ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES

Details

• Release Year: 2006
• Genre: Animation, Anime, Science-Fiction
• Plot: The Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) fleet gathers for its final attempt to drive the alien Invid from the Earth. Two previous attempts have been made, but failed. This time, the REF has important technological advantages in the new Shadow technology and Synchro-cannons. But if even those aren't enough, then the REF has prepared the devastating Neutron-S missiles as a last resort to wipe out the primary Invid hive at Reflex Point.; ; General Reinhardt, acting commander of the REF forces, sends Vince Grant, captain of the Icarus, on a rescue mission to look for the SDF-3 and Admiral Rick Hunter, chief military commander of the all REF forces. In its last transmission to the REF, it seems that the SDF-3 was involved in an accident of some kind. But too much time passes, and Reinhardt is forced to begin the attack on Earth before Vince can return with Admiral Hunter, who was to lead this last attempt to recover Earth from the Invid. Casualties are excessively heavy on the ground at Reflex Point. When Reinhardt tries to get an update, he makes contact with resistance leader Scott Bernard, a survivor of one of the previous failed REF assaults. Scott informs Reinhardt that the attack is going poorly. Ending the communication, Scott meets with Ariel, an Invid that looks like a young human woman, and Scott's love interest. Ariel hopes to convince the Invid Regess that the humans and the Invid can live in peace.; The Icarus battles a number of alien ships.; The Icarus battles a number of alien ships.; ; Vince finds Admiral Hunter's ship, the SDF-3, near a brand-new black hole. Both the SDF-3 and the science vessel, Deukalion, have been badly damaged by an accident involving the testing of the new Neutron-S missiles. Admiral Hunter orders Vince to warn the REF fleet that there's a problem with the missiles. An unfamiliar alien warship attacks and rams the SDF-3, and the Icarus is forced to race back to Earth with the wrecked science vessel. The SDF-3 is left behind, adrift in space.; ; Ariel meets with the Regess, but the Regess is skeptical of Ariel's claims. She recognizes the Humans' new Shadow technology as something used by an ancient enemy of the Invid — the 'Children of the Shadow.' When the Regess sees the Neutron-S missiles, she realizes that the REF has been fooled - if the REF had knowen how powerful the missiles were, they never would have used them. Realizing that the Earth is no longer a safe haven for the Invid, the Regess transforms the Invid race into pure energy, and leaves. As a parting gift to Ariel, who has chosen to remain behind, the Regess destroys the Neutron-S missiles.; ; Following the battle, wounded personnel and damaged ships are evacuated to Space Station Liberty. Because the Invid took all of the Protoculture with them, the REF only has enough power to last a little less than a year. And the only way to generate more power is with the Protoculture Matrix onboard the SDF-3. Due to losses in combat, Wolf Squadron, home of Marcus Rush and Alex Romero, is folded into Maia Sterling's Skull Squadron. Marcus is attracted to Maia, but has only managed to bungle a pass at her so far.; ; Back on Earth, Scott is surprised to find that Ariel has stayed behind. But Scott can't stay. He has decided to try and convince the REF leadership that humanity can co-exist with the Invid. As he flies to the main REF base at Moon Base ALUCE (Advanced LUnar Chemical Engineering), he stumbles upon the just-arrived Icarus, and the enemy fighters that it accidentally brought with it. He helps the Icarus against the fighters, and then escorts it to ALUCE. Once there, he is reunited with Marcus, who is the younger brother of Scott's late fiancée, Marlene.; ; The science vessel is examined, and the only surviving crew member is Janice Em, an android that uses a holographic overlay that makes her look like a young woman. Louie Nichols, a scientist and veteran of the Second Robotech War, takes Janice to the science lab, and the two go over the test data to try and figure out what went wrong with the missile test. While there, Louie learns from Janice that the new REF technologies — Shadow technology, Synchro-cannons, and the Neutron-S missiles — were partly the result of aid from an advanced alien race known as the Haydonites. The Haydonites aided the REF because they'd also suffered greatly at the hands of the Invid. Janice herself is a combination of Human and Haydonite technology, built to act as a go-between for the two races. Louie finds himself somewhat distracted by Janice, and decides to take a break. He goes to the Officers' Club with Janice and Maia.; ; Scott, Alex, and Marcus are already there, and Scott is silently disturbed by Marcus's hatred for the Invid. Ariel suddenly walks up behind