Robotech Armed Forces

The Robotech Armed Forces are the fictional military force depicted in Robotech.

After the events of The Macross Saga the Robotech Expeditionary Force is formed and leaves Earth to hunt for the Robotech Masters; returning during the 2030s and 2040s to battle the Invid.

Robotech Defense Force: 2009-2022

The Robotech Defense Force was the unified combatant command primarily responsible for the defense of the planet Earth from the Zentraedi invasion of 2009, during the First Robotech War of 2009-2011.

Because of Robotech's unaltered reuse of footage from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, distinctive signage reading "Robotech Defense Force" or "RDF" never appears in the show, instead reading "UN Spacy" (the fictional military force depicted in Macross; the term "Spacy" is an extrapolation of the terms 'Army' and Navy' - though some Japanese sources also use the term 'Space Army' and some English-language sources use the term 'Space Navy,' suggesting that the term is a contraction).

The Robotech Defense Force's primary air and light infantry mecha during the war with the Zentraedi was the VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech fighter. At this time its primary ground mecha were the Destroid series: MBR-04-VII Tomahawk, MBR-07-II Spartan, ADR-04-X Defender, HWR-00-II Monster and SDR-04-XII Phalanx. [ [http://www.robotech.com/infopedia/encyclopedia/viewterm.php?id=49] ]

Robotech Expeditionary Force: 2022-2044

The exploits of the REF were briefly chronciled in the third Robotech Saga but were greatly expanded on in and . Although the Jack McKinney novels (books 13-17) details the exploits of the REF, they have been reduced to Secondary continuity in the Robotech Saga in 2002 and are no longer considered reliable in the rebooted Robotech timeline.

The REF departs Earth in a quest for the Robotech Masters' homeworld of Tirol in 2022 (in the rebooted timeline). However, instead of facing the Robotech Masters, they become involved in a long-running battle with both a faction of the Invid led by a male leader known as the Regent, who leads half of the Invid Race. The other half, led by his wife, the Regess (or Regis) has already traveled to Earth and occupied it in 2031.

In 2034, the REF learns that Earth is under occupation by the Invid when surviving Southern Cross refugees reach the main fleet, and two hurried expeditionary missions, the Luna and Mars Expeditions, are sent to Earth but both are almost wiped out in the attack.

In 2043, as chronicled in the Regent is soon joined by General T.R. Edwards, who betrays the REF to gain power. Edwards eventually betrays the Regent as well, killing him. Edwards is eventually defeated by Admiral Rick Hunter and Captain Vince Grant, and the REF turns their attention to freeing Earth from the Invid. [ [http://www.robotech.com/infopedia/encyclopedia/viewterm.php?id=50] ]

Robotech Expeditionary Force: 2044-onward

In 2044, the REF prepares for one final assault on Earth to dislodge the Invid. However, if the attack fails, Admiral Rick Hunter orders the use of the Neutron-S missiles as a last resort. The Haydonites, a mysterious alien race which has allied with the REF and the Sentinels against the Invid, has provided the REF with new technology, including the new missiles and Shadow technology, which enables ships to remain invisible to Invid sensors. The missiles, will wipe out most, in not all, of the human life on Earth, but it will destroy the Invid, which it is feared will use the protoculture on Earth to eventually conquer the galaxy. Some senior REF officials feel that the missiles should be used immediately, since the REF will likely sustain very heavy losses in the attack, even if it is successful. However, Admiral Hunter overrules them and declares that the missiles will only be used if the attack fails and the REF itself is facing complete destruction. Adrmial Hunter then orders General Reinhardt to assemble all available REF forces at Moon Base ALUCE and to prepare for the assault.

