Description: Robotech is the critically acclaimed animated series about mankind's first contact with warring alien races, and the use of alien technology to defend Earth. The series was broken into three chapters, The Macross Saga, The Robotech Masters, and The New Generation. Released in 1985, Robotech was the first anime (Japanese animation) series that many fans had seen, and is often accredited as the cause of the anime fandom that continues to grow today in the United States. COMMON TERMS Robotechnology Refers to technological systems that operate using protoculture. Veritech Refers to a series of personal war-machines that can change their configuration between at least two modes. Destroid Refers to a series of personal war-machines similar to Veritechs, but are limited to one configuration (usually somewhat humanoid). Mecha Refers to the generic term for any personal war-machine used. Battloid Refers to the generic term form any mecha with/in a "humanoid" form. Zor's Battlefortress Also known as the SDF-1. The Tiresian scientist Zor (angry over what the Robotech Masters had done to the Invid), destroyed all of the Tiresian data and production facilities for the creation of protoculture; except for the last remaining protoculture production matrix that he hid aboard the SDF-1. He was critically injured in an Invid attack. His final attack was to have the SDF-1 abandoned and set on a course that would eventually take it to Earth. Flower of Life Refers to a plant that was native to the Invid homeworld before it was defoliated by the Zentraedi acting on orders from the Robotech Masters. The plant is as essential to the survival of the Invid as flowers are essential to the survival of bees. The Invid use it for both survival and evolutionary purposes. Protoculture Refers to a substance derived from the the flower of life. It is used as the main source of power for the majority of the technology scene in the series. Alien Races Tiresian The Tiresian scientist Zor was given the secrets of creating protoculture during a first contact mission with the Invid ruler - the Regis. From their homeworld of Tirol, the Tiresians built an entire empire based on protoculture and robotechnology. At some point the Tiresian rulers (the Robotech Masters) decided that they should have exclusive control over protoculture, and ordered the Zentraedi to defoliate the Invid homeworld of Optera. Zentraedi The Zentraedi race was created by the Tiresian scientist Zor through genetic engineering using protoculture and robotechnology. Through the use of protoculture sizing chambers they can alter their forms from human size to that of giants averaging 40-50 feet in height. They act as the "enforcers" of the Robotech Masters, performing peacekeeping/war-making missions when called upon. Invid The only non-humanoid race in the original Robotech series. The "natural" form of the Invid resembles that of a 4-foot slug with limbs. The Invid can use protoculture to change their form to whatever shape they deem necessary. Where humans might "terraform" a planet to suit their needs; the Invid would "bioform" themselves to suit their environment. Their society is similar to that of social insects, with a queen (the Regis) leading them. An Invid cannot survive outside of their mecha, unless they have been "bioformed" to survive in the surrounding environment. They were peaceful, trusting creatures until their homeworld was defoliated by the Zentraedi. The Invid have been hostile toward all life that is not Invid since that day. (UN)COMMON ACRONYMS SDF (SDF-1) Super Dimensional Fortress ARMD (Armor-1) Armored Reflex Missile Defender VERITECH Variable Engineering and Robotic Integration TECHnology. AGAC (Ajax) Armored Gyro Assault Chopper ATAC Alpha Tactical Armored Corps GMP Global Military Police