The first episode begins with Rick Hunter arriving as a visitor to Macross Island to watch the launching of the Super Dimensional Fortress One and to visit his "big brother", Roy Fokker.
Khyron eventually launches a suicide attack at the SDF-1, killing himself and everyone aboard except for Lisa, who was pushed into an ejection pod at the last moment by Admiral Henry J. Gloval.
[16] Later Lisa is promoted to the rank of captain, along with Rick while Max, Miriya and Claudia participate in an operation to capture the last remaining Zentraedi Satellite Factory in deep space.
[19] At the start of the series, Minmei is staying with her Aunt Lina and Uncle Max at the restaurant on Macross Island, where the SDF-1 had crashed ten years earlier and was about to be launched.
Minmei, who remains upbeat despite the circumstances, convinces her aunt and uncle to reopen their restaurant, an act which serves to inspire other refugees into returning to a sense of normalcy while on the long voyage back to Earth.
Minmei becomes despondent after the Zentraedi Grand fleet blasts Earth, destroying 95% of the surface, and killing virtually all human life on the planet, including her parents.
[11] Rick and Lisa would eventually become senior officers in the United Earth Forces while Minmei goes on to continue her career as a famous singer who is beloved by fans across the globe.
on the verge of the launch of the Robotech Expeditionary Force, led by the newly completed SDF-3, Rick and Lisa are finally married with Minmei singing during their wedding.
This development, combined with their increased exposure to human emotions and culture through watching the wedding causes a wave of mutinies to spread through the Zentraedi fleet, forcing Breetai to call a truce.
[16] Both look forward to raising their daughter in a peaceful world, but the start of the Zentraedi rebellions and the reemergence of Khyron and Azonia forces Max and Miriya to resume their military roles as fighter pilots.
This throws the command ship's crew into chaos which causes disorder throughout the enemy fleet, allowing the United Earth Forces to seize the factory.
However, Khyron and Azonia steal a protoculture chamber from New Detroit which they use to resize the growing number of disaffected micronized Zentraedi back into warrior giants.
Although many Zentraedi had been peacefully assimilated into Earth's surviving human population, many others were simply unable to overcome their natural desire to fight and destroy and they turn to Khyron as their leader.
Ben, along with his best friend Max Sterling, become rookie wingmates under the command of newly promoted Lieutenant Rick Hunter, forming the Vermilion Squadron with Roy Fokker.
The Macross operators, also known by fans as the Bridge Bunnies, — Vanessa Leeds,[33] Kim Young,[34] and Sammie Porter[35] were three minor fictional characters in the first saga of Robotech.
Emerson, and his wife Laura, were made godparents to Bowie Grant and Dana Sterling who were left under his care while their parents joined the Robotech Expeditionary Force.
[45] Scott Bernard is also known as Stieg Barnard in Genesis Climber Mospeada[46] Ariel (voiced by Melanie MacQueen in The Next Generation and by Kari Wahlgren in The Shadow Chronicles) is the first of the Invid that transmutates into human form.
Despite failing to defeat Scott Bernard's band of rebels, he participates in a major battle with the Robotech Expeditionary Force where he kills many human pilots.
[52] Scott Bernard, Rand and Annie later arrive in the small town that "Yellow Dancer" is performing at, and Lancer reveals his real identity as a military trained special operative.
Enraged by the devastation and betrayal by those who came as apparent friends, the sedate and agrarian Invid militarized and began a program of genetic manipulation, evolving to a point where they could strike back.
[61] Edwards is later promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and becomes part of an expedition that leaves Earth on a diplomatic mission to the planet Tirol, homeworld of the Robotech Masters, in hopes of preventing more war.
[61] Jack Baker is a fighter pilot candidate before the SDF-3 leaves Earth, he has a strong sense of duty and a "no-one-left-behind" mentality that causes him to fail the War Simulation exam.
Dr. Emil Lang (Voiced by: Greg Snegoff) was briefly seen in episodes 5 ("Transformation") and 6 ("Blitzkrieg") of the Macross Saga, and has a larger role in the aborted sequel Robotech II: The Sentinels.
Lang who was assisted by an android that he built to act as a spy was instrumental in secretly foiling the plans of certain high-ranking members of the Robotech Expeditionary Force who exploited their positions.
When Scott reveals that he has fallen in love with Ariel, the daughter of the Invid Regress, Vince and General Reinhardt are reluctant to believe his warning that a new threat is about to emerge.
As more REF ships are destroyed due to weaknesses in their weapons/defenses Grant realizes that every piece of technology the Haydonites have given to the Robotech Expeditionary Force is equipped with some kind of Trojan horse.
He orders it to dock at Space Station Liberty and evacuate all personnel to the massive colony ship Ark Angel, which has no Haydonite technology installed.
[72] In Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, shortly before the full-scale assault on Earth to dislodge the Invid who have occupied the planet for 13 years, Maia is promoted to leader of the Skull Squadron.
In Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles after his sister's death, Marcus becomes a fighter pilot to help continue the mission to stop the Invid and free Earth from its occupation.
Scott Bernard, who was Marlene's fiancé, survived the assault who unbeknownst to Marcus, has fallen in love with Ariel, the humanoid daughter of the Invid Regess.