The SDF-3, the massive flagship of the REF fleet, was supposed to lead the attack on Earth but it is delayed as it conducts a test of one of the Neutron-S missiles in the remote omicron sector. The test goes horribly wrong as the missile's detonation creates a new black hole. Even though the SDF-3 is 800 million kilometers (500 million miles) from the detonation, it is heavily damaged. A refitted Science vessel, the "Deukalion" is also heavily damaged. A rescue mission by Vince Grant in the cruiser "Icarus" attempts a rescue mission but they come under attack from unknown alien forces, and the mission fails. However, Admiral Rick Hunter is able to contact Vince and warn him of the true power of the Neutron-S missiles and that they cannot, under any circumstances, be used on Earth. Vince obeys Hunter's orders and returns to Earth with teh "Deukalion" in tow. However, the SDF-3 is left adrift in space.

Meanwhile, the REF's entire fleet has been assembled at Earth. General Reinhardt, who has been placed in charge by Admiral Hunter, orders the attack to begin. The attack begins with a full-scale assault on the Invid forces with new shadow technology obtained from the Haydonites. The force assembled includes several dozen carriers, hundreds of frigates, and thousands of fighters. The assault initially goes well as the REF. The Captial Ships of the fleet fire their massive syncro-Cannons, which destroy many Invid Carriers before they can launch their fighters while REF fighter squadrons, utilizing shadow technology that makes them invisible to the Invid sensors, easily cripple the first wave of the Invid attack. However, the Invid Regis, determined to hold on to Earth no matter the cost, launches all of her remains forces at once in one final attack wave. She also orders all of her remaining ground forces to retreat to Reflex Point to hold off the resistance forces on Earth. The ground forces on Earth are pushed back by this attack. In space, REF fighter squadrons become overwhelmed by sheer Invid numbers and begin taking heavy losses. Invid fighters soon begin punching through the frontlines of the fleet and, to further compensate for the technological disadvantages, resort to making suicide runs against the REF capital ships, further straining the ability of the REF to continue the battle. General Reinhardt, commander of the Fleet, is informed that the fleet, in particular the fighter squadrons, is taking heavy losses and that the ground forces' attack on Reflex Point has failed. He decides he has no choice but to use the Neutron-S missiles and orders their launch, but is unaware of the missiles true power. However, the Regis' daughter Ariel, who has a human body and whom has grown close to the humans, convinces her mother to leave Earth rather than allow both races to be destryed. This request, combined with the Regis' knowledge of the true power of the Neutron-S missiles which are about to impact Earth, decides to end the conflict. She converts the Invid race to energy and launches into orbit in a stream of light. She gives a gift to her daughter, who chose to stay behind on Earth, by destroying the incoming Neutron-S missiles. The Invid stream of light flies off into space in search for a new planet on which to continue their evolution. Earth, for the first time in 13 years is now free and the Third Robotech War is over.

However, the situation is far from ideal. The REF suffers devastating losses to both its fighter squadrons and capital ships and many more ships are damaged. The damaged ships and injured personnel are evacuated to Space Station Liberty, a massive spacestation located in deep space. Liberty serves as a fortress, ship construction and repair facility, communications nerve center and way station along the routes to Earth's distant colonies and the REF during its 22-year mission.

Meanwhile, the veritech fighter pilots assemble at Moon Base ALUCE. The Invid have taken all the protoculture on the planet and the REF has only a year's supply left. The only hope is to find the SDF-3, which has a protoculture matrix onboard. Among those killed are Daryl Taylor, the leader of wolf squadron. The surviving members of the squadron, including Marcus Rush and Alex Romero, are merged into Skull Squadron under the command of Maia Sterling. Earth, although free, remains in economic and social turmoil. During the Invid occupation, many humans allied with them in exchange of power while areas not under Invid control were ruled by criminal gangs, self-appointed leaders and a variety of cults. Much of the planet remains in a pre-industrial state, and its people are divided and leaderless. As a result, there is little Earth can do to assist the REF.

