by the fans for the fans

SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT – SDF-3 & PIONEER MISSION

As Malcontent Uprisings draw to a conclusion on Earth in 2018AD, amidst the massive colonization efforts both in & out of Sol-System (that begins in 2015 AD onwards), the Expeditionary Force of the United Earth Forces has begun to explore the deep space. Construction of EF vessels continued aboard Robotech Repair Satellite, & as SDF-2 is badly damaged during the previous 2014 conflict, the new SDF-class vessel is constructed during this period. The Pioneer Mission objective is finally unveiled to the public, to locate the homeworld of Robotech Masters as to pursue peaceful negotiations, or if that fails, then to bring the next war on Masters doorstep.

However, the Tokugawa class carriers begin to be deploying for preliminary navigational survey of deep space alongside re-converted Zentraedi Tou Redir scout ships to pave the way for humanity off-world colonization. Already several of Angel-class colony ships with escort flotillas that are part of Expeditionary Force traversing the deep space begun to establish colonies on habitable alien worlds that EF discovers during their journey to deep space.

UEG rationalize the large drain of public funds to finance the Expeditionary Force, to deter any possible alien incursions the likes of Zentraedi that have no qualm in leveling entire Earth once again. The large scope of EF Pioneer Mission also means the culling large number of experienced officers from UEF, who also includes veterans of 1st Robotech War & Malcontent Uprisings. Even many decommissioned 1st generation Destroids formerly put in reserve are seconded to EF, much to the objection of the UEF Field Marshall, Supreme Commander Anatole Eli Leonard - a much decorated hero of Malcontent Uprisings. As many capable officers, especially those attached to UEF space force & significant personnels from Southern Cross Armies (UEF Field Army) are transferred over to EF mission, leads to brain drain to the UEF military on Earth. The manpower setbacks however are resolved through accelerated syllabus offered by Robotech Academy through fast track officer programmes & also through joint operations with EBSIS forces in Congo ZCZ against Malcontents.

With more than 2/3rd of its armada already in deep space, the newly christened SDF-3 Pioneer with its 6 Valivarre-class escort vessels are launch to rejoin the rest of EF fleet in December 2022, marking the official start of the Pioneer Mission. However, the Robotech Factory Satellite, carrying with it the last batch of colonists & other EF dependents will be the last of EF assets to join the EF fleet in 2025 AD, with UEG on Earth keeping tracks of EF mission through commo links with Space Station Liberty.

As EF fleet spread out to search out the vast space for Masters homeworld, the said antagonist already inching closer toward their ultimate objective, Earth.

A NEW HOPE - ARMIES OF SOUTHERN CROSS

The elite UEF terrestrial unit - Southern Cross Task Force gain its fame through extensive ground & aerial operations against Zentraedi malcontents in the mid & late 2010s, most notably the successful operations in the Southlands. Lead by Southern Cross Task Force – South American Theatre - Commdr Anatole Eli Leonard, Malcontent threats in South America is crushed without mercy & the final assault by this elite unit eliminated every single Zentraedi Malcontent leaders including the famed Amazon ZCZ Stingers key operation leader, Seloy Deparra. These successes alone lead the UEG in renaming United Earth Field Army in 2020 as Armies of Southern Cross - marks the courage & tenacity of Southern Cross Task Force combatants. Naturally, Cmmdr Leonard is appointed as the Supreme Commander for UEF as Prime Minister Wyatt Patterson Moran taken an office oath with the new UEG cabinet following the popular election in 2020AD.

However, the culling of several experienced officers from ASC & the re-mobilization of 1st generation Destroids to the EF mission severely impedes the ASC in the early 2020s, couples with large budget cuts following the massive funding for EF mission. This leads to perception that UEG views EF mission takes the topmost priority over the defence of Terra itself. However, in 2023, under pressure from ASC & determined UEG public, allocation of sizable funds by UEG bureaucrats finally allows for United Earth Defence Force to build its space force, & of course, the development of 2nd generation Robotech mechas for the UEDF.

Specialized Veritechs, such as VF-8 Logan & VHT-2 Sparta Hovertanks plus Sylphide aerospace fighter give UEDF the Robotechnological edge as the aged VF-1 Valkyrie is retired from active operational service in 2025AD. UEDF space force acquires large numbers of Banshees class escorts, Battle-class destroyers & Tristar-class flagships with more vessels constructed on Earth-based aerospace naval yards. However, most striking will be the issuance of personalized body armors to ASC personnels that strikes a chord amongst UEG citizens that the ASC, or UEDF in general is the new breed of armored knights protecting the ‘Neo-Camelot’ – signifying UEG & the current feudalistic political era of the 2020s.

