Claudia Grant

Claudia Grant
Robotech character
First appearance	Episode 1 - "Boobytrap"[1]
Voiced by	Iona Morris
Profile
Notable relatives	Bowie Grant (Nephew) Vince Grant (brother)

This article is about the character from Robotech. See Claudia LaSalle for the original inspiration for this character in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross.

Claudia Grant is a fictional character from Robotech, specifically the part of the anime series known as Macross (where she was originally called Claudia LaSalle).

Born in 1983, Claudia is distinguished by her blue eyes and short dark brown hair. In 1999, following the crash of the SDF-1, Claudia joins the military and quickly rises in the ranks of the newly formed United Earth Forces (UEF). After initially being posted to an air base in Wyoming, where she first meets a then young Lt. Roy Fokker, she is later posted to Macross Island to oversee the rebuilding and refitting of the SDF-1.

First Robotech War

Claudia become a bridge officer on the SDF-1 with the rank of lieutenant commander and was third in command after Captain Henry J. Gloval and Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Hayes when the SDF-1 was launched in February 2009, just as the arrival of Zentraedi forces in Earth's solar system marks the start of the First Robotech War. As the SDF-1’s Chief Communications Officer, Claudia is tasked with coordinating communications for the 15,000 crew members aboard the massive battle fortress. Despite the challenge, which is made worse by the constant attacks by the Zentraedi, Claudia successfully coordinates communications with various departments that keeps operations running smoothly throughout the immense ship throughout the First Robotech War. Unlike Lisa's no-nonsense, by-the-book attitude, Claudia maintains a relaxed and confident manner which enables her to develop strong friendships with the bridge officers Vanessa Leeds, Sammie Porter and Kim Young who regard her as a big sister. She also develops a strong relationship with Captain Gloval, whom she regards as almost a father-figure. Although it is not stated in the television series, Claudia has a strong relationship with her younger brother Vince Grant, who serves as an engineer aboard the SDF-1 during the war. Claudia and Lisa, despite their different attitudes, also become good friends.

Claudia and Roy

In her early military career, Claudia courted fighter pilot Roy Fokker during her first assignment at a Wyoming Air base. After both are posted to the SDF-1, they fall in love and became a couple. However, Claudia is devastated by when Roy is killed during the First Robotech War but she finds the strength to continue on in the fight against the Zentraedi. In 2012, after the war, Claudia, who by then had been made a full commander like Lisa, settles down in New Macross City and attempts to move on with her life and works to rebuild Earth following the devastation caused by the war. She continues to serve with the United Earth Forces (UEF) in a number of important operations, including the capture of the Zentraedi satellite factory in June of 2013. Claudia is one of Admiral Gloval's most trusted confidants, and she is always present at important meetings.

Claudia does her best to comfort Lisa in regards to her feelings for Rick Hunter, who continues to be obsessed with Lynn Minmay. Lisa, who is in love with Rick and wishes she could make him understand how she feels, is consoled by Claudia over a glass of wine or cup of tea. Claudia tells her that she and Roy did not fall in love the first time they met and that she was initially put off by Roy's brashness and playboy attitude and that it was only after the two struggled through the early parts of their relationship that they realized they were in love. Claudia offering advice and bluntly tells Lisa not to let Rick "get away from her". Claudia also becomes goods friends with Max Sterling and Miriya Parina Sterling, and envies both their happy marriage and their baby daughter Dana Sterling.

In January 2014, in the final battle against Khyron, who launches a suicide run against the SDF-1, Claudia, Admiral Gloval, Lt. Vanessa Leeds, Lt. Sammie Porter and Lt. Kim Young, die at their post (although in the original Macross, she does not die). However, Captain Lisa Hayes survives and she and Rick realize and accept their feelings for each other. In 2029, at the first graduating class of the new United Earth Military academy, Claudia and her bravery are held as examples for others to follow.

The character of Bowie Grant in Robotech Masters segment), which is the second sage of Robotech, is Claudia's nephew and son of her brother, Vince Grant and his wife, Dr. Jean Grant, both of whom play major roles in Robotech II: The Sentinels, Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles and Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.

In Robotech II: The Sentinels, (which is set between the first and second Robotech sagas), Bowie Grant serves as the ring bearer at the wedding of Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes. Vince and Jean Grant are also present for the ceremony. As Rick and Lisa dance for the first time as a married couple, Claudia can be seen briefly smiling from beyond the grave.

References

1. ^ Robotech, episode 1: Boobytrap (summary available at Episode 1: Boobytrap at Robotech.com