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AtomicStudios101 — Robotech Expeditionary Forces (Robotech Odyssey)
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Published: 2023-07-15 05:02:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 3907; Favourites: 6; Downloads: 1
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History:The United Nations Expeditionary Forces (UNEF), also known as the Robotech Expeditionary Forces (REF) and to foreign powers as the Terran Fleet, is the main interstellar warfare of the Defense Forces of the New United Nations Government. While the Robotech Expeditionary Forces wouldn't be officially established till 2022, its origins can traced back to the aftermath of the First Robotech War. After the conclusion of the First Robotech War in 2010, which cost the lives of over 3 billion lives on Earth, it became quite apparent that humanity couldn't survive another large-scale attack from other hostile aliens. The New United Nations Government, along with the Robotech Defense Force led by the renowned Admiral Henry J. Gloval, had achieved lasting peace with the Zentraedi, so the NUN government announced they were going to build expeditionary fleets to travel to the respective homeworlds of the Zentraedi's creators, the Robotech Masters, and their long-lasting enemies, the Invid, in order to prevent Earth from being caught in another devastating intergalactic war. To this end, a new type of space battleship was designed which ultimately became the SDF-2 Odyssey, the Earth-made sister ship of the SDF-1 Macross. A remodeled and much larger version of the SDF-1, the SDF-2 was meant to serve as the main flagship for the Expeditionary Forces. Its construction originally began in 2003, but the ship wouldn't be completed until September 2012 following the First Robotech War.
The SDF-2 was slated to leave for Tirol and Optera in September 2012, however, the ship would never take flight into space as it was then destroyed by Malcontent Zentraedi forces led the warlord Khyron during the Battle of New Macross City in January 2012. With the SDF-2 destroyed and the SDF-1's internal techno-systems left irreparably damaged, leaving the ship no longer flight-worthy, the Odyssey Initiative had been replaced with the Pioneer Initiative, which saw the construction of a new Macross-class sister ship known as the SDF-3 Pioneer. Construction of the SDF-3 was greatly delayed due to the chaos brought on by skirmishes with rogue Zentraedi elements, such as the Malcontent Uprisings (2012-2015). In the meantime, from the late 2010s to early 2030s, the foundations of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces are set up with the establishment of new outposts and military academies on Mars and the moons of Jupiter to train new recruits, and the construction of new mecha such as the VFA-6 Alpha Fighter or the VR-052 Battler Veritech Cyclone. Several advance groups for the Pioneer Initiative were sent ahead to scout out of the vast territories of the Robotech Masters' Empire, stumbling upon many abandoned Tirolian colonies, possibly left decimated in past battles with the Invid, along the way. These worlds would be recolonized by the advance groups to serve as future relay stations and outposts for the main Expeditionary Forces. Due to the many years of exploration and colonization, many babies, often nicknamed "Pioneer babies", are born on these new colonies, including Lancer Belmont (2020), Sue Graham (2021), Marlene and Marcus Rush (2023 and 2026), and Scott Bernard (2023).
By the early 2020s, the formation of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces and plans of the SDF-3 Pioneer Mission was announced to the public, with many of the surviving veterans of the First Robotech War chosen as its command staff, with overall command of the REF going to the newly-wed war heroes Admiral Rick Hunter and Vice Admiral Lisa Hayes-Hunter. At the start of 2023, the completed SDF-3 is launched as head of the Pioneer Mission, heading straight to the Robotech Masters' homeworld, Tirol.
As the Robotech Expeditionary Forces are in transit to Tirol, they believe that the fold there will be instantaneous. However, it turns out that due to slight miscalculations in the space fold, they actually arrive in Tirol in June 2029, around the time of the outbreak of the Second Robotech War, when the Robotech Masters have long left their home planet and invaded Earth to harvest its Protoculture for their selfish purposes to maintain their long-dead empire. By the time the SDF-3 arrives in Tirol's orbit, the REF discover that the planet was under siege by the Invid, with the remaining population are placed in concentration camps or retreated to guerilla encampments in the countryside. Over the next few months, the REF and their Tirolian and Zentraedi allies liberate Tirol from the Invid, though they take steady casualties, lose several ships, and even the SDF-3's fold drive is badly damaged during the battle, leaving them stranded on the other side of the galaxy.
The REF's conflict with the Invid would eventually lead them to make contact with the Sentinels Alliance, a coalition of various species from the nearby Brisingr Globular Cluster whose worlds recently were subjugated by the Invid Hive Fleets led by the Regent and the Regess. The forces of the REF then begin a "planet hopping" campaign known as the Sentinels Campaign, liberating the captured Sentinel worlds one by one throughout the next decade. Due to constant battles with the Invid, the REF is unable to send aid to the New United Nations and the Army of the Southern Cross on Earth in their struggle during the Second Robotech War. They would attempt to help the Southern Cross by sending a small relief fleet, but the fleet was decimated by the warships of the Robotech Masters before it could properly reach Earth.
