like the IFHV-03 Mk. II Archon and FSB-03 Mk. I Daniel.

The video game Robotech: Invasion (video game) portrayed the REF as having VR-101Ps and VR-098 Devastators.

According to Robotech: The Roleplaying Game Book Six: The Return of the Masters, the REF was working on additional prototype mecha, namely the Prototype Super Alpha and ZSB-20.

The Special Edition DVDs include concept art for the vehicles and characters, as does Robotech Art 3: The Sentinels, which also has an overview of the series.

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