by the fans for the fans

ZENTRAEDI: TOOL OF WAR

The normal average Zentraedi height is 9.0 – 10 m tall, clearly giving this giant race substantial superior edge against lesser smaller micronian (Tiresian homonym: miclone, Zentran homonym: microns / micronne) species. Their modified genes allows aggressive hormones production that stimulate violent tendencies during battle, allowing temporary exposure to space environs, most notably, the ability of being micronised to normal Tyroloid / micronian size. Complete with false engrams & mental neural reprogramming, a newly borne Zentran immediately grasps complete language structure, Zentran Spartan-like culture, basic survival & martial art skill (Diwgadras’U), more importantly, basic tactical infantry military skills. Furthermore, a Zentran also mentally conditioned to serve, fight & die selflessly for the glory of the Robotech Masters & the Imperium, in which encoded as the Imperative dogma, indoctrinated in every neural engrams within each Zentraedi.

The early phase of Zentraedi induction into Imperium military are nothing more than glorified giant armored infantry troopers armed with several hand-held infantry weaponries. Normal Tyrolian military units continue to dominate aerospace theatre & mechanized terrestrial force, with Zentraedi providing heavy infantry support. This traditional infantry shock troop role changes over time as new heavily armored Zentraedi Heavy Assault Walkers mecha are introduced as the main element for the 1st mechanized Zentraedi units. As Robotechnology progressed over the centuries, more advanced infantry mechas & aerospace fighters are introduced into Zentraedi Regular Armies to replace obsolete terror weapons. Within 3 centuries after Zentraedi are first introduced, the entire Zentraedi military powerhouse has by that time totally mechanized & replaced frontline Tyrolian units with now the Zentraedi practically mastered every field of military engagement either terrestrial campaigns to aerospace mecha warfare.

What is more important would be the Zentraedi armada. In its early days, Robotech Elders commissioned huge naval carriers that ferried large numbers of Zentran troopers. However, large obsolete carriers were further replaced with new spacecraft vessels such as destroyers, escorts, flagships & more importantly, newly Monitor class vessels that armed with Reflex Cannons, the very powerful beam cannons that make Zentraedi Armada unbeatable in any conflict. Reflex Cannons give the Zentraedi powerful edge over any other alien species in conflict with Robotech Imperium, apart from the enigmatic Robotech Masters themselves. In its greatest height, Zentraedi Armada encompasses 5.8 million spacecrafts of various classes, which includes the 1 million ships of elite Adoclass Imperial Fleet & 4.8 million ships of Gorg BoDolza Fleet (Dolza’s Grand Fleet). However, apart from billions of hardhitting mechas & millions of spacecrafts, the near perfect efficiency in new troop cloning & mecha production plus spacecraft manufacturing solely for the Zentraedi Regular Armies increased hundredfold as terrestrial production facilities shifted to mobile automated factory satellites carved out from huge asteroids. These mobile centers transform the Zentraedi society ultimately to become spacefaring military civilization that served the Robotech Masters wills across the vast Imperium interstellar territories.

Zentraedi in the early phase only consisted of male clones known as Zentrans. Upon stepping out of the cloning vat (literally) at precocious age (equivalent to Terran years) of 16 years old, they become the expendable warrior-slave class that Masters willing to sacrifice & cheaply produced. A normal Zentran trooper will only survived for 3 years if he is lucky enough to survive the turbulent all-around grueling trainings & military conflicts until he finally dies serving the Masters. Those that survived the first 3 years will usually become NCO & later will be promoted accordingly through the ranks of Zentraedi military hierarchy. However, as most new Zentran troopers would not last even more than 3 years, & veteran Zentrans also dwindling rapidly over the warring years, new batch of specialized Zentran clone series were introduced for Officer classes, Fleet Commanders & Domillan Advisors. These specialized higher ranking Zentrans are given more free will & independent decision making in either tactical military strategies & personal initiatives. Despite these new measures, veteran Zentran troopers can still moved up until reaching the Officer or atleast a naval Captain through manual promotion based on merit or experience. However, the Zentraedi Supreme Commander Dolza, 101st Assault Combined Fleet Commander Breetai Kridanik & his Domillan Advisor, Exedore Formo are an exception to the rule, as from all record available suggested that these three individuals are the last surviving clones of their series which dated back to the earliest series of Zentran miners clones.

In one of Robotech Masters eugenic clone experiment involving the warlike Praxian species that surprisingly similar & identical to Tyrolian species, new goliath Tyroloid bio-construct are introduced into Zentraedi race, the Meltran (or Meltrandi) – female Zentraedi. The Meltran DNA structures are based upon Praxis aggressive humanoid natives, & with the same mental conditionings & Zentran culture, the Meltrans immediately become the elite of the Zentraedi. Fielding specialized & the most advanced multirole combat mecha available for the Meltrans, the female Zentraedi become the core of Zentraedi Special Forces under 502nd Meltran Assault Fleet – Azonia Laplamiz Command with two of the most famous Meltran field commanders under her wings that includes Meltran Armored Air Assault Division – Miriya Parino Command & Meltran Armored Assault Wing – Kiyora Tekiva Command. It must be noted however, that Tekiva Kiyora & her Meltran Armored Assault Wing later is put under directly under Dolza’s command – Special Quadrono Taskforce. The inclusion of Meltrandi that occurred fairly late in Zentraedi history, circa late 18th century AD, added greatly to the competitive nature in Zentraedi race as a whole as Zentrans & Meltrans even in joint operations will mostly compete against each other to prove each factions superiority in battles. Zentrans continue to be the majority of Zentraedi, as Meltrans only consist of less than 1/10th of the entire race.

Greater question arises as how to control the already impressive military goliaths, who can by now may usurped the Robotech Masters & claimed the Imperium throne? To control the Zentraedi, the Robotech Masters psychologially impaired them by orienting nearly the entire population to the sole purpose of war to the exclusion of all else. The Zentraedi military culture had no arts, no learning beyond what was directly related to war; apart from fabricated lore & myths consisting of Zentraedi military conquests which factual history were embellished with Zentraedi ultra-nationalism & devotion to Masters Imperative. Not only that, even sophisticated medical & advanced technical skills (apart from basic mecha maintenance ie replacing depleted protoculture cells / ammunitions with new ones, adding modular spare parts to slightly damaged mechas or replacing damaged equipment with new modules) were denied to the Zentraedi – which restricted any advanced task with these skills to the automatic functions at special mobile bases such as the automated factory satellites built by the Masters.

In addition, the sexes were strictly segregated to minimize the chance of sexual reproduction which could profoundly alter the worldview of the goliath warrior race. To that end, the population was indoctrinated to view any sexual activity totally repulsive & dangerous to the very future of the Zentraedi race. Only Fleet Commanders & their Domillan Advisors are given vague male-female relationship within any primitive micronian species they encountered, while the rest of Zentraedi race never aware of such close gender contacts ever existed apart from the usual – mostly cold & distant with a touch of disdain – communication between Fleet Commanders & Field Commanders of different sexes who will meet up only in joint operation missions or joint military training exercises. In any case, in peacetime, both Meltrans & Zentrans will lived separately within their isolated fleets strewn across the vast Imperium.