Near the end of the Sentinels Campaign, the REF Civil War begins when REF commanding officer, the ambitious T.R. Edwards, attempted a mutiny to secure more power in REF High Command and then escaped his incrimination after he's stripped from his position and taken into custody. During the Civil War, Edward's allies included his handpicked Ghost Squadron and even the forces of the Invid Regent, while the Pioneer Expeditionary Force led by Rick Hunter are supported by the Sentinels Alliance. After a few years of fighting, Edwards and the Regent are tracked down to the Invid homeworld of Optera and are killed in the subsequent battle, ending the REF Civil War.
Both the Sentinels Campaign and the REF Civil War delayed the return of the REF back to Earth for about nearly fifteen years. During the early stages of the Sentinels Campaign, the Second Robotech War lasted from 2029 to 2030. The Army of the Southern Cross are victorious when they destroy the Robotech Masters' mothership, however, their victory is a pyrrhic one as a year later, the Invid Hives led by the Regess invade Earth and make quick work of the planet's remaining defenses, and the drained UN forces are quickly overwhelmed. This would set the stage of the Third Robotech War. The New United Nations Government, along with the remnants of the Robotech Defense Force and the Army of the Southern Cross, are forced to relocate Mars, leaving the citizens of Earth live under Invid occupation for years.
While the main fleet is forced to remain the Brisingr Globular Cluster due to the long, drawn-out battles of the Sentinels Campaign and the REF Civil War, the Robotech Expeditionary Forces collaborate with the New United Nations Defense Forces to form a liberation mission of Earth. The REF Mars Bases, bolstered by slow but steady waves of reinforcements from the Pioneer Expeditionary Force, formed the Earth Reclamation Forces in 2038, launching a massive attack on Reflex Point, the Invid's central hive on Earth. However, the mission of the First Earth Reclamation Force ends in complete failure, as the Mars Divisions are completely crushed and the Invid begin their great purge of UN soldiers on the planet, bitter enough that many humans harbor a fear and distrust of soldiers years later. In 2042, the Mars Divisions feel capable enough to launch a Second Earth Reclamation Force, but that too ends with heavy casualties.
After the two disastrous attempts to reclaim Earth, the REF regrouped at Tirol after the civil war. Now that Edwards and the Regent are no longer threats, they begin work on the Third and Final Earth Reclamation Force. On 2044, the Reclamation Forces launched an all-out attack against the Invid on Earth with their space battleships and mecha upgraded with Shadow Technology gifted to them by the Haydonites. During the Battle of Reflex Point, the Earth Reclamations Force are heavily decimated and are on the brink of defeat. But, in a shocking turn of events, as the defense fleet was about to launch their final trump card, the Neutron-S Missiles, the Invid Regess suddenly leaves Earth for unknown reasons, taking all of her children with her. However, the REF forces almost immediately set this aside as they finally celebrate the liberation of Earth and their victory of the Third Robotech War. However, their celebrations would be cut short once High Command informs all that the SDF-3 commanded by Rick and Lisa Hunter has never returned to Earth nor has made contact with the rest of the Expeditionary Forces for a long period of time. The crew of the REF ship Icarus is immediately send off into deep space to search for the whereabouts of the SDF-3 and its crew, but that wouldn't be their only concern. Several remote colonies across UN-controlled space have been attacked and destroyed by a mysterious alien enemy, leaving no trace of life on the planets. Further investigations into the decimated planets revealed their entire Protoculture supplies was destroyed in the attacks.
In about less than a week after the Battle of Reflex Point, reports reach REF High Command of Space Station Liberty being attacked by the same mysterious forces. The Expeditionary Forces head for Space Station Liberty to reinforce their allies and discover that the attackers are no other than one of their alien allies, the Haydonites, who have suddenly broke away from the Sentinels Alliance and declared a galactic-wide purge of all organic races that utilize the power of Protoculture. Space Station Liberty is then destroyed, and the REF are forced to retreat back to Earth to prepare for future attacks.
The Fourth Robotech War has begun....
Organization:
The core of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces lies on the various component fleets in the operating forces of the REF. Each component is responsible for their respective area of responsibility across the New United Nations' territories in space. However, unlike the more rigid fleet structure and names (such as the typical numbered fleets, i.e.: 1st Fleet, 2nd Fleet etc.) employed by many other galactic naval forces, the REF's fleets are organized under a series of Numbered Expeditionary Fleets that contain up to ten battlegroup/task force (i.e.: The Home Fleet’s Homeworld Defense Battlegroup or the 2nd Ex.’s Task Force Jupiter), with each formation fielding about 5,000 to 13,000 combat starships at any given time.
