THE SUPER DIMENSIONAL FORTRESS :

MACROSS

The Super Dimensional Fortress : Macross is a Japanese Animation epic which captured the hearts and imagination of fans around the world. It debuted in the US as Robotech which is a compilation of 2 other japanese animations out at the time : Super Dimensional Calvary Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada and it has gained a dedicated following there. The popularity of Macross has grown so extraordinary over the years that it has spawned 3 sequels : Macross II, Macross Plus, Macross 7. This page details this much loved TV series.

In the year 1999, the world was plagued with war as the nations of the world fought for power and dominance. Then one night the sky was split by an awe inspiring explosion as a large asteroid plunged through the atmosphere and impacted on South Ataria island in the South Pacific. The devastation caused by the passage of the asteroid sent shockwaves around the world stunning the governments of warring nations. An uneasy truce was called and a team consisting of the world's top scientists were sent to investigate. The discovery by the team that the asteroid was in fact an alien spacecraft stunned the governments further. The sudden threat of an invasion by aliens forced the nations of the world to unite into a united earth government : the United Nations.

One of the first acts of the United Nations was to direct the world's resources in the restoration of the alien spacecraft discovered now to be a battlecruiser prossessing technology light years ahead of humanity greatest discoveries. This technology was given a name : Overtechnology. For 10 years the entire planet's resources was concentrated on rebuilding the spacecraft which was finally given the name : SDF-1 Macross, destined to be the flagship of the UNspacy fleet in the defence of earth. In the continual process of rebuilding and learning of the technology, a city has grown up around the fortress.

The overtechnology that was deciphered helped the United Nations create new Variable Fighters which are capable of transforming into three modes : Fighter, Battroid, Gerwalk. Fighter mode is the same as any conventional 20th century fighter aircraft, but Battroid resembles a 13-metre mechanical robot in a humanoid form. Gerwalk is the mix of both, combining some of the speed of an aircraft and the maneuverability of the Battroid ( primarily the use of hands and legs ). These new fighters are piloted and are transatmospheric and designed to operate from the SDF-1 and some of the other UNspacy spacecraft.

Another new fighting machine designed with the aid of overtechnology are the Destroids. These are non-transformable battle robots usually around 12-metre in height. They are crewed by a single pilot and holds an arsenal of weaponry designed from overtechnology. Their functions range from close assault mecha to air defence mecha. Both the variable fighters and the destroids were designed to combat the aliens that had crewed the pre-crashed SDF-1, which is believed to be 25 feet tall according to the dimensions of the crew quarters in the pre-crashed SDF-1. Both projects and the nature of the aliens were kept from the general populace, fearful of the panic which might ensure.

In the year 2009, the restoration of the SDF-1 was completed. The new flagship was ready to be launched to assume it's role as Earth's guardian against hostile aliens. As the launching ceremony got unde way a battlefleet of battle ready Zentraedi vessels defolded behind the moon. This battlefleet, having caught up with it's quarry, the Inspection Army Gunboat ( pre-crashed SDF-1 ), after a 10 year chase immediately launched an attack on the ship believing their enermies still has control of the vessel. The skirmish was short and bloody, two Zentraedi scout ships were destroyed when the SDf-1's automated defence systems fired the main cannon. The assualt forces of Zentraedi mecha was met and replused by the new variable fighters VF-1 Valkyrie.

In space the fleet of UNspacy vessels of Oberth-class deestroyers and ARMD space platforms counterattcked but their weapons were near to useless against the highly advanced Zentraedi ships, succeeding in only damaging one scout. Their futile attacks only reveiwed their own ineptness and the return fire from the Zentraedi destroyed an ARMD platform and caused major and minor damages to the rest. Their frantic cry for assistance urged Captain Global of the SDF-1 to launch his battlecruiser to rendezvous with the remnants of the UNspacy fleet. After malfunctions with the anti-gravity generators, the Macross proceeded to earth orbit and docking with two ARMD platforms. Vrlitwhai Kridanik, the commander of the Zentraedi fleet, saw an opportunity to capture the SDF-1 and the secrets within it's hull, and ordered the annihilation all UNspacy craft in the vacinity of the SDF-1. The barrage from the Zentraedi interrupted the docking procedures of the ARMD platforms causing almost complete destruction of the UNspacy fleet except for the Macross. The SDF-1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere above Macross city and attempted to use the untested fold system to translocate behind the moon for a surprise attack. Instead the fold carried the ship, Macross city with 56,000 civilians, and two UNnavy ships the submersible carrier Prometheus and submersible troop carrier Daedalus, to Pluto. To also compound their problems the fold drive system have mysteriously disappeared leaving them stranded.