ZENTRAEDI REGULAR ARMIES – THEIR HISTORY

As mentioned in the early sections of this article, Zentraedi started their military beginnings as glorified giant infantry troopers ferried around the galaxy in huge obsolete naval carriers. As Robotechnology progressed & centuries later, the Zentraedi evolved rapidly from the terrestrial heavy infantry support units to all around space conventional military society that become the Robotech guards for the Imperium. Previously the Zentraedi are controlled directly by their respective Tyrolian Battlelords of the Fleet (elite Bioroid Commanders) to support Tyrolian military units in any conflicts, but by large, as Zentraedi numbers multiply & more specialized mechas plus spacecrafts (properly scaled to Zentraedi physical size) produced, military directives slowly slipped & relegated to Zentraedi Field Commanders.

The oldest individual of the entire Zentraedi clone series, Dolza proved his battle management skills & superior battle tactics to raise above all the rest, was formerly a Zentraedi Field Commander leading legions of Zentraedi Infantry Corps before he was promoted to become the 1st Zentraedi Fleet Commander. However, by 1390AD, the Robotech Elders realized that their warrior-slave society has evolved sufficiently to be led by one of their own, thus creation of specific military organization to oversee their Zentraedi military operations known as Zentraedi Regular Armies become a reality. Dolza was naturally selected to become the 1st Zentraedi Supreme Commander, whose subservient only to Robotech Masters.

The Zentraedi traditional infantry role changes as in 1393AD, the Zentraedi with heavy naval support are ordered by Elders to defoliate Optera in order for the Imperium bid to monopolise the protoculture production in the known universe. The Invid world lies in ruins & devastation, as Tyrolian Mercantile Empire continues to expand its influence & with Zentraedi conquering a large part of the galaxy to add to its already impressive interstellar border. In 1450AD, Invid launches successive fold-guerilla terror campaigns against Imperium isolated colonies & border worlds. Zentraedi troop productions are increased tenfold in order to contain the Invid threat & mechanized units are for the 1st time introduced into Zentraedi military doctrine.

Huge Zentraedi Assault Walkers mecha, known as ‘Destroyers of Cities’ strengthen the Zentraedi military might. By this time, new Zentraedi naval vessels such as destroyers & escorts rapidly replacing huge obsolete naval carriers. To bolster the already mighty giant fleet, a new class of vessel known as Monitor is being experimented to complement the burgeoning Zentraedi armada. Zentraedi scout vessels patrolled the vast Imperium border, while Zentraedi Regular Armies, now the Robotech Enforcer for the Imperium, begin outright campaign of violence as the Imperium mandated the Local Group worlds to be subjugated under the Empire. From 1378 – 1450AD, Karbarra, Garuda, Spheris & Praxis (with early addition of Peryton – already under Tyrolian conquest during Republican era in early 1300s) fall under the Zentraedi gauntlet as the goliaths of war thundered on to fulfill their Robotech overlords’ wishes.

By this time, 1450AD, Invid as mentioned before, launches fold guerilla campaign that chipped away at outermost Imperium border fringes. The Robotech Elders identify the Invid as the main culprit raiding the Imperium protoculture supplies on border worlds, react with extreme prejudice by sending the Zentraedi for the 2nd time to Optera, no longer to defoliate the rather dying world, but to finally exterminating the Invid species once & for all. The arrival of the Zentraedi Punitive Fleet to Tzuptum system & Optera later precipitates the long-running future conflicts the Imperium will ever face, however, the Punitive Fleet embarks by orbital bombardment that practically extinguished Invid hives still grounded on planetary surface. Surviving hives, to Robotech Elders dismay, sported barrier shield technology & being lead by atleast two Royal Hives, succeeded to escape via trans-atmospheric fold to parts unknown. Frustrated, Zentraedi conducted violent mop-up campaign upon planetary assault on Optera, killing any surviving Invid factions that survived the planetary bombardment & wiping out any sign of Invid civilization on Optera surface. To deliver coup de grace, the Punitive Fleet irradiate the entire Invid Homeworld with final reflex missile bombardment, & leaving the now lifeless planet with its native species butchered after fighting the goliaths to the bitter end.

The Zentraedi exploits & outright savageries committed upon their Opteran campaign & atrocities towards Invid send outright fear to every alien race under Tyrolian Mercantile Empire’s subjugation. Talks & thoughts of dissents simply die a natural death as the Empire consolidates & expand to great heights, enforced by the gigantic & mighty Zentraedi.

CLASH OF THE TITANS: ROBOTECH CIVIL WAR

Most significant element in Zentraedi long war-torn history would be the event known to stellar chroniclers as ‘The Divisive Wars’ (apart from their epic struggle against ancient Invid nemesis) in which pitted Zentraedi Regular Armies under Dolza’s faction against those corrupted by cultural contamination. Suffice to say, apart from the 1st Robotech War that pitted Zentraedi vs Zentraedi, this early Robotech Civil War drastically affect Zentraedi course of history, alongside the Robotech Imperium as a whole.

In 1500AD, Zentraedi Regular Armies enforced Masters grip all over Imperium colonies & its Local Group worlds under its hegemony. However, winds of change begin to be felt all over Masters territories as voices of discontent, raised by Tyrolian patrician classes whose influence within the Empire have slowly eroded after the regime change back in 1361AD. The patrician class, supported by many ordinary Tyrolians whose traditional cultures & freedom of expression severely curtailed during Masters reign of power, longed for the Stellar Republic days. Riots are organised throughout the Empire, condemning Robotech Elders triumvirate way of life & their artificial triumvirate clone societies as a threat to Tyrolian culture & Masters Triumvirate dogma as heresy. Despite economic successes & glorious Robotechnological advancement that put Tyrolian civilization as the highest expression in the entire known universe eversince Robotech Tyrolian Mercantile Empire came into being, decades of under cultural & freedom repression has started to rear its rebellious face against the Robotech Elders throne.

The 1st Robotech Master, Zor Derelda also contributed to the dissent & schism within the Empire. Zor, under various pseudonyms, written several anti-Triumvirate essays & glorifying Republican political system has attracted Tyrolian societies strewn all across the Imperium. Thus, a concerted underground movement led by Tyrolian patrician classes & funded by Tyrolian merchant classes to freed the Imperium from Triumvirate dogma grew out of proportion. Now, Disciples of Zor, as they’re later known, grew large enough to threaten Robotech Elders grip on power. In 1519AD, several rebellious Tyrolian colonies with a number of Imperium coreworlds, supported by 2 influential Local Group worlds – Karbarra & Peryton – openly defied Triumvirate dogma by ousting their respective Robotech Colonial Governors & declared independence. This led the Robotech Elders to order 1/5 of Zentraedi Regular Armies (whose Armada by this time has grown to 1 million ships in total) fleet to enforce control of the rebellious colonies.