Scott, and surprises him. He introduces her as a friend from Earth before hurrying off with her. Questions about his abrupt departure are put on hold, as Janice gets on stage and demonstrates her ability as a singer with the Minmei song, 'It's You.' The three men watch in fascination, until a visibly-annoyed Maia informs Marcus that Janice isn't his type.; ; In an empty room, Ariel informs Scott that the reason she came to see him was because she had a vision. The Children of the Shadow are planning on attacking the REF. The Children destroyed the first Invid homeworld because they fear the power of Protoculture, and they will attack the Humans for the same reason. The discussion is interrupted by Marcus and Alex, and Marcus realizes that Ariel is an Invid. Scott is arrested and interrogated. During the interrogation, he warns of the impending attack, and reveals the Children's connection to the new REF technologies. Reinhardt and Vince watch on a monitor in another room. But the name Scott uses for the alien race is unfamiliar. And Reinhardt suspects that the warning is an attempt by the Invid to drive a wedge between the REF and the Haydonites.; ; But during the interrogation, contact is lost with Space Station Liberty. Louie analyzes the transmission data, and realizes that the race that attacked the SDF-3 is jamming communications. Vince is ordered to head to Liberty and determine the situation there. Vince takes Scott and Ariel with him. Also attached to the Icarus are Janice and Skull Squadron.; ; When the Icarus arrives, Liberty is under attack by a large fleet of alien ships. The battle is going poorly for the REF. Ships are being destroyed with just one hit, and the enemy is using an energy wave that causes the new Synchro-cannons to overload and explode. Instead of charging into the battle, Vince sends Skull Squadron to collect information. While flying through the REF fleet, Skull Squadron records an REF carrier destroyed due to a single hit on its reflex furnace. Janice sees the footage, and realizes that such an event should be impossible, due to the Shadow technology incorporated in all REF vessels. The Haydonites are the mysterious Children of the Shadow, and are exploiting hidden weaknesses in the technologies they provided to the REF.; ; Skull Squadron is ordered to head to Liberty, and change to fighters that don't incorporate Haydonite technology. Unfortunately, on the way there, they are attacked by Haydonite fighters. The Synchro-cannon mounted on Alex's fighter is hit and begins to overload, and he makes a suicidal charge into the middle of the enemy fighters, as his cannon explodes. Louie finds one ship on Liberty's ship-list that has no Haydonite technologies installed — the colony ship Ark Angel. Vince orders the evacuation of all station personnel to the Ark Angel, and gives Louie one hour to get the ship's inactive reflex furnace online. In the meantime, Skull Squadron has located brand-new prototype Advanced Shadow Fighters that haven't had the Shadow technology installed yet, and Maia promises to buy time for the evacuation.; ; Scott and Vince board Cyclones, and prepare to head into the space station. Liberty has the remaining stockpile of Neutron-S missiles, and Vince sets one to self-destruct. The Ark Angel is able to depart as planned, with the Icarus following closely, and Skull Squadron fights to hold off the Haydonites. The Neutron-S warhead explodes, and destroys Liberty, along with the Haydonite fleet.; ; Back on ALUCE, Reinhardt gives Vince his new orders. Vince and his crew, including the new additions on the last mission, are to take the Ark Angel and attempt to locate the SDF-3. Also joining the crew will be Vince's wife, medical doctor Jean Grant. As the Ark Angel leaves, Scott and Ariel share a first kiss, Marcus and Maia console each other over missed loved ones, and Louie reassures a confused and uncertain Janice that, 'We will win.'
• Cast: Richard Epcar, Eddie Frierson, Mark Hamill, Alexandra Kenworthy, Yuri Lowenthal, Melanie MacQueen, Chase Masterson, Edie Mirman, Iona Morris, Tony Oliver, Arthur Santiago, Gregory Snegoff, Michael Sorich, Kari Wahlgren, Dan Woren, Patricia Acevedo, Rossy Aguirre, Saúl Alvar, Yamil Atala, Jesús Barrero, Arturo Cataño, Jesús Cortez, Víctor Covarrubias, Eduardo Fonseca, Maru Guerrero, Miguel Ángel Guiguiatza, Verónica López Treviño, Mónica Manjarrez, Sandra Martínez, Arturo Mercado Jr., Ricardo Méndez, Alfonso Obrégon, Moisés Palacios, Roxanna Pastrana, Alan Prieto, Diana Pérez, Manuel Pérez, Gerardo Reyero, Jocelyn Robles, Miguel Ángel Ruiz, Yolanda Vidal, José Gilberto Vilchis, Enrique Vázquez, Dong-Wook Lee, Tommy Yune, Carl Macek, Thomas J. Bateman, Steve Yun, Ford Riley, Frank Agrama
• Director: Dong-Wook Lee
• Runtime: 1:28
• Company: Harmony Gold, Guangdong Quanhe Audio & Video, Funimation Entertainment, Relativity Media, Madman Entertainment
• Media Format: Series