However, there are some irregular formations that are also organized as part of the permanent operational fleet. This could range from the Specialized Warfare Forces such as the Wolf Pack and the Mars Divisions, or the recently-formed Battlegroup Ark Angel. Excepting the irregular fleets with their own primary mission, the mission of all Expeditionary Force fleets is the defense of Earth and the Sol System, their allies in the Sentinels Alliance, and all citizens of the New United Nations Government.
Naval Hierarchy:
The hierarchy of the starship formations employed by the Expeditionary Forces can vary in size, with each unit having their amount of ships required constantly expanding as the REF's ability to build and man ships increasing exponentially as time marched on, as well as reflecting the need of protecting the vast swaths of allied territory.
The naval hierarchy of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces is as follows:
- Battlegroup - 2+ Fleets (led by a Fleet Admiral)
- Fleet - 2+ Task Forces (10,001+ vessels) (led by an Admiral or Vice Admiral) (special cases)
- Task Force - 2-10+ Divisions (1,001-10,000+ vessels) (led by a Vice Admiral)
- Division - 2-10+ Flotillas (101-1,000+ vessels) (led by a Rear Admiral (for combat divisions) or a Commodore or lower (for logistic divisions))
- Flotilla - 2-10+ Squadrons (11-100 vessels) (led by a Commodore)
- Squadron - 2-10+ vessels (led by a Captain or a Commander)
- Element - A single vessel (led by a Captain, a Commander, a Lieutenant Commander, or a Senior Rate Lieutenant)
Auxiliary Components:
The REF's day-to-day operations are largely supported by an equally large and well organized network of auxiliary fleets, orbital/space installations, merchant fleets and planetary infrastructure to support the Expeditionary Fleets, both in peacetime and warfare.
Among the key components and establishment of the REF's auxiliary forces include Logistics Division, Engineering Division, Medical Services, Exploratory Divisions, Office of Religious Affair, Intelligence Division, Aerospace Training and Education Command, Military Technological Research and Development, and Interstellar Military Police.
Rank Hierarchy:
The officers and ratings of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces were almost exclusively drawn from the Human and Zentraedi population of the New United Nations Government, with other species that constituted the Sentinels Alliance relegated to the protectorate auxiliary fleets and planetary defense flotilla.
Enlisted and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Ranks (Ground Forces):
- Recruit (RCT) (E-1)
- Private Second Class (PVT) (E-2)
- Private First Class (PFC) (E-3)
- Corporal (CPL) (E-4)
- Sergeant (SGT) (E-5)
- Staff Sergeant (SSGT) (E-6)
- Sergeant First Class (SFC) (E-7)
- Master Sergeant (MSGT) (E-8)
- First Sergeant (1SGT) (E-8)
- Sergeant Major (SGM) (E-9)
- Spacer Second Class (SPR/S2C) (E-1)
- Spacer First Class (S1C) (E-2)
- Leading Spacer (LSPR) (E-3)
- Staff Sergeant (SSGT) (E-4)
- Technical Sergeant (TSGT) (E-5)
- Sergeant First Class (SFC) (E-6)
- Senior Master Sergeant (SMSGT) (E-7)
- Chief Master Sergeant (CMSGT) (E-8)
Petty Officer Administrative and Technical Specialist Ranks:
- Petty Officer Second Class (PO/PO2C) (P-1)
- Petty Officer First Class (PO1C) (P-2)
- Chief Petty Officer (CPO) (P-3)
- Command Petty Officer (CMCPO) (P-4)
- Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) (P-5)
Warrant Officer Administrative Ranks:
- Warrant Officer (WO1)
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2)
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3)
- Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4)
- Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5)
Staff and Flag Commissioned Officer (CO) Ranks:
- Ensign (Ens.) (O-1)
- Third Lieutenant (3LT) (O-2)