This Zentraedi Taskforce, known as the ‘Supervision Army’ with 200,000 vessels immediately folded to the main rebellious colony homeworld, & put the entire planetary system under threat of orbital bombardment. By this time, the rebellious Tyrolian colonists slowly infiltrated the vast Zentraedi fleet & introduced the goliath with the colonists cultures, within mere weeks the entire Supervision Army are successfully infused with cultural contamination. The Supervision Army Fleet Commander, now converted & committed to the rebel’s cause, openly defied Robotech Elder’s order to invade the rebel colony. Robotech Elders by now ordered Dolza to lead the entire remaining Zentraedi Grand Fleet (totaling 800,000 vessels) to wipe out the rebellious colony & their Zentraedi Supervision Army allies. Such edicts immediately galvanized the entire rebellious Disciples of Zor movement to declare open holy crusade against Robotech Tyrolian Mercantile Empire & cleansed the entire Imperium from perverted Triumvirate ideology & way of life forever.

The entire Imperium braced for the ideology civil war. As Dolza is given free reign by Robotech Elders to deal with the Disciples of Zor, the contaminated Supervision Army & any rebellious colonies committed to rebel’s cause, indiscriminate punitive orbital bombardment by Dolza’s Grand Fleet were always the punishment meted out against rebellious colonies. Entire Imperium erupted into war as Disciples of Zor sympathizers filled the Robotech rebels ranks, & with Supervision Army at their side, the Robotech rebels began their insurgency campaign with devastating results against Imperium colonies whose still loyal to the Imperium. Each factions often employed mutually assured destruction tactics, leaving colony worlds to ashes all over the Empire. Open conflict involving Zentraedi from both side between Zentraedi loyalists of the Gorg BoDolza Fleet (Grand Fleet) & contaminated Supervision Army most often destructive enough, spreading from core colony worlds to spill over the Imperium fringe worlds.

As Dolza’s faction moved on to the next planetary bombardment missions against rebel worlds & the entire loyalist Zentraedi Regular Armies thinly stretched out, the rebellious Supervision Army & their Disciples of Zor allies regularly concentrated their might to strike one loyalist colony world at a time. This tit for tat divisive war immediately reduced the vast Imperium major coreworlds & its important colonies to wholesale slaughter & devastation as both sides shows no sign of giving up their cause. Only Tyrol & the Sentinel Local Group worlds (Peryton & Karbarra are spared from orbital bombardment after capitulating to Robotech Elders demands) are safe, thanks to large security & military buffer zone created by Masters faction. However, just within two centuries, the entire Imperium fell into ashes, & entire generations between both sides simply fought for revenge & each faction determined to wipe their enemies to extinction. The holy Robotech war has become a crusade of its own, effectively making Masters faction & Disciples of Zor faction vying for control to surviving Imperial assets. Outright massacres & wartime brutalities committed of both sides almost assured the Tyrolian Mercantile Empire demise.

Tired from fold guerilla tactical campaigns & long attrition warfare, the Disciples of Zor & the Supervision Army threw caution to the wind as the rebel faction determined to win the Holy War with one stroke. In 1792AD, the entire rebel fleet folded directly to Tyrol as to initiate the largest invasion of the Imperial homeworld & reduced Robotech Elders powerbase. As Zentraedi Regular Armies stretched throughout the Empire, the Masters faction in Valivarre system had to rely to their elite Imperial Bioroid Forces to stem the rebel invasion. It was during this time that Robotech Master triumvirate unleashed the newly created elite & fanatical Tyrolian Border Forces to defend the entire Valivarre star-system as epic aerospace battle between Masters loyalists & rebels fleet boiled away. Both Imperial Boroid Forces & Tyrolian Border Forces (which includes new breed of Zentraedi Borderers) managed to delayed the rebel faction invasion for a little longer, giving Dolza’s Zentraedi Armada precious time to reassemble rescue Taskforce, headed by illustrious Zentraedi Fleet Commander of 101st Assault Combine Fleet, Breetai Kridanik. The 101st folded & caught the rebel fleet by surprise, & in an epic pincer move, the surviving Masters faction & Zentraedi 101st Assault Combine Fleet reduced the Supervision Army & Disciples of Zor into wholesale slaughter. The rebel fleet slowly retreated to deep space, & the Robotech Civil came to an abrupt end.

The Robotech Masters, now having usurped the Imperium throne in apparent coup de tat against the Robotech Elders soon after the war, proclaimed the entire Imperium is now under Triumvirate rule & order. Disciples of Zor no longer posed a definitive threat & reduced space-faring pirates & scavengers, struggle to survive against Zentraedi now all too powerful Armada. Because Dolza’s unrelented & merciless conducts against the Robotech rebels, he is ultimately given full reign of the entire Zentraedi Regular Armies with significant autonomy. As the Imperium slowly rebuild its devastated Empire, the Zentraedi are tasked to conquer new worlds & to limit the debilitating cultural contamination, each Zentraedi Domillans were given strict cautioned to their Fleet Commanders to avoid any close contact with any alien micronian species, with ‘shoot first, never asked question’ policy become the norm against any hostile species dare to cross the Master’s wills.

THE RENAISSANCE & INVID RECKONING

By end of the Divisive Wars, the Imperium undergone a Renaissance under tutelage of Robotech Masters. With more than 4/5 of the entire Tyroloid colonists were wiped out in the devastating civil wars apart from native Tyrolians on Tyrol & significant Tyrolian colonists on Peryton, Robotech Masters reseeded their Triumvirate Tyroloid clones to many barren colony worlds & frontier worlds in a bid to replace their loss native population. By 1850, the artificial Triumvirate clones effectively replaced native Tyrolians & Tyrolian colonists as the majority of Masters’ citizens reviving Robotech Imperium. This assured undying loyalty to Triumvirate dogma as the official religion of the Empire & native Tyrolians are excluded from any position of power within the ruling Triumvirate hierarchy & surviving Tyrolian colonists were shipped back to Tyrol, while those Tyrolian descendants on Peryton simply gave up their old ways & accepted the ruling edicts. Masters placated native Tyrolians with non-functioning Senate that ruled from Tiresia & Tyrol, & given them false sense of security by removing the triumvirate clone societies from Tyrol. Little did native Tyrolian knew, the balance of power is now in the hands of Triumvirate clones that now have repopulated the entire Imperium colonies & coreworlds minus Tyrol & Local Group worlds, assuring Masters complete grip on entire Imperium future.

However, Zentraedi also benefited from the Imperial Renaissance. The Zentraedi Regular Armies by now increased to billions of personnels with 5.8 million warships practically ruled the spacelanes. Surviving pockets of Robotech rebels had now become prey to Zentraedi trigger happy attitudes, & later generations of rebels are nothing more than space pirates who avoiding contact with Zentraedi at all costs. Zentraedi also by this time begin to enjoyed prolonged peacetime, with most military actions taken up by the Adoclass Imperial Fleet with the elite 101st Assault Combine Fleet & 502nd Meltran Assault Fleet become the forefront hammers against hostile forces. The rest of the vast & impressive Grand Fleet are tasked with patrol duties within the vast Imperium & transporting supplies via the vibrant trade route & stationed to border outposts strewn all over the Empire.

