MACROSS PLUS

Macross Plus is a 4 part OAV series that is the second or third series in the Macross continuity. This is due to whether or not Macross II : Lovers agian is recognised as part of this continuity. This OAV series is considered by many as one of the best animation series to come out of from Japan. Loved by both Macross and Robotech fans around the world and appraised by all who have seen it, it utilises the latest computer graphics and animation techniques and is a fitting tribute to the Macross saga.

Background :

After Space War 1, mankind came to realise how close the human race came to total extinction. All they that was left are approximately 1 million survivors of the human race and a devastated planet. The new leaders of the world decided on two bold colonisation schemes. Using normal transports to colonise habitable worlds close to Earth ( preferably within 10 light years ), and building huge colonisation ships with a sizable escort and colonise worlds farther away. The half completed SDF-2 on the moon were quickly converted into the first of these colonisation ships and named : Megaroad 01. These huge ships were crewed with humans and micronised zentraedi alike. For this purpose the cloning technology bought by the Zentraedi was bought quickly into use, to quickly repopulate the Earth and colonised worlds.

In 2040 A.D. on the colonised planet of Eden approximately 10 light years from Earth, the Supernova project is held on the New Edwards test flight center situated there. This project is held to select the next generation main variable fighter to replace the aging VF-11 Thunderbolt currently in service. The two fighters are the YF-19 made by Shinsei industries, and the YF-21 by General Galaxy. Both fighters carry active stealth systems and are capable of executing a fold action on it's own with the use of a portable fold system. This is to enable them to penetrate enemy front lines to destroy HQs and rescure hostages and thus limiting the conflict. The YF-19 utilises the traditional flight control systems while the YF-21 uses the revolutionary Brain Direct Imaging (BDI) and Brainwave Control System (BCS) systems which allows the pilot to control the plane by their thoughts alone. Both fighters are far superior in all attributes than the VF-11 and even the more modern VF-17, and easily capable of besting the renegade power armour used by the Anti-UN forces and any unforseen hostile forces.

The test pilot for General Galaxy is Guld Goa Boman, a half Zentraedi UN Spacy pilot with impressive flying and fighting abilities. The YF-19 have worn out 7 test pilots, half of them resting comfortably in eternal peace, and the latest test pilot First Lieutenant Isamu Dayson is transfered from his station as a VF-11 pilot on a Galaxy patrol fleet searching for the manufacturing facilities of the renegade power armor used by the Anti-UN forces. Isamu Dayson is a reckless pilot with impressive flying and combat abilities whose continual disobediance has led to him being transfered to being a test pilot, something he has always hoped to become. In 7 days he has reached Eden and while approaching New Edwards he encountered an aircraft with incredible speed and stealth capabilities. His report to New Edwards was replied telling him to disregard the aircraft, which immediately led him to the conclusion that it was the new experimental fighter developed.

Upon landing on the base he attended a quick meeting which briefed him on the Super Nova project. He was introduced to Colonel Millard Johnson and the design team of the YF-19 which he will be piloting. Towards the end of the briefing the pilot of the competing fighter, Guld Goa Boman, appeared and debriefed his test flight earlier that day. Both Isamu and Guld instantly recognised each other and Guld immediately launched a series of uncomplimentary remarks about Isamu who was barely able to restrain his anger. The next day Isamu used a simulator for practice since the YF-19 was still being repaired and dispalying some unbelievable stunts of wild flying, he crashed both in the simulation and the simulator itself which led to a confrontation with Yan Newmann the designer of the YF-19, and a date with Lucy Macmillan another of the design team.

Unbeknown to either Isamu or Guld, the third member of their childhood friendship, Myung Fang Lone, had arrived with the newest music sensation, Sharon Apple, a virtual reality singer. The three of them meet up accidentally and each recalls different versions of an incident in their past which broke up their friendship. Guld and Isamu were about to slug it out when Myung intervened and pleading with them to let the past lie. The next morning on Guld's test run, Isamu signs on as the pilot of one of the chaser planes in a boosted VF-11. The run was extremely successful with Guld displaying exceptional flying skills as he evaded all missiles fired at him. However at the combat exercise, Isamu deliberately destroyed the last drone fighter before Guld and that sets off Guld's temper which led to overload and feedback of the BDI and BCS systems causing Guld to lose complete control of his fighter. As the YF-21 burns up in it's fall to earth, Isamu calmly watches before stepping in at the last moment to rescue the disintegrating fighter. Rescued from inevitable death, Guld calms down and regains control of his plane. He mildly contemplates driving Ismau's fighter to the ground by exerting a downward thrust from the YF-21 but the BDI system transform his thought into action to his surprise and drives the VF-11 into the ground with Isamu barely surviving the ensuring wreakage.

The incident was passed off as by Guld as a technical problem of the BCS system but his words were unconvincing to Colonel Millard who began a checkup on Guld's physical and mental condition. In the meantime Yan, Lucy, and Isamu attends a Sharon Apple concert and Yan displays his computer skills by hacking into the concert hall systems enabling him to take control of the image of Sharon Apple for a short duration. However they are were not aware that Sharon Apple's programming was not complete and lacks an emotion program. Thus it is Myung who provides the emotions heard in the songs.