Even though UEG administrative capital is within Scandinavia Quadrant, its military nerve center is effectively within North America Quadrant with the seat of ASC lay firmly at Monument City, located not far from abandoned New Macross City ruins. ASC itself expand aggressively to all four corners of the world, to keep law & security in balance against the newly risen Terran rival, the EBSIS. The mid 2010s to late 2020s often being described as 2nd Cold War era, similarly mimicked the past as UEG keep on eye on EBSIS militaristic venture. But by far, UEG & its terrestrial military arm, ASC is ultimately viewed by many as the guardian of Earth post SDF-3 departure. However, as many political analysts at that time speculated, if 2nd Robotech war never materialize, the 3rd World War on Earth would begin between both superpower, EBSIS & UEG.

But then again, as speculation abounds, a new menace has just play its hand to ascertain the situation on Earth for possible invasion, under the very noses of United Earth Defence Force.

THE UNTOLD STORY – ANDREWS INCIDENT 2027

Silently but surely, Robotech Masters Imperial Armada inched closer to Sol-System in 2027AD. However, before actual invasion can begin, the Masters secretly send an advance scout flotilla to review the Sol-System, assess Terran fleet movement & ascertain off-world military bases. Most importantly, to identify the exact location of Zor’s downed battlefortress & access the fortress’s main computer system for the missing protoculture matrix hidden aboard the fallen fortress.

The small stealthy flotilla, disguised as space pirates, slip undetected into Sol-System & near Earth orbit. In September 2027, a raid occur in North Province of Far East Sector, which initiated by Masters covert unit (under the guise of space pirate) whose mission is to abduct a top level UEDF officer known as Col. BD Andrews. After extracting necessary intel from the dying officer, the Masters research team aboard one of the ‘pirate’ ships immediately substituting him with a clone, & reinsert the clone back to Earth. The clone immediately emerged as hero of the said raid, & receives promotion as head of operations at Robotech Research Centre, Tokyo that housed the original SDF-1 main computer, EVE (or Ih’Va).

The Far East Sector Research Centre at that time is conducting top-secret advanced Cyclone MODAT-5 programme, codenamed as MEGAZONE 23. Unfortunately, through a series of circumstantial events, the experimental mobile database terminal cyclone MODAT 5 fallen to the hand of local street racer, & through all the ensuing confusion, EVE, the AI of SDF-1 main computer, disguised as a popular media idol in Tokyo is trying to leak the Masters plans to the UEG representative through the MODAT 5 database. Col. BD Andrews (or his clone) effectively begins frantic search of the prototype Cyclone, turning Neo Tokyo streets upside down in his attempts to plug the leak from ever getting out. Meanwhile, at the same time, Brigadier Rolf Emerson & a small Tactical Space Corp flotilla are ordered in top secret mission to engage the ‘space pirate’ that is responsible for the earlier raid.

However, the clone has begun transmitting the contents of the EVE computer core to an abandoned Earth satellite, to be intercepted by the Robotech Masters. The information also includes the coordinate of the fallen battlefortress, & entailing strategies needed to defeat UEDF in Sol System in possible invasion. However, in a desperate attempt to plug the sensitive information from ever getting out & trying to manipulate the political situation in Far East Sector, Col. BD Andrews & contracted forces loyal to him stages a coup de tat in Tokyo & nearly succeeded in assassinating Japan UEG Protectorate Governor, Minister Embrey who has been informed of the possible linkage between the space pirate & BD Andrews. In the attempt, the clone is killed by a civilian biker-leader, & through information passed by EVE, Emerson’s task force manages to locate the ‘space pirates’ & immediately destroy the ‘pirate’ small flotilla in heavy ship-to-ship engagements that also taken a heavy casualty to the TSC Taskforce.

The true nature of the Incident is keep top secret by Minister Embrey, who fears UEG will not simply believe the Masters connection to the recent Far East Quadrant event due to lack of evidence, but GMP secretly files the report back to Brigadier General Rolf Emerson, who is later that year promoted as Chief of Staff in charge of UEDF surface & aerospace operations. However, speculation abounds regarding the recent event occurs in Far East Sector, but nothing ever remains concrete. As for Masters, despite the minor setback, has begun to formulate plans for the invasion to truly begins!

