Legacy Review #09 – ROBOTECH BOOK 5 (Force of Arms)

Release Date: March 1987

Author: Jack McKinney

(James Lucerno and Brian Daley)

Page Count: 212 pages

(includes Chapter 1 from Doomsday)

INTRODUCTION

The fifth of the six-book series covering the “First Generation” of the Robotech franchise; at least as portrayed to North American audiences. Thus continued my rabid obsession with continuing the novelization of the anime I once enjoyed on Saturday mornings, and playing the Palladium Books ROBOTECH RPG years later.

REVIEW

Episode Counter. The first book encapsulates the events from Episodes 24 to 28:

• S01 E24 – Showdown

• S01 E25 – Wedding Bells

• S01 E26 – The Messenger

• S01 E27 – Force of Arms

• S01 E28 – Reconstruction Blues

Synopsis. The SDF-1 has been ordered back into space in order to deter the Zentraedi from thinking the Earth as a viable target. There are significant challenges to the status quo that send most decision makers into absolute paralysis, incapable of getting over their own fears and prejudices. For the Zentraedi, the SDF-1 is an existential threat, with micronian culture causing havoc among rank and file and leadership alike. For the Earth, they cannot accept any possibility of a scientific link between Human and the giant Zentraedi. Through it all, relationships are the crux of the matter, demonstrating both the similarities and the differences of the two warring species. The final conflict places the Zentraedi in an existential crisis, while the Dolza bombardment has ravaged the Earth with an extinction-level-event.

A Shaky Alliance. With Exedore as ambassador, he represents a concrete bridge between the two cultures. The most un-warlike Zentraedi has now been proven correct in all his presumptions and warnings against contact with the humans, but somehow finds himself on the side compassionate to the human experience and supports their perspective. The unlikely pairing of Capt Global and Dr Lang, matched with Breetai and Exedore, gives way to a practical understanding of one to the other. Not everyone is prepared for this alliance, and it is relatively well shown at the outset of the book; several micronized Zentraedi get bullied and harassed by Macross City humans, until Max Sterling’s arrival ultimately handles the conflict.

Zentraedi Worldview Chaos. The images and Minmei’s singing that Capt Gloval broadcasts during their attack against Dolza’s massive fleet, proves incredibly effective. The effect evokes emotional responses that create what we modernly would associate as a Cognitive Dissonance response. The images and emotions run counter to their social programming, and their internal conflict presents the opportunity for Golval and Breetai’s combined fleets.

Emotional Entanglements. Rick and Lisa see their friendship further developing, but acting like two magnets of the same polarization; repelling each other when they get too close. Lisa runs away from her feelings for Rick, visiting the Alaska Base to try and convince the UEDC to open negotiations with the Zentraedi. Given her father’s position, he restricts Lisa from going back to her post on the SDF-1. For Rick’s part, he has tried to get over Minmei, but never brings himself to commit to his feelings for Lisa. Even by the end of the book, which takes place two years after the Zentraedi Bombardment, they haven’t worked it out.

Inter-Species Entanglements. Reinforcing the concept of inter-species peace, the development of bonds between the Bridge Bunnies and the trio of Zentraedi spies is further developed by the rather tempestuously arranged relationship between Max Sterling and Miriya Parina. This relationship provides some rather humorous interludes, including the arcade sequences where Max casually defeats Miriya, and the knight fight scene in the park later that night, resulting in a bit of a hammy marriage proposal; despite this, I found the book did a much better job with this story arc.

Global Unified Government. Once again trying to influence the engagements with Breetai’s Zentraedi fleet, the UEDC has compelled the SDF-1 to remain in space. They consider the ship to a worthwhile sacrifice to ward off the invaders. They presume the Zentraedi’s strategy, and plan to engage the giant Robotech Cannon constructed in the remote Alaska Base. They are overly confident, and presented as such because the reader knows the truth. They are willing to enter negotiations, but only after obliterating a chunk of the fleet so they can look stronger before ‘going to the table.’ Not until the truth is blatantly laid out for them do they realize their error; Dolza’s fleet numbering in the millions arrives. This is the ultimate tragedy that eventually leads to the bombardment of Earth.

CONCLUSION

More of the political machinations of the UEDC are revealed, more specifically the self-serving nature of the leadership, and ignorance of the situation and the intentions of the Zentraedi now that Dolza has arrived. The effect of ‘micronian’ culture on Breetai’s fleet is enough for Dolza to justify wiping out both Breetai’s forces and the population of Earth, regardless of the loss of the SDF-1. With the successful spacefold of such an armada, he has come to realize the dream of breaking from the shackles of the Robotech Masters could be realized, as even they could not face off the collected might of the Zentraedi. To do so, he must first eliminate the ‘micronian’ threat.

Max and Miriya’s relationship represents the coalition of Humanity with the Zentraedi forces that accepted the change to their worldview. In the denouement portion of the book, primarily drawn from Episode 28 “Reconstruction Blues,” we know a significant number of Zentraedi have crashed or landed on Earth and are continuing/reverting to their warrior-like cultural roots. The Earth is ravaged, yet for many Zentraedi and the forces of the RDF, the war still continues. Although not specified, it appears that Breetai’s fleet is in control of the orbital space, while the SDF-1 returned back to Earth and is determined to be a beacon for reconstruction efforts.

Finally, Rick and Lisa have danced around themselves for so long, including the two year denouement portion, it’s like they don’t know how to initiate a relationship. Everyone else recognizes the reality the two are in, except for Rick and Lisa. Two veterans of war and battle, rookies at love. There is something there is terms of over-commitment to their careers at the expense of their personal lives. Sure, they have feelings for one another, but in many respects, they have become a Zentraedi-like icon of Humanity’s capability to lose themselves to war. Events have conspired to adjust their worldview as incapable of allowing them anything else.

Current Assessment (7/10). Compared to the previous book, a significantly greater number of things occurred, but the action was relatively remote. Here we saw strategic level impacts occurring to both the Zentraedi and Humanity, neither coming out well in the end. Dolza’s urge for independence from the Robotech Masters led to the failed attempt to destroy the SDF-1, but ravaged Earth. The Zentraedi were irrevocably shocked by Minmei’s performance and the emotional toll it inflicted. After all is said and done, both are living shadows of their former selves. We see Humanity come through with a pyrrhic victory; they’ve defeated an unimaginable threat in the Zentraedi, but at what cost?

Return to All Posts

Please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!