THE ROBOTECH TIME-LINE

June 1995

• The international scientific community launches a space station known as "The New Frontier" — it is designed as a message of international peace and understanding. However, forces in various governments see this space station as a perfect tactical weapon base. Disputes over ownership of this space station hurls the citizens of the Earth into a global war.

• The world is locked in global civil war. 

July 1999

• A massive meteor falls on Macross Island, an uninhabited isle in the South Pacific. The initial investigation by the U.S.A. reveals it to be a giant, lifeless spaceship of extraterrestrial origin. The alien spaceship is kept secret from the public.

• An emergency summit meeting takes place to discuss the situation. 

August 1999

• A temporary cease-fire is called and the countries of the earth form a Unified Earth Government to deal with the more serious threat of a potential invasion from outer space.

September 1999

• The suspicions of the august body of experts sent to investigate the crash site are verified. A top secret blanket is thrown over the "Macross Island Dossier".

October 1999

• The realization of an alien invader has a sobering effect on the world's leaders. The first, total cease-fire in years is enacted while these world leaders continue to discuss this new, potential threat.

December 1999

• Scientists urge the Unified Earth Government to study the technology and energy systems found in the alien spacecraft. Thus, the group, later to be known as Robotech Research Center, was organized under the supervision of Dr. Emile Lang. A military command, later to be known as the Robotech Defense Force, was also organized. Various factions of the opposing armies were interested in getting the secrets and weapons which were rumored to be still intact on the alien battle fortress. The cease-fire is tenuous with various flare ups occurring on an infrequent basis.

• The alien spacecraft is given a code name of SDF-1.

• Shortly after the previous report, plans are made to unify the nations of the world to prepare for hostile invaders.

March 2000

• A special investigation task force of international scientists, headed by Doctor Emile Lang, are officially assigned to analyze the SDF-1. Operations are funded by Japan, the U.S.A., Britain, France, West Germany and the U.S.S.R., pending the creation of a world government.

April 2000

• World peace is eventually realized following the disclosure of the wonders of a new alien technology which would radically affect the standards of living of all on the earth . . . it is a technology which is promised to be shared to all — once its secrets are unraveled.

May 2000

• Secret plans are begun for "anti-giant" weapons . . . the plan is to modify existing weapon systems utilizing the technology found in this alien ship dubbed the SDF-1.

June 2000

• An international announcement to the people of Earth makes public the existence and frightening dangers of the SDF-1.

• The same broadcast announces the plans for a Unified Earth Government to work together in combatting this other-worldly threat.

• Reactions to the two announcements are strong, invoking riots and anti-unification conflicts the world over. However, the riots are shortlived.

July 2000

• Global unification seems inevitable. Most anti-unification hostility has eased down.

• The construction of a Moon Base is proposed and accepted.

January 2001

• The one Unified Earth Government becomes a reality. Surprisingly, there is little anti-unification dissension.

February 2001

• Restoration of the SDF-1 begins.

March 2001

• Construction of Moon Base begins.

April 2001

• A new, tougher, lighter building alloy is developed by the SDF research team.

July 2001

• Plans for a strategic base to be built on Mars to serve as an early warning outpost in case of an inter-galactic invasion are approved.

August 2001

• A special task force is created to develop and exploit the new "Robotechnology". Doctor Emile Lang is again chosen to head this research and development organization.

September 2001

• The task force to develop Robotechnology becomes part of the new global defense network. This defense force's designation is the Robotech Defense Force or RDF.

October 2001

• Technological discoveries and advancements are happening at an increasingly rapid pace.

• The Destroid defense mecha system begins experimental operations. 

February 2002

• Concepts for a transformable, giant robot fighter begin development. 

March 2002

• Theory of the Grand Cannon is complete.

May 2002

• Construction of the Grand Cannon Defense System begins at the new site of the United Earths World Security Headquarters in Alaska. 

*Note: This operation is separate from the RDF.

April 2003

• Construction of the A.R.M.D. series of combat space platforms begins.

November 2003

• Incorporation of Robotechnology into weapon systems is a theoretical success. The full application of the power system and the logic of its complex bio-mechanical origins still remain a mystery.

January 2004

• Moon base is operational. Construction continues.

July 2004

• Proposal to construct a second and third Grand Cannon in the South American and Australia Sectors respectively.

September 2004

• Startling discovery of a symbiotic link instilled between operator and machine when the new, Robotech (protoculture) energy source is used.

October 2004

• Construction of the South American Sector Grand Cannon begins.

August 2005

• The first A.R.M.D. space platform enters service. A complete success, immediate production of four, additional A.R.M.D.s, is begun. New, Robotech weapon systems are introduced and incorporated into the A.R.M.D. as they are developed.

March 2006

• Giant-sized, aircraft carrier, CVS-101 Prometheus, enters service. 

June 2006

• Development of Destroid weapon systems enters its final stage. 

January 2007

• A training center for the crew of the SDF-1 opens on Macross Island. 

February 2007

• Test flights of the Veritech, transformable fighter prototype, VFX-1, begin in secret.

May 2007

• Mass production of Destroid series begins.

October 2007

• Production of a dozen, additional, submersible warships begins.

November 2007

• Final decision to use the Veritech Fighters is made. Mass production begins.

July 2008

• Mars Base attains full operating status.

November 2008

• Second A.R.M.D. enters service.