2ND ROBOTECH WAR – THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

After 1-year hiatus, the wheel has been set into motion. In 17 January 2029, the Masters Imperial Armada completed its 15-year voyage to the Sol System & positioning the fleet near Saturn. Without haste, Masters begin to send raiding parties for a probing assault against Moon Base Luna & Space Station Liberty. An escort flotilla known as Liberty Observer Group, returning from its tour of duty from Space Station Liberty receives a mayday from the stricken communiqué issued by the station, & then loses its signal, and moves to investigate. They are attacked en route, while the Masters bomb Moon Base Luna, seizing up survivors for possible use as Bioroid pilots. Liberty Observer Group is relieved by a task force under Tactical Armored Space Corp’s Black Lion Squadron - who at that time undergoing final tests of AGACS Veritech prototype – lead by Lt. Cmmdr Marie Crystal, and the Robotech Masters' ships retreat without revealing their identity.

Following the incident, UEDF High Command issues red alert to all its off-world military installations & UEG off-world colonies. To assess the situation, UEDF dispatches sizable force to determine the situation at Luna, finding the base largely destroyed. The civilian chemical engineering station on the far side of the moon, ALuCE-1, is evacuated following the attack, and the evacuees, along with the injured from the fleet engagement and Liberty, are returned to Earth. A skeleton crew is sent to Luna to maintain its communication facilities. Insufficient data is available to determine the identity of the attackers, who has being determined as the same hostile force that initiated the raid in Far East Quadrant’s Northern Province 2 years earlier in 2027 & simply code named as ‘space pirates’.

Yet, it taken nearly 3 months Earth standard that Masters begin initiating their next move. In 9th April 2029, the Imperial Armada enters Earth orbit, immediately destroying Earth’s military & commercial satellites that are capable of sending visual information to Earth based commo stations thus effectively severing Earth’s link to Space Station Liberty. In the initial invasion, Lunar Space Station 25 – Moonbase counterpart to SSL – which serves as fleet staging base & logistic depot near Moon, is destroyed alongside all its personnels, marking the aggressive intents of Masters forces. The Imperial Armada effectively blockading Earth from that point onwards as UEG begins to lose contact with the rest of the universe.

Meanwhile in space, SSL in desperation having losing contact with Earth, folds to the asteroid belt to escape detection as the rest of UEG off-world colonies in Mars, Jupiter’s & Saturn’s moons fortifying their defences. SSL attempts to report to the Expeditionary Force that new aliens have arrived in system and isolated Earth. Meanwhile on Earth, UEG through its terrestrial armed force, ASC begins general red alert & cementing military alliance with EBSIS armed forces to combat the new menace. 2nd Robotech War has begun!!!

BAPTISM OF FIRE

It is during this early attempt of hostility, Masters send in a Bioroid strike force to test Terran defenders near Quebec sector, & nearly succeeded in annihilating Civil Defence Corp units stationed there, before finally being driven away by arriving ASC reinforcement – the 15th Alpha Tactical Armored Corp. The Imperial Armada silently encircles Earth orbit, achieving space supremacy beyond Earth orbitals & the Moon.

As Robotech Masters contemplate the next course of action, the UEG back on Earth is still scratching its head regarding the identity of the hostile aliens hovering above the skies. Global Military Police, UEDF intel agency offers speculative guesses to the describe the new threats, such as ‘space pirates’ & even rogue micronised Zentraedi. However in early May 2029, GMP intel manages to intercept communications between the alien ships, and confirms that the new enemy are the Robotech Masters, "descendants of Zor, the first Robotech Master”. Through cracking the Zentraedi archive files, UEDF manages to ascertain an educated guess of the new assault mechas that Masters utilized, the Bioroids.

In 4 May 2029, the threat is formally announced to the UEG citizenry, who are nonetheless reassured of their safety, later follows by general declaration to the entire world. EBSIS at this point begins cooperating fully with UEDF in ensuring terrestrial defences are keep highly on red alert & efficient operational status. Supreme Commander Leonard, determines to has a crack at the new alien invaders, with the UEDF Joint Chiefs of Staffs sit down & begins to formulate the first offensive against the new threat. It is decided that elements of Tactical Air Force & Tactical Space Corp will lead the 1st offensive against the Masters.

