The Invid Invasion

Weary from the war with the Robotech Masters, the armies of the Southern Cross are no match for the battle-hungry Invid invaders. Led by the Invid Regess, the supreme ruler of the protoplasmic parasites, the aliens turn the planet into a wasteland. Earth becomes a slave colony whose sole purpose is to harvest and process protoculture.

A contingent of interstellar ships responds to the crisis. They have been deployed from Admiral Rick Hunter's expeditionary mission which is in search of the Robotech Masters' home planet. This latest generation of Robotech warriors is equipped with new and powerful weapons. There are members of the fleet who have not visited Earth in twenty years. Most of the space-born crew have never seen their homeworld. However, Rick Hunter has commissioned them to reclaim their ancestral planet and has every faith in their ability to do so.

As the fleet prepares to defold near Earth, Lieutenant Scott Bernard proposes to his girlfriend, Marlene. Marlene teases him, saying: "It's a bit sudden...You'll have to speak to my father first. Or perhaps even my mother." Scott plays along with the game as the fleet enters the fourth quadrant and locks its target on Reflex Point, headquarters of the Invid Regess.

Unfortunately, the Invid are aware of Hunter's force and are waiting for them. The fleet commander deploys Veritech fighter squad while the fleet establishes orbit. As Scott boards his craft, Marlene gives him a holo-medalion to bring him luck.

There are more Invid fighters anyone anticipated. The Veritechs are overwhelmed on their first assault. As the alien fire on the command ship, shields drain rapidly. The gravitation pull of the planet becomes more than the depleted power source can take. Despite their best efforts, the fleet is sucked in to the atmosphere. It meets a fiery death on the planet surface while the Invid eliminate the remaining Veritech fighters.

Scott Bernard's incredible skill and ability enable him to land in a remote area far away from Reflex Point. In a state of shock and despair, he stands on Earth's soil for the first time. It's not the homecoming he anticipated. As he opens the holo-medalion, he sees a three-dimensional image of Marlene. Her recorded message says: "Scott my darling, I know it isn't much but I thought you'd get a kick out of this trinket....I'm looking forward to living the rest of my life with you. I can't wait till this conflict is all behind us. Till we meet again, my love."

It begins to rain, a phenomenon the young lieutenant has never encountered. As he tries to adjust to his current situation, Scott takes what comfort he can from military instilled discipline. He recalls orders: "Even if only one of you survives, you must find Reflex Point and destroy it along with the Invid Queen, the Regess."

As Scott considers how to accomplish this, a young man arrives on the scene and discovers an undamaged cyclone. His name is Rand. He draws the attention of Invid scouts as he examines the vehicle. Scott Bernard comes to his rescue.

After they defeat the aliens, Scott asks Rand for information regarding the location of Reflex Point while the youth enthuses over his newfound mecha. While Scott persists, Rand snaps: "Hey...do I look like some kind of travel agent? I don't know anything about their headquarters. I hate those creeps."

Scott explains: "The Invid wiped out an entire combat wing of the reconnaisance forces sent by Admiral Hunter. That's the reason I'm looking for them...I'm the only survivor, too."

Rand notices Scott looking at Marlene's hologram message and compliments the lieutenant on his luck in girlfriends. Scott becomes very distant.

Something about the forlorn but determined soldier appeals to Rand's sense of fair play and responsibility. He agrees to help. Although he's too emotionally drained to understand the significance of Rand's commitment, Scott Bernard nevertheless gains his friend on Earth.

Experience this episode at home! Now available through the Robotech.com Store:

- DVD Video: Robotech DVD Vol.11: The Next Wave (also part of DVD Box Set 6 and The Protoculture Collection)

- Toys: Cyclones and Alpha Fighters

- Collectibles: Mars Base patches and keychains