- Second Lieutenant (2LT) (O-3)
- First Lieutenant (1LT) (O-4)
- Lieutenant Commander (LCMDR) (O-5)
- Captain (junior grade) (CPT) (O-5A)
- Commander (CMDR) (O-6)
- Major (MAJ) (O-6A)
- Captain (CAPT) (O-7)
- Colonel (COL) (O-7A)
- Commodore (COMM) (O-8)
- Brigadier General (Br-GEN) (O-8A)
- Rear Admiral (R-ADM) (O-9)
- Major General (Mj-GEN) (O-9A)
- Vice Admiral (V-ADM) (O-10)
- Lieutenant General (Lt-GEN) (O-10A)
- Admiral (ADM) (O-11)
- General (GEN) (O-11A)
- Fleet Admiral (Ft-ADM) (O-12)
- Grand General (Grd-GEN) (O-12A)
- Marshal of the Expeditionary Forces (Marsh./CIC.) (O-13)
Mechanics of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces:
Standard Vehicles of the REF Ground Forces:
FIAT 6836 M-120 Heavy Armored Vehicle
M-9 Inca Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle
M-9 Inca Armored Command Carrier
FIAT 6846 MT-1 "Hell Peacock" Heavy Armored Multiple Launcher Rocket System
RRG YMH-10 Self-Propelled Synchro Cannon
M-299 All-Terrain Jeep
GM M-3002 Hostile Environment Jeep
HC-4 Hover Car
M-304 All-Terrain Squad Support Jeep
HR-32 Hovercycle
2.5 Ton Truck
- C3I Mobile Bunker
DL-88 Centipede Hostile Environment Truck
M-3232 Flatbed Mecha Hauler
HT-7 Flatbed Hover Truck
M-306 All-Terrain Squad Support Truck
VHT-1A2 Centaur Veritech Hover Tank
VHT-2 Spartas Veritech Hover Tank
VR-series Veritech Cyclone Rider
Standard Mecha of the REF Ground Forces:
Destroid Heavy Weapons Robot (HWR-00) Monster
Destroid Main Attack Robot (MAR-12) Cougar
Destroid Main Battle Robot (MBR-13) Boxer
Destroid Heavy Weapons Robot (HWR-04) Tiger
Standard Mecha of the REF Aerospace Forces:
AF-1 Vulture Fleet-Defense Aerospace Fighter
AF-3 Bat Stand-Off Aerospace Missile Launcher
AF-4 Volcano Heavy Attack Aerospacecraft
ES-11 Cat's Eye Reconnaissance Aerospaceplane
SC-27 Star Goose Space Shuttle
EVRP-1 Work Pod
RC-4 Rabbit Light Recon and Cargo Shuttle
SVR-1 Voyeur Reconnaissance Aerospacecraft
SVT-1 Vixen Dedicated Trainer Aerospacecraft
VF-4 Veritech Lightning Fighter
VF-5 Veritech Condor Fighter
VF-6 Veritech Alpha Fighter
- VQ-6 Vandal Drone
- VQ-6S ASAVAN Shadow Drone
- VF-6S Shadow Fighter
VFB-9 Veritech Beta Fighter
- VE-9 Stalker Veritech ELINT Fighter
VF-11 Veritech Thunderbolt Fighter
Standard Mecha of the REF Aerospace Forces:
Destroid Air Defense Robot (ADR-12) Jaguar
Standard Ships of the REF Aerospace Forces:
ASC-33 Predator-class Sublight Transorbital Shuttle
Horizont-class Dropship
SC-32 Gossamer Transport Shuttle
EC-32 Eyrie EWACS Shuttle
Banshee-class Super Dimensional Destroyer (SDD)
Battle-class Super Dimensional Heavy Cruiser (SCA)
Tristar-class Super Dimensional Large Cruiser (SCB)
Argonaut-class Super Dimensional Heavy Battlecruiser (SBH)
Tokugawa-class Super Dimensional Carrier (SCV)/Super Dimensional Landing Ship (SLS)
Montgolfier-class Super Dimensional Tender/Mobile Deck (SAD)
Valivarre-class Super Dimensional Battleship (SBB)
Pioneer-class Super Dimensional Fortress (SDF)
- SDF-3 UES Pioneer (Missing 2044)
Shillelagh-class Super Dimensional Light Cruiser (SCL)
Anaconda-class Super Dimensional Assault Transport (SLA)
Ikazuchi-class Super Dimensional Large Cruiser (SCB)
Shimakaze-class Super Dimensional Battlecruiser (SDBC)
Marathon-class Super Dimensional Transport (SAT)
Liberator-class Super Dimensional Battlefortress/Shadow Dimensional Battlefortress (SDF)
- SDF-4 UES Liberator (In service, REF Home Fleet)
- SDF-5 UES Scorpio (Suspended 2044, 58% complete)
- SDF-6
(Planned)
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DISCLAIMER: THE ARTWORK ABOVE ISN'T MINE! I FOUND IT ON GOOGLE IMAGES! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS!
This is all part of my Robotech AU project, "Robotech Odyssey".
Robotech, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA © Harmony Gold, Tatsunoko Productions, Big West, Studio Nue, Carl Macek, and Shoji Kawamori