From Fokker Aerospace Base near Monument City in 21 May 2029, TAF & TASC Veritech squadrons launch an attack against the Robotech Masters' flagship, with heavy losses. The Robotech Masters retaliate, sending Roil Tiluvo Assault corvettes & its complement of Bioroids steadily descend & attacking the aerospace base, catch the Robotech Defenders on the ground by surprise & begin cutting down the Fokker Base in flames. These attacks are repelled by intervention by the 15th Alpha Tactical Armored Corp – lead by 2nd Lt. Dana Sterling, which had already abandoned its Civil Defense duties to assist the aerospace base before new orders arrived to that effect. It is at this point the weaknesses of the United Earth Forces against Masters become apparent. Similarly, the first weakness of the Robotech Masters' forces is noted in that a direct hit to the cockpit area of the assault corvette appears to impact their command and control infrastructure and caused an immediate withdrawal of Bioroid troops.

Retreated back to the Armada, lead by the Imperial Armada greatest Battle Lord of the Fleet, Zor Prime, Robotech Masters simply assess the aftermath with cold disdain, knowing full well the futility of Earth Defenders against the invincibility of the mighty Imperial Armada.

LIBERTY CALLS

In 11 June 2009, a mission is launched by UEDF to attempt to reestablish the link between Earth & Space Station Liberty, and its Moon Base counterpart, because the loss of contact with the hyperspace communications through Liberty is preventing UEDF from relaying their mayday to the Expeditionary Force. Despite heavy harassment by the Robotech Masters' forces and the loss of one shuttle due to an engine malfunction, a second shuttle breaks through the Masters' jamming net, & transmits a pre-recorded signal to Liberty, which responds, and notifies Moon Base that contact has been regained. Contact between Earth and Liberty is temporarily reestablished & Liberty begins to broadcast recall order to EF spread out in deep space, but expects to take some time before Liberty distress signal can reach them.

However, at this juncture, Sol-System Terran colonies notably Mars has begun militarized in expectation of Masters probing assault. Many personnels from military & civilian outposts in both Jovian & Saturn moons relocate to Mars to beef up her security. Mars UEG colonial governor has begun active conscriptions amongst her colonists, even relieving up many 1st generation mechas in reserve to be put as its 2nd line of defence. Despite Masters harassment to Earth based forces, the Imperial Armada never broaden its scope of operations against other UEG’s off-world colonies in Sol-System.

Meanwhile, Masters begin worldwide raids by small Bioroid assault parties, carrying raids to protoculture supply depots in order to replenish & adding to their limited stock. Their raids taken them to encroach into many UEG territories, even deep within EBSIS territories in order to pillage Earth’s protoculture supplies. The clandestine & stealthy nature of such missions is bad news to Earth’s Robotech Defenders, knowing Earth based forces are below the Robotechnological scale against the Robotech Masters. Not only that, EBSIS ground forces are also tested very badly against the small Bioroids raiding parties in a few conflicts that arise when EBSIS forces intercept the raiding enemy units.

Push comes to shove as in 13 July 2029, the Robotech Masters launch a clandestine expedition to excavate the ruins of the SDF-1. The excavation team later is discovered by two ATAC soldiers on patrol. One soldier, Private Bowie Grant of the 15th Squad, is captured, and is held in the Masters' command vessel. Following the next day, the captured soldier's commanding officer, 1st Lt. Dana Sterling, launches an unauthorized rescue mission, succeeding in freeing the captured soldier. Reinforcements arrive on both sides, & the fight quickly devolves into a stalemate until a Masters Flagship arrives, and Bioroids and command vessel withdraw with heavy fire support from the Flagship. However, UEDF High Command know that Earth’s security is deeply compromised & begins steps to ensure no further encroachment ever happen again, although the efforts may be in vain.

AERIAL CAMPAIGNS

In 12 August 2029, Robotech Masters maintain an orbit at 36,000 km altitude, & maintain a unilateral cease-fire. At this time, because of relative peace, Earth's alert status begins to slacken. The self-imposed ease-fire is broken when a suburban base station in sector 3 is attacked and destroyed with all inhabitants. Twenty survivors are taken prisoner by the small Bioroid assault forces, lead by Battle Lord of the Fleet, Zor Prime. The survivors taken by Masters forces are not held as hostages, but simply undergone neural probes (& later are disposed to their unreliability to be reprocessed into Bioroid pilots) as to ascertain the knowledge of protoculture matrix & most possibly, strategic & sensitive military information regarding Earth’s forces.