Meanwhile the elite Zentraedi Borderers already tasked to patrol outer reaches of the Empire to seek out new worlds & any enemies still hidden in the vastness of space. This indeed come to a pass as the Zentraedi Borderers Taskforce in 1940AD located the last major Disciples of Zor outpost & in joint operation with 101st Assault Combine Fleet – Breetai Kridanik Command destroy the rebel last surviving colony. Later, in 1947AD, one lone Border Fleet unit stumbled onto Invid outpost in Large Magellanic Cloud, an ancient nemesis long thought extinct by the Zentraedi High Command. This Borderer’s unit frantic communiqué was intercepted by Zentraedi Regular Armies units before the sudden destruction of that unit believed to be carried out by Invid forces. The disturbing reports forwarded to Dolza, who by this time saw it fit not to inform the Masters regarding the Invid’s sudden appearance. Dolza finally realized that Zentraedi Regular Armies as his own for the 1st time.

This time around, Dolza’s himself led the Adoclass Imperial Fleet in tow with 502nd Meltran Assault Fleet to deal with the Invid threat personally. The one million Zentraedi Armada arrived near Invid outpost of an icy planetary Tawkhan, however nearly all the Invid hives already initiated the largest evacuation mission, via intraatmospheric fold operation. The fold operation also unleashed the Invid greatest ace in the whole, anti-matter beam energy that coincided with the fold operation that managed to destroy the Zentraedi bombardment armada. The Tawkhan campaign begun with a large planetary invasion, as remaining Invid garrison troops & the Invid Brain that controlled the main nerve Invid Hive on the planet fought valiantly. The Invid defenses were so strong that the entire conflict due to doom the Adoclass Imperial Fleet, as 8 million Zentraedi personnels locked in mortal combat with 20 million Invid on Tawkhan planetary surface while the Imperial Armada simply cannot glassed the entire planet as Zentraedi Fleet Commanders refused to fire on their troops still fighting on the planet. It took a daring thrust by Zentraedi greatest ace, Miriya Paarino (of Meltran Armored Air Assault Division) leading half of the surviving Quadrono 16th Armored Battalion with Kazianna Hesh, the unit’s only surviving NCO -whose senior officers & its commander already fallen under Invid waves – to the Invid central Hive.

The daring & suicidal maneuver by the Meltrandi outfit allowed 10 regiments of Zentraedi Special Force led by Breetai Kridanik to gain an opening to strike deep inside the Central Hive & destroy the Invid Brain, leading the entire Zentraedi Corps to wipe out surviving Invid units to great success. The entire victorious event added to Lord Breetai Kridanik fame amongst the Adoclass Imperial Fleet, & marked the outstanding achievement to the greatest Zentraedi ace of all time, Miriya Paarino. Zentraedi 101st Assault Combine Fleet Domillan – Exedore Formo chronicled the event & added it as the 2nd greatest Zentraedi military engagement after the early legendary Opteran campaign. Nevertheless, the tenacity of the Invid forces resisting the Zentraedi might to nearly a standstill also etched forever to Zentraedi psyche, that the Zentraedi has finally met their match in fearless & suicidal Invid who gave no quarter to its sworn enemy.

By this time, Invid has relocated to new world outside Masters sphere of influence, & renew their aggression against Masters outer colonies, resorting to raid protoculture storage facilities & occasional strikes against Zentraedi military outposts. The Invid which itself has evolved into spacefaring society, since the introduction of their spherical hive ships has been able to fought & challenge the Zentraedi might, if only in some small measure, to a standstill. However, Invid threat was still sufficiently contained by the vast Zentraedi Regular Armies, & become minor nuisance just like any space pirates that from time to time raiding the Empire’s vibrant commerce trade routes.

1ST ROBOTECH WAR & ZENTRAEDI HOLOCAUST

The author wished here that readers to refer to the highly acclaimed essays by Colonel (ret) Mahmoud Abbas on in depth Zentraedi involvement in 1st Robotech War & subsequent Malcontent Uprising era. It is not this author wishes to revisit those two eras, as it would be redundant to write on those two subject matters that already widely available in other sources. However, this author will summarily try to explain Zentraedi involvement with the humanity in 1st Robotech War.

Much has been documented about the fate of the Zentraedi Regular Armies in Sol System. However, little did humanity known, the 1st contact between the goliath & humanity occurred in 1622 AD, when a Zentraedi long range Tou Redir Sloop crash landed on remote part of China’s Ming Dynasty. It was not known much apart from surviving Chinese records that stated local population in that remote area were terrorized by giants, & Ming Emperor sent two military expeditions to fight off the menace. The entire expedition were victorious, however at the horrific price as the Ming armies were nearly obliterated by giant enemy knights & terrorized by gigantic iron balls that walked & spewed fire & destruction (as recorded by Chinese historian). This event also lead to Ming Dynasty inability to fight off Manchu hordes expansionism campaign throughout East Asia continent later on whose toppled the Ming Dynasty & established new Manchu's Qing Dynasty. From Zentraedi record however, the missing scout ship incident is filed as isolated case, with all crew MIA. Clearly the incident is not worth the Zentraedi special attention.

The event in 1999AD that lead to 1st Robotech War occurs shortly after 1st Robotech Master, Zor Derelda’s flower of life reseeding mission was ambushed by Invid forces, who were beaten back by Zentraedi Borderers with the help of Breetai’s 101st Assault Combine Fleet that act as escort to the top-secret expedition. This single event in which costing Zor Derelda’s life & the missing of his Makross class monitor ship containing the last fertile batch of Invid Flower of Life & the last known protoculture matrix, immediately put a halt to the Imperium Renaissance. Desperate that protoculture shortages & looming energy crises that could destabilized the entire Empire, the Robotech Masters ordered Dolza to assemble the 101st Assault Combine Fleet – Breetai Kridanik Command to hunt the errant ship. After 10 year journey, in February 2009AD, the Zentraedi found the ship at the hands of micronian species in Sol System, thus initiating the 1st Robotech War. Unfortunately, the Zentraedi under Breetai were told to capture the ship intact & undamaged, throwing Zentraedi tactics of search & destroy into a loop & disarray.

In the early phase of the war, the Zentraedi fleet embarked on cat & mouse game against humanity refugees aboard SDF-1 Macross through its journey from Pluto to Earth. Then followed by series of miscalculations, Breetai Kridanik was relieved from his command of 101st Assault Combine Fleet & in his place, Azonia Laplamiz - Fleet Commander of the 502nd Meltran Assault Fleet taken the command of his fleet in Sol System. Sufficed to note, having a Meltran Fleet Commander & her own illustrious all-female Zentraedi fleet taken over command of the elite 101st Assault Combine Fleet raise the ire of many Zentran Field Commanders, most notably of Khyron Kravshera – Botoru 7th Mechanised Division. Politicking within both fleet come to afore as Khyron Kravshera openly defied & disobeyed Azonia’s order as Fleet Commander to the joint command of Zentraedi fleets in Sol-System. Her capability to command the best of the best of Zentraedi fleets are now in serious jeopardy.

