Original subtitles

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[NARRATOR] In our last episode,

a squad from the 15th Tactical Army Corps,

lead by Dana Sterling,

infiltrated a fallen enemy spacecraft,

to find that it was filled with startling alien technology.

Their discovery was the beginning

of a highly successful reconnaissance,

culminating in the actual capture

of a bioroid during their daring escape.

With communications broken off due to a massive enemy attack,

central command had no idea what its recon troop

was uncovering within the mysterious spaceship.

In fact, contact was only re-established

after the troop had made good its escape.

15th Squad's observations supported the belief

that the Robotech Masters had come to Earth

in search of the last known supply of Protoculture.

They came because of the Zentraedi failure

to accomplish this mission 15 years earlier.

Earth headquarters decided that reconnaissance flights

should be maintained around the alien ship at all times.

[CONTROLLER] Recon ship, maintain present altitude

and set your video cameras to auto-record, over.

[PILOT 1] Roger, base. This is recon ship 14.

Do you read me? Over.

[CONTROLLER] This is headquarters.

I read you loud and clear.

[PILOT 1] We're over the enemy vessel now. It's real quiet.

[CONTROLLER] Roger. Maintain your reconnaissance.

[PILOT 1] Fourteen, out.

[NARRATOR] Without the technology

to develop Protoculture on their own,

the Robotech Masters are desperately trying to recover

the last known production matrix.

Their initial attempts are taken as serious threats

by the army of the United Earth Forces.

[OBSERVER 2] Hey, Sergeant,

did you hear anything about that alien

who was captured a few days ago?

[OBSERVER 1] As a matter of fact, I did.

He appears to be human like us.

[OBSERVER 2] What do you mean "appears to be human"?

Don't they know for sure?

[OBSERVER 1] You can't always tell from the way someone looks.

Remember the Zentraedi?

They looked like my next-door neighbor,

but that didn't make them human, did it?

We better keep a close watch here.

[OBSERVER 2] Okay. But how are we supposed to

identify the enemy if they look just like us?

[OBSERVER 1] If they come out of that ship,

believe me, they're aliens.

[NARRATOR] Back at Earth Defense Headquarters,

Dana Sterling tries to reconcile

the conflict she's beginning to feel

as a result of her mixed heritage.

As the child of an alien mother and a human father,

her encounter with the inhabitants of the alien ship

was profoundly disturbing.

[DANA] How can I shoot at people

who might very well be my own relatives?

[ANGELO] Uh, Lieutenant, I don't mean to interrupt.

[DANA] Huh? Oh.

Target practice, eh?

Too bad there's no aliens around to aim at.

Oh, brother. You're unbelievable!

I suppose you think we should shoot every alien on sight, huh?

Would that make you happy?

Well, we'd be a lot safer, ma'am,

and I don't think anybody on their side's

going to hesitate to fire at us. Huh?

[MESSENGER] Sir! I've been sent here with an urgent message

for Lieutenant Dana Sterling.

- -[DANA] Yes? - -[MESSENGER] General Emerson

wants to see you and Corporal Nichols right away.

My instructions are to bring you to him immediately.

- -[LOUIE] Hmm? - -[IDANA] We'll be there at once.

Wait for us outside, Private.

If you're tied up, who'll command the patrol?

[DANA] Hmm, I guess since you're the ranking subordinate,

you take charge, Angelo.

I'm ready, ma'am. Okay, move out!

All we do around here is patrol!

A guy can't relax for ten minutes in this outfit!

- -\[ANGELO] Let's go, Bowie. - -[BOWIE] Yeah, all right.

[BOWIE] I wonder if I'll ever

get to see that alien girl from the ship again?

[NARRATOR] The girl who's captured Bowie's interest

is Musica, the guardian of the powerful Cosmic Harp.

Through her manipulation of the electronic beams of the harp,

she creates a sound, which controls the motor nerve

reflexes of the clones on board the Robotech Flagship.

Musica is assisted in her duties

by her two cloned sisters, Allegra and Octavia.