Stranded in deep space with a complement of 56,000 civilians, the SDF-1 docks with the two UNnavy ships and heads for Earth under conventional drive systems. Before long they are attacked once again by the Zentraedi who have tracked down their hyperspace fold reaction. The Macross having gone through some major modifications transformed into it's new attack mode and fired it's main cannon, destroying the scout ship while it's fighter group fought off the Zentraedi battlepods.

Determined to capture this prize, Vrlitwhai launched attack after attack only to be countered by the resilient macross crew and citizens. With the Macross getting closer and closer to Earth, Vrlitwhai decided to send in spies to discover the reason behind the tactics of the SDF-1. The spies were micronised before being inserted into the SDF-1 to begin their operations. They found great differences between the micronians ( human ) way of life and their Zentraedi military culture. The Zentraedi life is pure military with being a Zentraedi warrior the only life there is. The glittering city inside the hull of the SDF-1 caused great concern and alarm to the spies as they have never been exposed to such a peaceful life. They were greatly attracted to this type of lifestyle and when they were retrieved by Vrlitwhai, they quickly spread the word of their findings. Thus at the next assualt on Macross, there were large numbers of desertion and disobedience. Shocked at the behavior of his Zentraedi warriors, Vrlitwhai and his advisor Exordore examined the data they have and decided to begin peacetalks with the micronians.

Meanwhile the SDF-1 and it's population of 56,000 civilians have reached earth only to be ordered by the UN government to launch back into space to act as a decoy while Earth's defences were strengthened. When attempting to offload it's civilians in the North American Ontario Quadrant, a heavy enermy assualt caused it's flawed Omnidirectional Barrier Defence System to overload and destroy the entire quadrant. This led to the SDF-1's exodus into space yet again. At this time the peacetalks began.

Hearing of this betrayal, Bodol, the supreme commander of all Zentraedi forces arrives with the main fleet intent on destroying the traitors and the micronian race. The titanic battle ensured between the 4 million vessels of the main fleet against the Vrlitwhai fleet of 100 000 vessels and the SDF-1. The singing of pop singer Lynn Minmay distracted the Zentraedi of Bodol's fleet and turned the battle in favor of the SDF-1 and allies. The result was the almost complete destruction of the Earth, the death of Bodol and the majority of his fleet were destroyed.

Approximatly 1 million survivors were found on Earth and on the Lunar base and the rebuilding of Earth began. Quamzin Kravashera and his renegade Zentraedi began to harass the Earth's forces in their attempt to steal spacecraft components to allow them to leave the Earth to reclaim the the Zentraedi overlordship in the galaxy. There have also been a surge of rebellion in the Zentraedi population on Earth as some of the Zentraedi are unable to adjust to the peaceful lifestyle of the the humans. Riots became more and more frequent and Quamzin used this unrest to his advantage and stole a reaction engine power condenser, central in the operation of his cruiser. His cruiser operational, Quamzin decided to launch a surprise attack on the SDF-1 before launching into space. Approaching Macross city under radar coverage, he achieved full surprise as the Macross defence forces scrambled to full alert. Quamzin's ship managed to avoid a direct hit by the SDF-1's main cannon, but the near miss crippled the guidance systems of the ship. Realising this, Quamzin watched with grim satisfaction as his ship aimed directly at the SDF-1 while the variable fighters attempted now to destroy as much of the Zentraedi cruiser as possible so there will be fewer of it to hit the Macross. In the collision the right cannon and arm of the Macross was torn off and destroyed in the destruction of the Zentraedi cruiser. The decision was then made to launch colonization missions to increase humanity's survivability.