With the Invid gone, the REF expects that their next challenge will be rebuilding Earth, which has been devastated by the 13-year Invid occupation. However, the peace following the Invid retreat turns out to be very short-lived. Ariel tries to warn the REF about the new threat that is about to manifest itself but her and Scott Bernard's warning are not heeded. The REF believes that the Invid remain the true enemy and that they are trying to manipulate the REF. Bernard is interrogated and despite his insistence that Ariel is a fried and is trying to warn of an impending disaster, Captain Vince Grant and General Reinhardt, and most of the REF, refuses to trust an Invid. Ariel's warning is only realized to be accurate when Space Station Liberty comes under attack a large fleet of the same unknown alien forces that attacked the SDF-3. It is soon discovered that the attackers are the Haydonites themselves, and that they have turned on the REF. Ariel teleports to the bridge of the Grant's commandship "Icarus" to explain that the Haydonites believe that all those who use protoculture must be destroyed, including both the Invid and humanity.

The REF ships docked at Liberty launch an attack against the Haydonites but the true plans of their former allies soon become apparent. Immediately, the Haydonites jam all REF communications. The Haydonite ships are equipped with powerful shields and massive cannons that are superior to those of the REF and they easily destroy the REF's first combat defense line. The REF ships attempt to fire their syncro-cannons but a Haydonite disrupter wave causes the cannons to malfunction and explode, destroying and crippling numerous REF ships. By the time the "Icarus" with Vince Grant, Louie Nicols, Janice Em, Scott Bernard and Ariel arrives on the scene, 89% of the fleet has been destroyed. As the "Icarus" watches helplessly, the lead ship of the REF fleet, a large carrier, explodes after just one hit on its reflex furnance. Louie reports that the haydonites are also using energy beams that utilize a weakness in the ships' shadow devices, which which cause the ships' reflex furnances to implode. Vince slams his fist as he realizes that every piece of technology the Haydonites have given the REF has some kind of trojan horse built into it. However, with communications still jammed, Grant is unable to warn the REF ships of this discovery, and has no choice but to retreat while the remaining ships are left to fight a hopeless battle.

Vince Grant, realizing that any engagement with the Haydonites with the "Icarus" (which has shadow technology) is futile, launches another plan. He orders Skull Squadron, under the command of Maia Sterling, to dock at Liberty and acquire special fighters with no shadow technology to hold off the Haydonites long enough to evacuate all of Liberty's personnel to the Ark Angel, a colony ship with minimal armorments but the only capital ship at Liberty with no shadow technology. Meanwhile, Grant and Scott Bernard, move through Liberty on cyclones (motorcycles) until they reach the remaining Neutron-S missiles, which they rig for detonation. As the Ark Angel pulls away from Liberty, the Haydonites move in, but the Ark Angel initiates a spacefold just before the detonation of the missiles. The missiles' explosion destroys Liberty and the entire Haydonite fleet.

At the end of , the situation of the REF is dire. Space Station Liberty, by far the REF's largest and most important space station, is gone and the massive losses taken by the REF during the assault against the Invid are compounded by the further losses to the Haydonites of 89% of the ships that were docked at Liberty (although the exact or approximate remaining strength of the REF is not known). The Ark Angel arrives in Earth orbit and flies into the atmosphere and crusies near the surface. Many of those aboard the Ark Angel, such as Maia Sterling and Marcus Rush, were born in space during the REF's 22-year mission, and have never seen Earth until now. On orders from General Reinhardt, the Ark Angel begins a mission to find the SDF-3, which it is learned may not have been destroyed. The REF hopes that the SDF-3, if it has survived, can be found before the Haydonites reach it.

It is hoped by fans that the fate of the SDF-3 and the REF will be revealed in a future Robotech Installment.

Composition of the REF

The Robotech Expeditionary Force's primary ships include the SDF-3 "Pioneer", the SDF-4 "Liberator" and large numbers of "Ikazuchi" class Carrier, "Garfish" class light cruisers and other miscellaneous warships. Its primary mecha are the VFA-6 Alphaand VFB-9 Beta Fighters. The Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles comic series and the upcoming "" sequel introduces or is expected to introduce the "Shimakaze" class (a battlecruiser slightly larger than the "Tristar" class), the "Crusade"-class dropship, and the Ark Angel-class colony ships.

References