[cosmic music playing]

[ALLEGRA] That's lovely, do go on, will you?

[NARRATOR] As the haunting melody of the Cosmic Harp

fills the damaged ship, strategy is plotted

within the chambers of the Robotech Masters.

They find themselves in a desperate situation.

The secrets of Protoculture production have been lost

with the passing of Zor, who first created it.

All attempts to rediscover those secrets

through the cloning of Zor, have ended in failure.

Now, the Robotech elders are forced into confrontation

as a final alternative.

They must try to recapture the last remaining

Protoculture matrix, hidden on Earth,

before their civilization literally collapses around them.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 2] I expect a full report

on damage to our ship

and an update on the Micronian position.

Most of the damage is isolated to the reflex power modules

and the Micronians will probably attack again.

We should escalate our combat profile.

How could the situation have come to this point?

It was never our intention

to destroy the Micronians or harm their planet.

The Micronians feel threatened by our presence here.

They must realize that our clones are not here

to harm them or to change their civilization in any way.

The true threat to both our races is the parasitic Invid,

who will come in search of the Protoculture themselves.

We must complete our mission before the Invid arrive!

The Micronians are dangerous

and must be destroyed if they continue to obstruct us!

[NARRATOR] In the defense center laboratory,

the captured bioroid

has now been dissected by forensic engineers.

I think you're going to find this very interesting.

[ROLF] Mm-hmm. Since you two captured the bioroid,

I wanted you to act as witnesses.

[BOTH] Yes, sir!

[ROLF] Let's begin.

[BECKETT] Let me start by saying

that this thing is a complicated network

of mechanical parts controlled by biological stimuli,

the origin of which is uncertain at this time.

However, we think that this module here acts

as a control device, or overload circuit mechanism.

Then if you bypass that relay...

Uh...

[LOUIE] These should act like some sort of muscle.

[gasps] Watch out Louie, I think it's going to attack us!

Don't worry, Lieutenant. It's not going anywhere.

It's only responding to the stimulus I'm giving it here.

I've wrapped these wires around my forearm,

and when I flex my muscle, it responds.

[ROLF] Huh?

[GREEN] Huh?

You mean it's kind of like power-amplified body armor?

Bingo! And if my hunch is right,

we're up against a brand new form of life.

[DANA] A new form of life?

- -l don't get it. - -[LOUIE] Sir?

Simply stated, Lieutenant,

we have a machine here that responds to physical stimuli.

- -Roll it! - -[OPERATOR] Yes, sir.

[BECKETT] In other words, it's a type of armored suit

that responds to the stimulus provided by a pilot.

Through a complicated network of biological diodes,

it is then connected to the pilot

and when he transmits an order from his brain.

The bioroid reacts exactly the same way

and in a matter of nanoseconds.

[DANA] That's why they're so maneuverable!

Then this bioroid is an extension of its pilot?

[BECKETT] Mm-hmm. We believe their circuits

have been biogenetically imprinted

in a way we don't understand.

[ROLF] It's incredible!

Doctor, you're suggesting a biomechanical life form!

[DANA] Hmm...

[DANA] The bioroid responds to stimuli

from a living being.

That mens the pilots would have to be living beings too,

or the machine wouldn't respond to them.

But I thought the pilot we captured

was an artificial android.

What's the most effective way to stop these bioroids

once and for all?

Well, considering what we know about the basic design,

I'd say the most effective method

would be to destroy their control mechanism.

Let's have more input. Lieutenant Sterling,

you and Corporal Nichols were engaged

in actual hand-to-hand combat with these things.

Did either of you observe any weak points

in their individual defense systems?

No, sir. I was too wrapped up in strategy and battle tactics.

Let me think back, I got in a couple of direct hits.

I remember that. But how would they register?

Ah, the micro-recorder!

The black box from the bioroid must have kept track

of the damage incurred during the battle!

Uh, you're probably right, Corporal.

Our main computer will have it processed by now.