The hostile action by Robotech Masters outraged the UEG public the next day. Riots begin, & UEG Prime Minister Wyatt Patty Moran demands an explanation from the General Staff of UEF. Supreme Commander Leonard suggests a retaliatory strike, though Chief of Staff Emerson demurs, suggesting that it might be more prudent to discover what the aliens want. Emerson's concerns are immediately vetoed, & a massive air attack is planned against the Masters. The aerial assault is launched against the lead Masters Flagship, now in the upper atmosphere, which is another act of futility as the Masters ship protected itself with encompassing energy shield, similar in disposition as fielded by the now long-gone SDF-1. The failed assault again yielding very heavy casualties, demoralizing ASC with the higher number of losses suffers by its aerial arm, the TAF.

Meanwhile, research proceeds on the Robotech Masters' technology. Dr Miles Cochrane & Dr Samson Beckett of Southern Cross Robotech Research Institute report their findings to UEDF High Command, whereby Bioroid pilots are concluded to be human by the Southern Cross' scientists, & not originally assumed as micronized Zentraedi, though this is never accepted among the High Command for political reasons. However, another breakthrough is achieved when a weakness in the reactionless propulsion system is found by Cpl. Nichols of the 15th ATAC with the help by Drs. Cochrane & Beckett. As the findings forwarded & agreed by Chief of Staffs Rolf Emerson, another 2nd aerial assault is planned.

In 16 August 2029, the 15th ATAC is airdropped onto the hull of the Masters' flagship to exploit this weakness, with the aerial support by the now veterans TAF Veritech squadrons that itching for a revenge. The mission is an outstanding success as the Robotech Masters' flagship is downed, and crashes to Earth within sight of Monument City. UEDF finally finds the chink in Masters techno armor.

THE FORTRESS – 15TH IN WONDERLAND

As the Masters flagship crash-landed near Monument City, large ASC surface divisions immediately converge & launch heavy assault against the downed alien Robotech fortress. Supported by heavy aerial bombardments & artillery & fire supports from ASC battloid mechanized infantries, ASC encounters heavy resistance from the Bioroid Imperial Forces that defends the fortress successfully. As ASC organize yet another ground offensive, UEDF High Command ponders the next course of action in search of the fortress vulnerabilities.

In 22 August 2029, after considering their options, UEDF High Command orders the 15th ATAC to infiltrate the flagship on a reconnaissance mission. Under heavy fire from defending Bioroid sentries, the 15th ATAC – already a celebrated ASC outfit in the entire UEDF – punches through & successfully infiltrating the mysterious confines of the alien fortress. This is a perfect opportunity on both sides as the 15th & the Robotech Masters take the opportunity to study one another. The 15th squad has to be separated into 3 small teams during their not too discreet exploration within the fortress.

The 1st team under Sgt Angelo Dante is ambushed by Masters Terminator sentries, while the 2nd team lead by Pvt. Sean Phillips discovers an alien farmhouse (which is actually in-house Opteran plants farm – aka mature Flower of Life trees organic cultivation center) without any untoward incident. However, another team lead by Lt. Dana Sterling discovers that the civilian population of the flagship consists of triplet clones (triumvirate) after stumbling through the fortress residential area. Earlier on, her team discovers an android assembling center, contributing to the factor that at least some clones are constructed (androids), rather than grown & that biomechanical components are incorporated into the construction.

After undergoing several harrowing dangerous situations put forth by the Masters, the 15th squad reunites again, even though they suffer a few losses. As they attempting to exit the Masters' ship, Lt. Dana Sterling captures a Bioroid sentry alongside its pilot. The highly successful mission emboldens & lifts the spirits of the embattled ASC, put high hopes amongst UEDF High Command. This leads to temporary lulls in the ground offensive against the fortress, as both sides lick their wounds & prepare for the next round of armed conflict.

SHOOTING IN THE DARK

In early September 2029, constant recon patrols begin around the downed flagship. UEDF HQ concludes that the Robotech Masters have come to Earth to plunder its reserves of protoculture, unaware that their real goal is the last fertile Matrix within the ruins of the SDF-1. In the meantime, research is ongoing to study the captured Bioroid & its pilot by SC Robotech Research Institute’s scientists. Analysis of the captured Bioroid & its pilot leads to the conclusion that the Bioroid reacts to the nervous system of the pilot through a series of biological diodes biogenetically engineered into the pilot's body. The captured pilot soon dies of his wounds in captivity. The prevailing prejudice among UEDF high command is that the Bioroid pilots are biologically human androids, living beings that are assembled rather than born or grown. Supreme Commander Leonard further insists that the Masters must be micronized Zentraedi, over the objections of Lt. Dana Sterling.