The arrival of Bretaai Kridanik with the entire vaunted Adoclass Imperial Armada on Earth to deal with the unpredictable micronians on Earth almost given hope to Zentraedi forces still besieging the planet. However, a Micronian propagandist by the name of Lynn Minmay, a celebrity aboard Zor’s battlefortress effectively turning the entire 1 million vessels of the Adoclass Imperial Armada totally enamored with Terran culture. In mere weeks, in a virtual repeat of the event that precipitates the Robotech civil war, the Adoclass Imperial Armada immediately infused with cultural contamination. Distraught Fleet Commanders reported cases of widespread mutinies, dereliction of duties & outright rebellion forced Breetai to take one last desperate action to destroy the source of the problem, the SDF-1. However, the defection of sizable Zentraedi troopers to micronian refugees aboard the SDF-1 & most unsettling, of the greatest Zentraedi ace, Miriya Paarino has now mated with a micronian practically led Breetai Kridanik & his Domillan, Exedore Formo to formulate alliance with the Micronians.

Dolza, the Supreme Commander has long harbored dream to finally rebel against the Robotech Masters, found the incident in Sol System as an impetus to finally proved that he is indeed worthy of usurping the Imperium throne & becoming the Robotech Master too. Already the Gorg BoDolza Fleet (Dolza’s Grand Fleet) assembled under his direct command & folded to Sol System, leaving the entire Imperium practically defenceless. With 4.8 million warships strong, Dolza & the Grand Fleet embarked on grand military scale to eliminate the contaminated Adoclass Armada & their micronian patrons at one stroke. As history has shown such folly failed, resulted in both humanity & Zentraedi race to nearly mutual annihilation as both factions fought to the bitter end above devastated Earth. With the destruction of Dolza & his faction, the great Zentraedi civilization collapsed on Earth doorstep, leaving only 70 million bewildered Zentraedi survivors alongside 1.5 billions humans.

MICRONISATION & INTEGRATION INTO HUMAN SOCIETY

After 1st Robotech War, many Zentraedi survivors found it hard to integrate with human societies in post Rain of Death. Despite UEG efforts to integrate the Zentraedi by enrolling these former warrior soldiers into re-education & technical learning centers to better equipped them with necessary skills to adapt into human society, with mixed results. Many Zentraedi have to undergone micronisation, sometime against their willingness & much to their dismay. From a few disgruntled Zentraedi, their numbers increased as their dissatisfaction & grievances were often ignored by UEG representatives in Zentraedi population centers. Many turned to the old Imperative, to fight the Masters nemesis to the bitter end.

Many rogue Zentraedi under command of several hostile Zentraedi warlords, many of whom are Zentraedi Battlefield Commanders such as Khyron Kravshera, Zeraal Braedur, Tekiva Kiyora & Azonia Laplamiz lead terror insurgency campaigns against allied micronised Zentraedi & their humans benefactors. Despite elimination of these warlords by United Earth Forces by 2014, the Zentraedi malcontents continued their fights, only by now concentrated in several Zentraedi Control Zone. By 2016AD, the malcontentism intensifies as Zentraedi rebels have begun to adapt to Earth environment & humanity lifestyle. Now, these alien rebels no longer clings to the old ideals of the Imperative, but longed to rule over humanity & become Earth’s own master. The new rebel leaders such as infamous Zaria Kiyora & Seloy Deparra, both Meltrans, infiltrated UEF & gained insights to UEF force structure & supply route in order for personal gains. Zentraedi rebels begins to value capitalism especially the thriving underworld criminal activities to fund their terrorist networks, & most often than not, former Zentraedi warlord such as Lord Raijan Cyran & his rebel unit practically become new drug baron in South East Asia.

Because of heavy handedness in UEG handling of Malcontent Uprisings & later discriminatory policies led as many as 2/3rd of Zentraedi renouncing their loyalty to UEG & embraced the UEG Earthly rival, the EBSIS. Many micronised Zentraedi & even former Zentraedi malcontents found the neo-Marxist entity long running campaign “Military Service for Citizenship” too irresistible to refuse. The EBSIS valued their Zentraedi in high regards, often treat them as equal partners & allowed Zentraedi to continue practiced their Spartan-like culture, even permitted many Zentraedi habitation centers throughout EBSIS expansive territories. In exchange, these ‘Red Zents’ as they were known provided professional military service to their new Marxist overlord, often with fanatical & loyalty unmatched to any others, except to their former Supreme Commander Dolza or Masters themselves. In latter part of Malcontent Uprisings, it is interesting to note that former Malcontent leaders in South East Asia, Lord Raijan Cyran joined EBSIS cause & become Communist Party Leader maintaining his fiefdom in Indochina while Zaria Kiyora was promoted to become the 1st EBSIS Fleet Admiral. Many former Zentraedi guerillas in mid 2020s in South America, Africa & South East Asia were given safe sanctuary into EBSIS territories & swelled the Red Zents ranks.

As numbers of loyal micronised Zentraedi now already reduced with large number of defections to EBSIS nationalities, the micronised Zentraedi under UEG simply lose heart & many volunteered to become off-world colonists under Gloval Initiative Plan 2014. The massive colonisation effort are undertaken by Expeditionary Taskforce, which in turns needed large number of personels well-versed with space exploration. Thus UEG micronised Zentraedi become top priority for selection as off-world colonists & EF personnels manning the entire expedition. By 2022AD, fully 4/5th of Terran off-world colonists are of micronised Zentraedi & fully 2/3rd of EF personnels especially those serving in the Expeditionary Marine Corp & Expeditionary Marine Aerospace Corp & large numbers of Expeditionary Tactical Space Corp detachment are of Zentraedi ancestry. Away from the horrors of Malcontent Uprisings & now back to the deep space where they once ruled, the micronised Zentraedi integrated with their Terran colonists compatriots, begin lives anew on hostile frontier worlds or deepspace colony habitation centers.

As majority of micronised Zentraedi migrated from Earth to colonise the deep space under Gloval Initiative Plan, those left on Earth has successfully assimilated to human society, so much so 2nd generation of free Zentraedi simply refers themselves as homo sapiens. Intermarriages with Terrans further diluted the Zentraedi gene pool, by 2nd Robotech War, the Zentraedi back on Earth already extinct as a culture, if not the people. However, in deep space, as in case of Mars, the Zentraedi cultural heritage continue to lived on given Zentraedi colonists outnumber the Terran from 5 to 1, but slowly dissipates as 2nd & 3rd generation Zentraedi & mixed Zentreadi embraced humanity culture & identify themselves more closely with Terran pop-culture & racial identity. The older Zentraedi living in these colony worlds & habitation centers worked hard to retain some of the Zentraedi cultural heritage to some successful degrees, such as compulsory Zentraedi language subjects to all Zentraedi & mixed Zentradi kids, retaining Zentraedi Diwgadras U martial art, Zentraedi history integrated in school subjects amongst others.

On a larger scale, Zentraedi at this point of time, from 2040AD onwards, as a culture has now faded into history. As a people & as a race, the micronised Zentraedi have embraced humanity in the end. But that is different story to the now-forgotten neo Zentraedi, the Borderers.