[ROLF] Mm-hmm. Could you roll that?

Sure, patch into the main computer

- -and put it up on the screen. - -Yes, sir.

[LOUIE] Now I remember what was so weird about those guys.

[DANA] Louie, what the heck are you mumbling about?

I think I might know why those bioroids have been

- -so hard to stop! - -[DANA] Yeah?

[OPERATOR] Computer readout on the main monitor.

[LOUIE] Display the damaged sections individually, please.

Mmmm, I think I'm right.

[DANA] Hmph! Would you mind being more specific?

[LOUIE] Hmm? Maybe I can clear it up.

First, pull out all the bioroids that suffered

more than 50-percent damage.

Now, from that group, isolate those

that sustained direct hits, and you'll see what I mean.

That's about the way I read it!

[BECKETT] I see, they're unaffected by direct hits

unless you can destroy the cockpit!

[GREEN] Then the cockpit is where

we should direct our attack!

[ANDERSON] I'll make it a standing order

to aim only at the cockpit.

[DANA] You can't do that! If you issue those orders

and destroy the bioroids, you'll also destroy the pilots.

That should be obvious-- the android pilot would be

destroyed along with his machine.

That's right, but the pilots may not be androids!

In your report you said the pilots were androids,

even though they looked like human beings!

Now what makes you think the pilots

are anything more than programmed clones?

The bioroids react to living stimuli!

[ROLF] Come to think of it.

What do we really know about the captured pilot?

[GREEN] Only that he received some serious wounds.

We've got him under guard in the infirmary, sir.

- -[GUARD 2] General Emerson? - -[ROLF] Yes?

Sir, your presence is requested in the war room.

Commander Leonard is being briefed

on the captured clone pilot.

What is it? Eh? Did something happen to him?

Yes. He stopped functioning an hour ago.

- -What? - -[GUARD 2] Yes, sir.

The autopsy's done.

Come along, Lieutenant Sterling.

I want you to hear this.

Sir.

[LOUIE] Uh, would it be all right if I came, too, sir?

[ROLF] No, Corporal, rejoin your squadron.

[LOUIE] Yes, sir!

[ROLF] Biomechanical weapons controlled

by programmed androids!

How are we supposed to fight against that?

Basically, that's what our examination revealed

about the alien pilot.

- -[ROLF] Gentlemen. - - [LEONARD] Hmm?

General, we've just received our preliminary report.

Why don't you have a seat?

[ROLF] Thank you. Sit right here next to me, Lieutenant.

And who's this officer you've brought with you?

She's the commander of the 15th Squadron

who were responsible for the capture of the bioroid.

[DANA] Mm-hmm.

[ROLF] I wanted her to hear this.

[LEONARD] Dr. Byron, would you please tell General Emerson

what your findings indicate?

[BYRON] Certainly!

First of all, we found something remarkable

inside the pilot's body. He was a very advanced android

with some kind of bioelectric device

implanted in his solar plexus.

[DANA] What?

[BYRON] Most extraordinary.

We can only describe it as an artificial soul.

It's possible that this race was forced to adapt

to hostile environments

as it began to expand across the universe.

And if so, an android biosystem

would have been a natural development.

[BOTH] Oh?

It's obvious what's happened here.

These aliens, or at least their clones,

are nothing less than a barbaric strain of Micronized Zentraedi

who were scattered throughout the universe.

Only now they've returned to wreak havoc

upon the inhabitants of this planet.

Commander, you're mistaken.

[COUNCIL murmuring]

I'm convinced that bioroid pilot was not a Micronized Zentraedi,

but a living being.

My observations are completely documented!

What proof do you have to back up your absurd proposition?

I've had some first-hand experience in dealing with them.

Sterling, sit down.

[LEONARD] Look here!

It's possible you misread these renegades.

After all, in the heat of battle, one is often mistaken.

No! Why do you refuse to accept the possibility

I might be right?

Don't you provoke us!

Quiet down at once or you'll be forced to leave.

You're fools if you refuse to hear me out!

