In the year 1999, an abandoned alien battle fortress crash-lands on the planet Earth. Our most brilliant scientists and engineers spend the next ten years reconstructing the damaged ship, and studying its highly advanced technology, known as Robotech! A race of warriors from deep space, the Zentraedi, enter the scene, bent on recovering the lost ship and destroying Earth's civilization. A battle for our planet's survival is on, and young Rick Hunter finds himself caught up in the war, piloting an unfamiliar fighter plane, with sophisticated engineering he can't begin to understand!

The aliens strike in full force, and the desperate battle for the planet Earth reaches the very streets of Macross City. Human courage and skill are tested to the limit, against the superior weapons of the Zentraedi. A heroic rescue attempt (by Rick Hunter, to save Lynn Minmei) turns into a nightmare experience.

The Zentraedi invaders continue to close in, and the battle for planet Earth becomes even more intense. Attempting to escape the superior alien forces, Rick & Minmei become stranded in space, while trying to rejoin the others. Captain Gloval makes a desperate decision to execute a hyperspace jump, which may take his ship to safety, or which might mean the end for everyone!

Rick & Minmei learn they have landed in a closed-off and forgotten section of the SDF-1. Try as they may, they can find no way out, and no one aboard the ship has any idea where they are! Time passes slowly and cruelly for the imprisoned pair, as what started out to be a fun adventure, turns into a deadly nightmare of hunger and exhaustion, driving them to the edge of hysteria.

The citizens of Macross Island attempt to normalize their life aboard the giant battle fortress. Human drama is played out against the backdrop of interplanetary war, as the Zentraedi forces follow after the SDF-1, and continue the war begun back on Earth. Captain Gloval must make a life-or-death decision, which will determine the fate of nearly 70,000 refugees!

The Zentraedi are still puzzled by the actions of the SDF-1. However, Breetai, their Commander, is beginning to enjoy the challenge. Captain Gloval plans a trap for the marauding aliens, only to have it backfire among the incredible rings of Saturn. And Rick is trapped inside a Zentraedi warship!

The planet Mars is the setting, as Breetai calls for reinforcements in order to capture the SDF-1. Captain Gloval drives his grew to the brink of exhaustion, as he attempts to keep the overwhelming Zentraedi forces at bay.

As Minmei's 16th birthday approaches, Rick finds himself constantly on duty, defending the hard-pressed battle fortress from attacks by the relentless Zentraedi armada. Rick's thoughts are torn between his duty to the SDF-1, and his waning love for Minmei.

The charming Minmei prepares herself for a different sort of battle; a battle to determine the most beautiful girl in Macross City! While the beauty contest rages, Rick Hunter is called into action by his superiors, to defend the giant space battle fortress.

The crew of the SDF-1 maintain constant vigil against the threat of attack by the ever-present Zentraedi armada. An unauthorized assault by the evil Khyron damages the main radar tower of the space battle fortress.

Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes, and Ben Dixon are captured, and brought before the Supreme Leader of the Zentraedi civilization. Helpless prisoners, they witness the awesome power and destructive capability of their alien adversaries.

Held captive in a Zentraedi prison cell, Rick, Lisa, and Ben try to figure a way off the massive alien ship, and report their findings to Captain Gloval & the crew of the SDF-1. Breetai & Dolza also begin to make plans to recapture their lost battle fortress.

Captain Gloval plays a dangerous game of cat & mouse, as he maneuvers the SDF-1 into battle, which will determine the fate of the SDF-1 and its population of 70,000 refugees. If he's successful, he'll return to Earth victorious. If he fails, then his quest will end.

Now that the giant space battle fortress has been safely returned to Earth, Captain Gloval looks back on the past two years. Years filled with memories of combat & strategy, while trying to keep the forces of an alien armada from capturing the Earth's defender, the SDF-1.

Rick is secretly ordered to fly Minmei to Japan to visit her family. The reunion is cut short, when Minmei says she will not leave the SDF-1! Meanwhile, Captain Gloval & Lisa Hayes try to convince the United Earth Government that continued fighting with the Zentraedi will lead to the total destruction of the Earth.

Lisa meets Minmei's cousin Lynn Kyle, who reminds her of Carl Riber, her lost fiancee. But these melancholy reflections soon fade away, as a Zentraedi raiding party, led by Khyron, plans a sneak attack on the unsuspecting SDF-1.

Rick Hunter lies in a hospital bed in critical condition, after barely surviving a Zentraedi attack. While his body fights for life, his mind races through an emotional journey, which tries to make sense out of his relationship with Minmei and his growing attraction to Lisa Hayes.

As Rick recuperates, Roy tries to convince Minmei to break away from her busy schedule, and drop in on her injured friend. But the Zentraedi threat looms large in the skies above Earth, and Roy prepares to go into battle... perhaps for the last time.

Captain Gloval begins a journey, which he believes will end with the resettlement of the nearly 70,000 refugees stranded on the SDF-1. Meanwhile, Khyron's flotilla responds to the developments with an attack on the battle fortress. Captain Gloval is torn between saving the citizens of Macross City, and his oath to protect the Earth.

The Zentraedi monitor the activity of the SDF-1, as Captain Gloval prepares to relocate the refugees of Macross City. But everyone's hopes for returning to a normal life back on Earth are dashed forever, as the Zentraedi attack without warning!

The spotlight is on Minmei, as she prepares for the premiere of her first motion picture. Huge lines form around the theater, and even Rick & Lisa find time to catch a glimpse of a rising star.

The Zentraedi campaign to capture the SDF-1 escalates out of proportion, as Khyron leads a direct attack against the space battle fortress. Yet, through all the fighting and confusion, Minmei still manages to sing for the bewildered citizens of Macross City, giving them a small ray of hope in their darkest hour.

Confused by the actions of the orbiting SDF-1, the Zentraedi attack in full force! Captain Gloval's army stands off the attack, as the stage is set for an ultimate showdown between Earth's displaced heroes and the misguided Zentraedi led by Khyron.

Lisa Hayes makes a rash decision to return to Earth, to try for a final time to convince the heads of the United Earth Government to negotiate with the Zentraedi armada. The journey back to Earth is not without incident, as Rick & Max cut a path through the enemy lines.

Max's budding romance with Miriya takes a dramatic turn, as the once-proud Zentraedi warrior considers the unthinkable: marriage with a Micronian! The main Zentraedi likes the idea even less, and plans to do something about it.