NEO ZENTRAEDI: THE ZENTRAEDI BORDERERS

Special mention needed to describe a new sub-species of Zentraedi race, known as the Zentraedi Borderers of the autonomous Tyrolian Border Fleet that answered directly under Robotech Masters. The Zentraedi Borderers make up of nearly 70% of this elite Imperium Taskforce, most often served in far-flung of Imperium frontiers. These Zentraedi are far more fanatical in their devotion to the Imperative, practically each one of these Borderers are specialized Zentraedi clones that are far tougher with advanced altered DNA structures to increase their survival. These are the first advanced bio-androids, in which already become new Zentraedi sub species, far more superior than average Zentraedi clones, & on individual basis, the Borderers are on equal term with any average Zentraedi Officer clone series. The Zentraedi Borderers served alongside their Triumviroid clones (advanced Bioroid pilots) comrades, & may actually be micronised & become one of the elite Bioroid pilots serving the Tyrolian Border Forces (which is separated from Dolza’s Zentraedi Regular Armies or Masters’ Imperial Bioroid Forces). The Borderers are at the pinnacle of Zentraedi artificial evolution, & these new breeds of Zentraedi also given far advanced elite mechas for their mecha complement.

Not only that, specially selected trained units of Borderers are also specialized in infiltration, sabotage & assassination missions, known as Nous-Grandiel units - which are equivalent to Terran’s World War II Nazi Gestapo or SS units - that are feared by every Zentraedi Regular Armies’ personnels (either basic trooper even to Fleet Commanders). The Nous Grandiel units will most often infiltrated the Zentraedi Regular Armies ranks to weed out any Zentraedi that shown discontent to their conditioning or shown any abnormal emotions usually associated with early signs of cultural contamination, & any higher ranking Zentraedi Field & Fleet Commanders that harbors outright rebellion against the Imperative (which includes even Dolza! ). Periodical purges done by Nous Grandiel units against Zentraedi High Command officers suspected of outright rebellions (terminated via assassinations) or disappearance of an entire Infantry Corps suspected of cultural contamination (involved outright massacre in remote border of the Imperium) put fear even the hearts of the most staunch Zentraedi.

Only the veterans of elite 101st Assault Combined Fleet – Breetai Kridanik Command & 502nd Meltran Assault Fleet – Azonia Laplamiz Command (both are from Adoclass Imperial Fleet) from Zentraedi Regular Armies can matched the tenacity, ferocity & fervour of the Borderers, whom both Zentraedi fleets deeply feared & respected. In any major operations spearheaded by the Zentraedi Borderers or any military exercises, the 101st & 502nd are the only Zentraedi Regular Armies fleets allowed to support the Zentraedi Borderers (one such case: the 101st Assault Combined Fleet under Breetai Kridanik become escort fleet for the Zentraedi Border Guard Taskforce to protect the 1st Robotech Master Zor Derelda in his Flower of Life seeding missions) in their missions. However, contacts between Zentraedi Regular Armies & Zentraedi Borderers remained rare throughout the centuries.

It must also be known that the development of Zentraedi Borderers are the next phase in Masters development of biological slave warriors – to correct any flaws evident in average Zentraedi. Not only that, the Borderers also served as Imperium last line of defence against any possible foe, which also factors in eliminating possible rebellious Zentraedi units or Dolza’s Zentraedi Regular Armies if need be. Although the Borderers do not enjoyed the numerical superiority in both mechas & naval vessels that are evident with Zentraedi Regular Armies, its their far more quality mechas & advanced naval vessels (each equipped with Reflex cannons) plus all the best Zentraedi qualities available in their reengineered DNA structures that give the Borderers the qualitative edge over the average Zentraedi overwhelming quantitative factors.

BORDERERS, THE LAST GUARDIAN OF THE EMPIRE

As the entire Zentraedi Regular Armies disappears from every corner of the Empire in 2011AD, Robotech Masters feared the worst as possibility of Dolza’s leading the 2nd wave of Robotech civil war may become a reality. Tyrolian Border Fleet were recalled from far reaches of the Empire to defend the Empire from Dolza’s faction. It was from scant report that registered the large protoculture discharge that could only means the destruction of the entire Zentraedi Armada in Sol System that Masters changed their military objectives. By 2015AD, with the best of Imperial Armada containing only elite Imperial Bioroid Forces & all triumvirate clones, the Robotech Masters also disappear from the 4th Quadrant, with the Empire now hit by acute energy shortages. As for Zentraedi Borderers & their Tyrolian Borderers comrades, their orders are to keep law & order in these desperate times until the Masters returns with fresh protoculture supplies. Unused to policing duties, many Zentraedi Borderers & their triumvirate Borderers clones have to be in close contacts with Masters discontent susbjects, who by now resisting orders & old age emotion such as angers & frustrations creeped into the triumvirate societies all around the Empire due to Masters abandonment.

It is interesting to note that Tyrol alone escape such discontent, stemmed mostly because Masters allow its native Tyrolians to continue their cultured lifestyle & traditions albeit under close scrutiny. Lulled by false sense of security, & placated by their overgenerous Imperial Governor, the Tyrolian society as a whole become pacifists & ignorant societies, living off the comfort of the land, & even protoculture crises looms, ingenous Tyrolians simply reverted to solar powers & reactivated their monopole mining centers around Fantoma rings to fuel their energy needs. Of course, the now planet-bound Tyrolian natives didn’t even care about the fates of their stricken Triumvirate clones all over the Empire, as the ordinary Tyrolians didn’t have the affinity to the artificial clones that they secretly despised.

All over the Empire erupted into chaos & anarchy as rebellious clones, deprived of Cosmic Harp mental influence & hardships suffered because of acute energy shortages. Violent & bloody riots destabilized many major colonies & Imperium coreworlds as Triumvirate clones demanded Masters whereabouts. Security concerns & socio-economic situation all over the Empire now in the drains, as the Tyrolian Border Forces, still obeying Masters rule to the letter, keep themselves in their military installations either on planetary bases or confined to their ships anchored to orbital positions. It was not long for trouble to manifests, as protoculture crises hit all time low, the surviving protoculture supplies powering the Tyrolian Border Fleet vessels have to be cannibalized under orders of Triumvirate Governors to placate their clone subjects on many colonies & coreworlds. By now, the space faring Borderers had to leave their space habitats & be contend to live on terrestrial military bases.

In early 2016AD, the Invid civilization now formally declare Crusade War, known to most as War of the Flowers – against the weakened Empire. Invid swiftly overran Optera, their former homeworld, & from there, Invid Regess attempted invasion of Praxis, whose world are bountiful with mutant Flower of Life needed to fuel the Invid warmachines & feed the increasing population. Now awashed with fresh Flower of Life, Invid forces under Regent commited conventional war against the Empire, at first ravaging the defenceless frontier colonies before striking deep within the Empire. The Triumvirate Governors, with full consent from the planetary Tyrolian Border Fleet contingent, initiated zero commo operation, as last desperate measure to sever communication links between colony worlds to avoid Invid detection. Alas, it came to naught as Invid begin utilizing Invid Sensor Nebulae to detect any protoculture presence throughout the Empire.

Tyrolian Border Fleet, now reduced to become terrestrial contingents on many Empire colonies, fought off bitter bloody battles as Invid attempting full scale invasion to Masters coreworlds & major colonies. On many fronts, the Zentraedi Borderers fended off many invasion attempts by Invid forces, causing many casualties to Invid forces. Suffering major fatalities, Invid forces begin utilizing assault mechanized drones supplementing their manned Invid units, deeply tip the balance to Invid favors. The Borderers, now already besets with dwindling protoculture supplies to power their mecha, were simply too strung out & it is not long before these valiant Empire’s guardians fell under the Inorganics waves. The Invid dealt harsh punishment to every worlds they invaded & met with heavy resistance by Borderers contingents, usually by wiping out every last triumvirate clones in wholesale massacres. Invid bloodlust & merciless killing instincts at this time reach all time high, on par with Masters own excesses.