I believe I've heard enough.

Guards, remove this insubordinate immediately!

[DANA] Hmph!

Perhaps we should listen to her.

Hmph! I haven't got the time for her disruptions.

[DANA] Let go! You're making a big mistake.

Can't you see that?

Get your hands off me, you idiots! Let me go!

[ROLF sighs]

[LEONARD] Mm. Dr. Byron, please continue with your report.

[NARRATOR] Meanwhile, Squadron 15

is just arriving for patrol duty in sector five.

[SOLDIER] Who goes there? Identify yourself!

[VOICE] 15th Squadron, reporting as ordered!

Sergeant Dante reporting. Is our perimeter

going to be the same as this morning's patrol?

Yes, Sergeant, everything appears to be quiet here,

but you never know about these aliens.

Sometimes they just swoop down from nowhere

and just start blasting.

Well, Lieutenant, we'll be sure to keep our eyes open.

It looks like I'll be leading the patrol today.

Yes, I heard. We were notified Lieutenant Sterling

was called away to a meeting.

Hmm, 14th Squad, secure your hovertanks!

Thanks a lot, see you, Sergeant. So long!

[ANGELO] Good luck, Lieutenant!

[ANGELO] Mm-hm.

Uh, everyone stand by. We're moving out!

Yes, sir. Everything's ready to go.

Isn't that Lieutenant Sterling's tank?

- - [ANGELO] Yep, that's her. - -[DANA] Hold up there!

[ANGELO] Welcome back, Lieutenant.

[BOWIE] What happened at the meeting?

The officers on the general's staff are nothing

but a bunch of idiots.

They insist that the bioroid pilots are cloned

from mutant Zentraedi!

Lieutenant, we discovered the relay switch

we thought was a control device

is actually some kind of sonic frequency receiver.

A what?

The bioroid is probably controlled

by a mixture of telepathic suggestion and signals

from artificial sensors.

You mean they're not controlled by the pilots at all?

Well, I'm sure they can be. But not like we thought.

It looks like some kind of higher intelligence

may be at work by remote control.

[LEONARD] Ahem. Gentlemen,

it seems to me our course is clear.

We must commit ourselves to destroying these androids

whenever they appear as bioroid pilots.

- -[ALL chattering] - - [LEONARD] Yes?

You have something to say, General?

If these aliens possess any human qualities,

then we should try to negotiate.

Fighting can't be the only alternative.

Well, surely you don't believe that we could ever come to terms

with a group of barbarians like them, do you, Emerson?

I believe anything is better than losing more lives.

Yes, but their advanced technology

leaves us no other choice.

Even if we could negotiate,

we'd be doing it from a position of weakness, not strength,

and that would be fatal! It's out of the question!

Now, will there be anything else from you, General?

[ROLF] No, Supreme Commander, not now.

[LEONARD] Good.

[NARRATOR] Unaware of what the Earth forces are planning,

the Robotech Masters

are busy making plans of their own.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 3] This Micronian ignorance

of our purpose and their inexperience with Protoculture

makes them a dangerous threat to our cause.

And too many of our bioroid pilots

have been severely injured

to mount an effective attack against them at this time.

Are the shields still functional?

[YOUNG POLITICAL] We estimate a function capacity

of only 20 percent.

[ZOR 3] If we cannot leave and we cannot fight,

what option is left us?

[ROBOTECH MASTER 3] We must use the Micronians.

First, we must experiment.

We will kidnap some of the Micronians

and subject them to a zylonic mental probe

to determine whether or not we can turn them into pilots.

This will strengthen our forces.

[ALL chattering]

That is all we can do if we want to survive.

[RADIO OPERATOR] Red alert! Red alert! The aliens are attacking!

Stand by alert to all sections immediately!

[OFFICERS] Yes, sir!

[SOLDIER 1] Follow me!

[SOLDIER 2] I'm right behind you!

[NARRATOR] The Army of the Southern Cross,

alerted to the new attack of the bioroid renegades,

responds with lightning quickness,

as it prepares to defend Earth's cities and bases.