However, in 10 September 2029, the Robotech Masters launch a surprise attacks against the civilian populace of Monument City, & 200 prisoners are taken for intelligence purposes. UEG issues reports of 200 human prisoners as casualties of the surprise raid, in order not to cause more panic amongst Monument City’s residents. On Masters side, the 200 prisoners undergone extensive neural probes in order to learn more about the primitive micronian culture. The effects of Masters unorthodox intel-gathering procedure renders the prisoners into comatose & brain-dead state, thus they are disposed as micronians proven to be useless to be re-used as Bioroid pilots.

The Masters decide their next course of intel gathering by planning to insert their Battle Lord of the Fleet, Zor Prime into human society as a spy in early October 2029. Meanwhile, UEDF High Command destroys newly captured Bioroid pilots, because they become non-responsive when taken from their cockpits, reinforcing the Leonard's misconception of the pilots as non-living bio-androids. The capture of civilians has angered the populace, who are demanding immediate action from the government and the military. Leonard is contacted by UEG Prime Minister, ordering him to end his inaction & escalate the attacks on the Robotech Masters.

An EF vessel finally receives Liberty's first mayday signal from January while serving as the picket ship on communication-relay duty. The REF is notified by SSL, but due to being spread out and otherwise occupied because of its mission, Maj. Carpenter's UES Hannibal (a Tokugawa class-carrier) is the only ship available. The ship is contacted by General Gunther Reinhardt of EF High Command & directed to Earth, to assess the situation there & warn Earth that the EF doesn't expect to be able to send more help for several more months due to current deployments and ongoing operations.

THE MASTERS GAMBIT – ZOR PRIME

In 15 October 2029, the Robotech Masters' flagship docks with a second mothership & lifts off from Earth's surface, despite a desperate attempt by the 15th ATAC to prevent the link-up. Zor Prime is allowed to be captured by the Southern Cross; he falls into the hands of the GMP, who covertly enlists General Emerson to help them debrief the prisoner, whom they suspect will be simply put to death if Leonard's men capture him. Col. Alan Fredricks, the head of GMP with the help from Dr. Miles Cochrane are sworn to secrecy by Chief of Staff Emerson, who is anxious to garner any available information from the clone.

A surprise return of EF reinforcement given a brief hope to human defenders in 29 October 2029 as UES Hannibal folds near Earth orbit. However, the hopes are dashed as Major Carpenter's vessel & its escort fighters complement are destroyed while ramming and destroying one of the Masters' motherships. To Leonard's dismay, Carpenter informs him of the EF's inability to send more help at the moment.

Masters plan to integrate Zor Prime continues successfully. His interviews & debriefing sessions intensify, despite his almost complete amnesia. He is moved from a GMP - Military Intelligence facility to a more "human" setting, namely the Monument City military hospital. During his internment at the medical center, Lt Dana Sterling of the 15th ATAC illicitly sneaks into the hospital room of Zor Prime to confront him for killing men under her command. During the brief intrusion, the clone remembers a figment of his memory, based on a 15th trooper whistle that Zor Prime identifies as one of Masters music. GMP immediately foils Lt. Sterling’s next attempt as she escapes with the rest of her intrepid squadmates.

In December 2029, after careful analysis & colors by prejudice (no thanks to Masters own heartless actions), Supreme Commander Leonard begins to believe that the alien goal is the extermination of the human race. Even the Masters return the same sentiments as their statements among themselves increasingly advocate this course of action, a change from their original position that they are interested only in recovery of the Protoculture Matrix.

Under discretion of Chief of Staff Emerson & the recommendation from GMP, Zor Prime is introduced into the 15th ATAC in February 2030, in the hope that a military environment will awaken his memories as a Bioroid pilot. Lt. Sterling's squadron is chosen because of her Zentraedi heritage, & because of her previous encounters with him in the field. Experience with a picture of the mounded ruins of the SDF-1 causes Zor to suffer a seizure, while the Masters' programming reasserts control over him. Zor's flashbacks reveal for certain that the protoculture is the Masters' goal, though the General Staff still believes that they are after Earth's stockpiles, and are unaware of the relevance of the ruins of the SDF-1. Despite General Emerson's entreaties, Leonard concludes that the only solution is a direct assault on the Masters' fleet.

Unbeknownst to the General Staff, Zor Prime overhears General Emerson's comments that an attack by the Earth fleet is in preparation, and this information is intercepted by the Masters. The Masters spy unconsciously become a perfect eyes & ears for the Masters, who immediately react to counter ASC military advances!