The next morning the YF-19 is finally repaired and Isamu launches in it on his first test run which involves only simple execises such as achieving orbit around Eden. Instead Isamu displayed his impressive flying abilities by throwing his new fighter around the upper atmosphere in a breath taking display of acrobatics. The smoke trails left by Isamu paints the picture of a pterosaur. The fiece competition between the two prototypes and their pilots begin with both fighters displaying impressive results. One night both Isamu and Guld recieved strange phone calls warning of a fire at the concert hall and both fearing Myung to be there rushed over to investigate. Guld arrives at the concert hall and saves Myung but is confused by the behaviour of the buildings alarm systems which activated almost too late. Guld carries her to her hotel room where she tends to his wounds and he stays the night there. The next morning the rivalry between the two took on new heights as both deviated from their exercises and proceeded to the city arena where they engaged in a brawl, not unlike those normally found in bars and such, but this took on titanic proportions in full sized mechas. Finally Isamu was badly wounded when Guld picked up the YF-19's gunpod and discharged some live ammo, which he planted there, into the YF-19.

While Isamu lies comatose, the inquiry into the incident proceeds but General Gomez who holds deep empathy for pilots, passed the blame on system malfunction instead. This has everyone in the project confused except Colonel Millard who knows full well the reason why. Isamu unexpectedly wakes up early from his coma and dragging a reluctant Myung with him, 'borrows' a paramedic motorcycle and took off for the hills. There they relax in the quiet serenity that surrounds them while Myung berates him on his rash behavior while he calmly replies in a philosophical manner while gazing at the sky. On return to the hospital Guld's fury overtakes him when he see Myung riding behind Isamu and the two enter a fistfight even though Isamu is still badly injured. Yan and Lucy watch as the two fight in an uneven match before Myung enters the fray in a bid to stop it. Inadvertently Isamu lands a punch on her. Even so she stops the two from fighting further and Isamu rides away in anguish. The next day Myung boards a liner to Earth where Sharon Apple is due to preform at the Armistice ceremony.

Meanwhile on Earth a new Artificial Intelligence fighter, the X-9 Ghost, is developed and proves to be superb unmanned fighter and more than a match for the latest in manned VFs. The craft is to be announced at the 30th Armistice ceremony to celebrate the end of Space War 1. The supernova project is thus canceled which leaves all personnel on the project furious and even more so on Isamu. He decides to hijack the YF-19 with a fold booster and travel to Earth where he plans to duel with the Ghost and prove the superiority of pilots. However when Isamu arrived at the hanger he found Yan already in the navigator seat of the YF-19. Yan persuaded Isamu to take him along so he can prove that he hasn't wasted his life working on the YF-19 only to have it beaten by a drone. They blow the hanger doors and escape with the YF-19 just folding as a gaggle of missiles close in on them. Guld is sent off in pursuit with the YF-21.

Marji, the promoter of Sharon Apple, has inserted an AI chip into Sharon Apple without telling the others thereby giving Sharon Apple an intelligence and survival instinct. When Myung accidently discovers the truth she is captured by Sharon just as the concert is about to start. Using the live broadcast coverage to Macross city Sharon hypnotises the entire population of the city including the military personnel and staff on the SDF-1 Macross which lies as a relic at the heart of the city. Meanwhile Isamu and Yan defolds in Earths orbit and with the help of their stealth system and debris from satellites they've destroyed, they enter the atmosphere only to be challenged by Guld who followed them. They two fighters fight an intense battle before Guld achieves a lock on and fires a spread of missiles which in his view destroys the YF-19. At that moment Guld experiences a flashback to the incident in his youth which destroyed the friendship of Guld, Isamu, and Myung. He see's the whole truth which was his mind blocking out the truth from himself because it was his fault but had blamed Isamu. Then he realise that Isamu was still alive and the two chat as they flew side by side in the setting sun. They are then attacked by the X-9 Ghost which has been taken over by Sharon Apple. Isamu breaks away to save Myung while Guld fights the X-9 but finds it an extremely tough fight. In the end, in order to end the threat, Guld rams the YF-21 into the Ghost destroying both aircrafts.

Isamu approaches Sharon Apple in the old Macross fortress and is bewildered to see the SDF-1 activated and controled by Sharon. They brave the defences while Yan discovers a way to destroy Sharon by destroying the entire neural network of the fortress itself. Recognising the threat Sharon hypnotises Yan which led to him ejkected from the plane by Isamu. Isamu is next hypnotised but manages to break free with the help of Myung's singing. He then proceeds to crash his way into the fortress to knock out Sharon's CPU completely. With Sharon destroyed the Macross slowly settles back to the ground and everyone regains their senses. Isamu circles over the Macross in a badly damaged YF-19 before finding Myung safe in one of the shattered rooms on the Macross. The YF-19 is named the winner of the Super Nova project and the successor of the aging VF-11.