The giant war machine focuses its full power

on the approaching alien armada.

As the vessels fill the sky,

the atmosphere crackles with the excitement of impending battle.

Let 'em have it.

Go, boys! Everyone, keep firing!

Lieutenant, what's our status?

[RADIO OPERATOR] There are too many of them to hold off, sir!

I've already notified command central.

- -[DANA] Anyway, I told them-- - -[ALL] Huh?

- -[BOWIE] What's going on? - -[SEAN] I hate to tell you,

but it looks like a full scale enemy attack!

Everyone into their fighters! Now!

Move it!

[SOLDIERS chattering]

If you have any alternative,

don't shoot directly at their cockpits.

We might be able to capture one!

[ANGELO] It looks like there's more

than we can handle, Lieutenant!

[DANA] There must be a way to disable those bioroids

without harming the pilots. There must be!

No! Get back!

No, get away! [screaming]

[CIVILIANS screaming]

[PEDESTRIAN 2] Leave me alone! No!

[SEAN] Heads up, folks. Here they come!

[ANGELO] Hey, Louie, have you got any bright ideas?

[LOUIE] Yeah. I do!

If you aim to either side of the cockpit,

you'll temporarily paralyze the pilot.

[ANGELO] Now why would I want to do that?

[DANA] Angelo, just do what he says, it's important!

[ANGELO] Hey, whose side are you on?

[DANA] Angelo, listen to me!

I want you to shoot down their hovercraft first.

[ANGELO] Just what are you up to, Lieutenant?

[DANA] Shoot at their legs and put 'em out of commission!

[DANA] All Veritechs, switch to battloid mode!

[DANA] Remember, aim at the legs, not at the cockpits.

[SEAN] If we only hit the legs, they can still blast us!

We've gotta take a chance and aim at an area

somewhere near those cockpits, Lieutenant!

[DANA] Just stop the bioroids, but don't hurt the pilots!

[ANGELO] I thought the pilots were androids!

[BOWIE] Yeah! So did I! What's going on?

[DANA] They're living beings, I know it!

[ANGELO] What's the difference whether they're cloned androids

or live aliens? They're still shooting at us!

[ANGELO] Dana, behind you!

[ANGELO] They're retreating!

[ANGELO] But they're taking civilian hostages.

You're a goner now, buddy!

[DANA] Angelo, stop!

[DANA groaning]

[ANGELO] I've got you, Lieutenant! Hang on!

[ANGELO] You get out of here! I'll cover you!

[DANA] I'm staying right here!

[ANGELO] Hey, they're getting away!

Come on! After them!

[ANGELO] Well, there they go.

I wonder what they're planning to do with all those hostages?

[BOWIE] That's a good question, Sergeant.

[SEAN] Yeah, a real good question.

Negotiating couldn't have been worse than this!

Don't make assumptions. Who's to say if we had tried

to sit down and reason with them,

the results would have been any different?

We may have prevented a worse disaster.

Well, what's the final figure?

Over 200 citizens have been kidnapped, sir.

I see. In the official report,

list them as casualties of the battle.

[STAFF SERGEANT] Yes, sir!

[LEONARD] I don't know what they're up to,

but whatever it is, it won't work!

Not as long as I have a single man left to fight against them.

[NARRATOR] Once again, the Earth is deeply involved

in an interstellar conflict

which has overwhelmed its military capabilities

and has reached out to affect helpless civilians.

It is a war which will challenge the very core

of the society which has rebuilt itself

from the ashes of devastation.

[NARRATOR] In our next episode, the Robotech Masters subject

human prisoners to a series of mental probes

to determine the extent of their knowledge of Protoculture.

Their concern is two-fold:

without Protoculture their civilization will crumble.

And eventually their archenemies, the Invid,

will sense the presence of Protoculture on Earth,

and come looking for it.

Be sure to be watching next time for "Stardust"

the latest chapter in the odyssey of Robotech!

F