Invid crusaded on until by 2022AD, with its own forces now overran the entire Imperium extinguishing all signs of life, only Tyrol & Local Group worlds (minus Praxis, already invaded earlier by Regess’ Invid) are safe from ravages of the Invid, but still remains high on Invid Regent target. However, thanks to Borderers tenacity in fighting off Invid advances in every Imperium sectors have taken a toll to Invid capabilities to conduct effective conventional wars whose protoculture supplies also has by now running low to fuel Invid voracious campaign to subdue the entire Imperium. Invid crusades left the entire Imperium in shambles, far more devastating than the previous Robotech civil war of aons past. Invid terror warmachines practiced ethnic cleansing on a far larger scale to wipe out any Tyroloid clones, Zentraedi or Triumvirates otherwise. In 2023AD, the Invid forces finally located Tyrol & overran the entire Valivarre system with ease, & now proceeding to massacre the entire native Tyrolian population just like their Triumviarate cousins on many unfortunate worlds that the Invid ever visited. However, thanks to Invid internal schism between its two monarchs, the entire population on Tyrol were spared, as perhaps Invid themselves grew tired from such massacre. However, in the initial invasion, majority of native Tyrolians who’re pacifists in nature, fallen victims to Invid’s indiscriminate Inorganics hordes. At last count, only 280 million Tyrolians survivors survived the Invid violent invasion of their homeworld.

From Tyrol, Invid launched their expansionism policy to conquer the entire Local Group, whose alien worlds already teeming with mutant Flower of Life. Fearful of past experience against tenacious Borderers, Invid invasion of Sentinel worlds often turned bloody despite the token resistance by Sentinel aliens. The long fights against the Borderers on every inches of the Empire however has successfully taken its toll against Invid civilization & drastically reduced Invid strengths & manpower, so much so the Invid under Regent’s command had to rely to their Inorganics drones that supplemented his Invid forces. It is interesting to note as Invid already suffered horrendous casualties numbers in millions & wasted precious protoculture supplies in their exhaustive campaigns against the Borderers, such excesses & horrific tolls heaped upon Invid civilization caused Invid Regess to sever ties with Invid Regent. The entire Invid warmachines capabilities by time were already drastically reduced & will take a long time to recover.

PIRATES OF THE GALAXY

It must be noted atleast two minor colony worlds at the fringes of the Empire borders escaped the Invid wraths. In the largest evacuation missions attempted, the Border Fleet planetary contingents on both worlds contacted the last Tyrolian Border Fleet Taskforce consisted of a Makross class cruiser, 5 Seron Thoun battlecruisers & 2 Tou Salam border frigates to ferry out Triumvirate survivors to an abandoned Disciples of Zor – Tyrolian Republican Guard military outpost, in a star system containing a massive asteroid belt & 2 planetoid orbiting a dwarf star. The rescue missions were carried out discreetly to avoid Invid detection, at last count, almost 8 millions triumvirate clone refugees with 125,000 Borderers troops (of Triumviroid & Zentraedi Borderers) safely relocated to the star system. In order to conserve supplies, the Zentraedi Borderers simply undergone micronisation process, which also means making integration with their Triumviroid comrades far easier. Now, with their loyalty shifted no longer to Robotech Masters, but to serve the very needs & survival of desperate triumvirate clones on their hands, the Borderers learned one single thing from their former nemesis whom former base they now occupied, pirating.

At first these micronised pirates simply raiding abandoned Zentraedi outposts strewn all over the Empire to scavenge for supplies, however, constant Invid patrol nearly put a stop to their raiding parties. However, visitations to various Zentraedi outposts yielded weapons & food supplies, greatly ease the burdens of the refugees now safely inhabiting the reconstructed Robotech rebel base now known as the Pirate’s Clusters within the asteroid belt. Over time, the pirates grew more daring by pirating the Invid supply route who routinely employed their Karbarran captives to manned cargo vessels with fresh supplies of protoculture destined to Invid garrisons all over the Local Group. These raidings become a threat to Invid leaderships, so much so armed Invid naval escorts is a necessity to safeguard their Karbarran cargoships during the all important supply run.

The pirates also by this time begin to scavenge the outer perimeters of Masters former Empire. During these jaunts, the pirates met with Zentraedi loyalists survivors who are stranded on various star systems after fleeing the Dolza’s destruction back in Sol System. The surviving & starving Zentraedis are forcibly recruited into the pirates ranks, with such information regarding micronians & defections of Breetai’s Adoclass Armada to micronian side & after effects of 1st Robotech War, the former Borderers turned pirates come into conclusion that micronians & their treacherous Zentraedi partners would by now seeking Masters homeworld to exact revenge against Masters excesses, just like Disciples of Zor & now Invid had done. Such an expedition would only means the Terrans would have to establish supply routes & even deep space habitation centres for their troops or even colonies, which by the pirates estimations, primed for their pirating activities. Armed with coordinates taken from Zentraedi stragglers, now part of the pirating crews, the pirates retreated to Pirate’s Cluster with emboldens plan.

Smaller recon units sortied out to nearby star systems have yielded good results, reporting Terrans & their Zentraedi allies have establish deep space bases & colonizing new worlds. Much more important is that these micronians & their Zentraedi allies, known as Expeditionary Force has already established specific space routes to facilitate inter-trade commerce between their colony worlds & other off-world habitation centers that ferried vital supplies such as foods & manufactured goods, even more importantly, protoculture supplies. The now veteran pirates used hit & run tactics, at first terrorizing the EF trade & supply routes, but later grew more daring by conducting raids to EF colony worlds. Their enterprising criminal activities proven too much of a headache to Plenipoteniary Council, a civilian body that governs & administer welfare of Terran off-world colonies. Despite tighter securities, the pirates activities grew more far reaching as even on one of their long forays, managed to penetrate Sol System & raiding Mars protoculture storage facilities before escaping to deep space.

EF simply cannot pooled its limited resources to driven the pirates, thus Colonel Jonathan Wolfe & his infamous Wolfe’s Pack EF Special Forces unit in 2026AD are tasked to eliminate the pirate threats, while operating from Valivarre class SDF cruiser under command of Captain Kazianna Hesh. Tracking the pirates proved to be a daunting task, since the pirates captured often committed suicide before any can be brought for questioning. The armed conflict between UES Valivarre & the Wolfe Pack against pirates raiders grew more violent, as the pirates avoided capture at all costs, even sacrificing their lives & the pirate’s vessel if necessary. This fanatical zeal begins to raise recognition to UES Valivarre’s Zentraedi crews, but after intercepting pirates commo waves that the EF Zentraedi crews stumbled one important fact, the pirates they’ve been hunting down are one of their own, the micronised Zentraedi! However, the EF Zentraedi crews continue to serve EF loyally, treating the pirates much like Zentraedi malcontents on Earth, as a threat that must be exterminated for the greater good.