June 2009

• Complement of Destroids are placed on the SDF-1 in preparation for her maiden flight. See SDF-1 on page 109 of the Robotech RPG for the original complement of mecha.

• Third A.R.M.D. enters service.

July 2009

• The ceremonial christening of the SDF-1 on Macross Island (July 1st). Ceremonies were to include the first public demonstration of the Destroids and Veritech Fighters. Ironically, this infamous day marks the arrival of the Zentraedi, and the first battle of the (first) Robotech War.

Late July 2009

• The SDF-1 fires off into space and takes a large chunk of the Pacific Ocean (including Macross Island) with it into deep space. The Zentraedi main fleet divides its forces — some follow the SDF-1 into deep space . . . while the second deployment of Zentraedi destroy Mars Base Sara on their way to rendezvous with their main fleet.

October 2009

• The fourth A.R.M.D. enters service.

January 2010

• The fifth A.R.M.D. enters service.

January 2011

• SDF-1's battle at Mars Base.

April 2011

• The SDF-1 returns to Earth, landing in the Atlantic ocean.

• Meeting with United Earth Defense government leaders at Alaska base. Gloval's report falls on deaf ears.

• Roy Fokker dies from wounds received in combat.

• The SDF-1 is ordered to leave the Earth.

May 2011

• The Grand Cannon becomes fully operable.

• Toronto, in the Ontario quadrant, is destroyed in a massive assault on the SDF-1 by Khyron.

• Ben Dixon dies in the conflict.

June 2011

• SDF-1 leaves the Earth.

July 2011

• The first, interracial marriage between a human and micronized Zentraedi (Max and Miriya Sterling).

Early August 2011

Truce with the Zentraedi force lead by Commander Breetai. Earth is alerted to the coming of the entire Zentraedi fleet. The SDF-1 and Breetai's force coordinate a desperate defense.

Late August 2011

• Arrival of the Zentraedi fleet of 4.8 million battle cruisers.

• Assault destroys 70% of the Earth's population.

• The combined forces of the SDF-1 and Breetai's Zentraedis destroys 98% of the assault fleet in a daring counterattack.

• The SDF-1, exhausted and battle worn, manages a shaky landing near Montana.

• The Earth is plunged into a new dark age. The RDF does what it can to help the survivors of the global holocaust.

• Construction of the SDF-2 begins shortly after.

April 2013

• Global reconstruction is underway. New cities and towns begin to grow as the Earth begins to replenish itself.

• The tropical and subtropical terrains are the first to grow back. It is in these jungles and rain forests that many of the Zentraedi rebels and malcontents have taken refuge. Khyron's and Azonia's combined forces, in the South American Sector, are by far the largest, most organized and hostile of the misanthropic warriors.

May 2013

• The Birth of Dana Sterling.

June 2013

• With Breetai's and Exedore's assistance, the RDF captures, and brings to Earth, a Robotech Factory.

• Micronizing the Zentraedi population begins.

• The production of several, new, submersible vessels, like the Prometheus and Daedalus begins.

August 2013

• Construction of giant "submersible" warships for the RDF begins. Designs are based on the original Daedalus and Prometheus supercarriers.

September 2013

• Khyron leads a small attack force against New Detroit. A protoculture chamber is stolen.

• Zentraedi grow increasingly hostile. Many join Khyron in South America.

December 2013

• Khyron chooses Christmas Eve as the time for a new and devastating attack on New Macross. During the attack, a supply of protoculture is stolen.

Late December 2013

• Shortly after his last assault, Khyron and Azonia make a suicide assault on the city of New Macross. During this carnage, the SDF-1 and SDF-2 are destroyed. Among the dead are Captain Henry Gloval, Claudia Grant, Kim Young, Sammie Porter and Vanessa Leeds.

• The survivors vow to continue to rebuild.

• The Macross portion of the Robotech™ series ends; episode #36.

February 2014

• Our story continues . . . The threat of unknown radiation from the alien ship commanded by Khyron and the unsalvaged remains of the two SDF class ships, forces the site of the final battle to be declared off limits.

• Limited resources forced the majority of Khyron's and Azonia's Zentraedi army to remain behind in the South American Sector when their leaders made their deadly, last assault. Leaderless, the Zentraedi army has splintered into hundreds of tiny factions. Fighting between these factions is heavy, as new leaders fight their way to dominance.

• Violence in and around the South American Sector is at its worst.

March 2014

• The sight of New Macross (and the two SDFs) is declared a historic landmark.

July 2014

• The Unified Earth Government reemerges.

• Several nations claim autonomy and refuse to join the unified government.

• Zentraedi internal conflicts have subsided as new leaders take control. However, organized Zentraedi assaults on human cities and outposts have increased dramatically. The South American Sector is clearly the source of most of these acts of aggression.

August 2014

• Max and Miriya Sterling are given command of the RDF in the South American Sector. It is their job to contain the Zentraedi.

• The perimeters of the Zentraedi Control Zone are defined.

October 2014

• The Argentine Quadrant is established as an international buffer zone to help combat the Zentraedi.

December 2014

• The RDF, under the command of Max and Miriya Sterling, recaptures the unfinished, South American Grand Cannon in a decisive battle against the Zentraedi.

• Construction begins to turn the site of the incomplete Grand Cannon into the RDF military headquarters in that sector.

February 2015

• The Army of the Southern Cross is formally established.

• Construction of Monument City begins near the historic site of New Macross. It will become the world headquarters for the new army.