Frequent contact with pirate raiders increased tenfold as EF closing in on Empire fringes. As EF colonisation missions establish new colonies on abandoned Imperium borderworlds, this activities have not escaped the perceptive pirates back in Pirate’s Cluster. In 2028AD, the pirates raids to these new EF colonies startled the Plenipoteniary Council & EF High Command. By this time, however, the EF anti-piracy taskforce under Captain Kazianna Hesh of UES Valivarre begin to uncover the mystery of the pirates. The UES Valivarre Zentraedi crews begin to notice a specific term used by the pirates by intercepting their commo-waves, a particular term so dreaded by many former Zentraedi Regular Armies; the Nous Grandiel. The term most associated with one particular group of advanced Zentraedi, whose existence forgotten alongside other Zentraedi myths, the Zentraedi Borderers.

FROM PIRATES TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS

By December 2029, in a desperate attempt to eradicate the pirates threats, Colonel Thomas Riley Edwards with the full support of the Plenipoteniary Council, establish a small EF flotilla specifically to track the pirate’s lair & deal with the threat for good. This Taskforce, known as the Ghostrider finally track down suspicious activity near unimportant star-system, which finally identified as the pirate’s main base. The EF Ghostrider Taskforce threw caution to the wind as the small flotilla navigated the Pirate’s Cluster asteroid belt. The pirates immediately activated their surviving Border Fleet vessels in defence of their base, & sprung a deadly surprise attacks against the Ghostrider. The Taskforce were beaten back soundly & nearly annihilated before SDF-3 & its 6 Valivarre escorts (which includes UES Valivarre) came to its rescue.

The pirates immediately recognized the design features of SDF-3 & its Valivarre escorts as that of Border Fleet vessels, with the the close formation deeply resembled the formation of a Border Fleet Strikeforce, typically of a Sian Dereta flagship followed closely by Seron Thoun 6 vessels formations. However, the pirates begin opening salvoes after intercepting communiqué frantic calls between the stricken Taskforce & the SDF-3, knowing full well by now SDF-3 & its Valivarre escorts are of Terran origin. Still, even with the powerful mecha complement & frightful firepower that SDF-3 bears, they’re fighting against the Borderers, masters of war against the Invid, & feared by even ordinary Zentraedi. The hardened Borderers immediately issued war footings, discarded their pirates guises & activated the Tyrolian Border Fleet personnels. Even the Triumvirate clone refugees, now manning the AAA defensive system throw in their lot to support their guardians. Facing an uphill task, & perhaps certain defeat, EF Zentraedi Minister of Affairs, Exedore Formo broadcasted a plea to stop all hostilities. By this time, the UES Valivarre now under command of EF Fleet Admiral, Supreme Commander Breetai Kridanik immediately broadcasted Lynn Minmay songs on all available frequencies, the same tactics that subjugated Zentraedi Regular Armies nearly 2 decades ago.

The Triumvirate clones immediately stirred by Minmay’s music, which bring longings of the Cosmic Harp that has been denied to them eversince Robotech Masters disappear from the Quadrant. The Borderers, caught of guard of the cultural contamination tactics, fought harder still as not to be influenced by micronian culture, alas, because of their already long exposure to the refugees & the very Imperative they worship have been slackened since they took to pirating, their mental resolve cannot stand the Minmay’s musical onslaught. Under pressure of the clone refugees, the Borderers (by now successfully contaminated) open negotiations, with Exedore Formo & Supreme Commander Breetai Kridanik representing on EF behalf. Throughout the negotiations, the clone refugees & the Borderers learn that now Masters Imperial Armada has blockaded Earth & embroiled in a war there, while the EF High Command learn that they’re closing in into Masters territories. In one extraordinary sessions with the pirates, their leader, a former Border Fleet Commander, Tul Kridanik furnished exact coordinate of Tyrol & Valivarre star system, & suggested that EF Armada folded there & hold Masters homeworld as ransom & bargaining chip for future negotiation with the Robotech Masters to cease all hostilities in Sol System.

EF High Command immediately agrees to such idea, after concluding the peace agreement, in which required the pirates to cease all hostility against EF colonies & assets, plus also required EF to help relocate Triumvirate refugees & the Borderers to Tyrol, their former homeworld. The Borderers, now back to their prime, renamed themselves as Tyrolian Republican Guards, in honor of the Disciples of Zor’s unit whom military base they occupied for safe haven. As EF fleet still thinly stretched over the deep space, the Tyrolian Border Guards offered to supplement SDF-3 & its escorts with their Border Fleet naval assets. In 2030AD, SDF-3 & its 6 Valivarre escorts are augmented by Border Fleet contingent of Makross class monitor & its 6 Seron Thoun escorts immediately folded to Tyrol, only to find that the planet remain silent despite Zentraedi hailing frequencies broadcasted by both flotilla. The Border Fleet contingent immediately concluded the Empire homeworld may have finally fallen into Invid’s waves, which proven to be true as Invid immediately launch their Mollusk carriers from Tyrol to ward off the flotillas.

The heavy engagements to retake Tyrol from Invid occupation proved to be hard on both sides, it taken more than 3 Terran months that joint EF & Republican Guards military campaign to driven the Invid from Tyrolian soil. Ordinary Tyrolians immediately offered sanctuaries to their EF liberators, while the Republican Guards & the 8 million Triumvirate clone refugees are offered citizenship status by the newly created Tyrol Republic. At long last, the Zentraedi Borderers finally found a place they can now call home. The new Tyrol Republic has no standing army, thus it comes as no surprise the 125,000 former Tyrolian Border Fleet personnels become the nucleus of national Tyrolian Republican Guard & their naval assets & mecha immediately becomes Tyrol’s own. Not long after, as Sentinel military campaign ensues to liberate successive Local Group worlds from Invid Regent, Tyrol throw in her support by sending Tyrolian Border Guard contingent with TRN Tiresia, formerly Border Fleet Makross monitor to complement the Sentinel fleet.

The Zentraedi Borderers, still proud of their Zentraedi ancestry & traditional warlike culture, re-establish the Zentraedi capital city Zarkopolis in Rylac, abandoned mining colony on Tyrol. Zentraedi communities there thrived & many micronised Zentraedi EF personnels who’re still missing their Zentraedi heritage relocated to Zarkopolis so that their families can reconnected to their old roots. Unlike humanity who absorb & assimilated the Zentraedi as one of their own, the Tyrolians recognized Zentraedi as part of new ethnic make-up of diverse Tyrolian population. The Tyrolians integrated the Zentraedi & recognized their distinct culture as wholly Zentraedi origins, thus allowing the Zentraedi race to finally continue their rich heritage & culture on Tyrolian soil. After aeons of being warrior slaves to the Robotech Masters, these liberated special breed of Zentraedi Borderers that finally get recognition as equal partners by their former overlords, the Tyrolians. However, after more than a decade of Tyrol’s liberation, Zentraedi Borderers communities in Rylac, Tyrol & other native Tyrolian societies also suffered the same problem that besets micronised EF Zentraedi colonists, their youngsters embracing infectious Terran pop culture that invaded Tyrolian & Zentraedi lifestyle.