Robotech Masters

The Robotech Masters are a species that features in Robotech.

History

The Robotech Masters were an alien civilization that inhabited the cosmos. At some point, it was one of their race named Zor that was responsible for developing the power source known as Protoculture from the Invid Flower of Life. This, in turn, led to the creation of a powerful science known as Robotechnology that saw the rise of the Robotech Master and their empire. Following the discovery of Robotechnology, the Masters decided to develop an intergalactic police force to protect themselves from hostile lifeforms. This led to the development of the Zentraedi who were a race of giants created by protogenetic engineering and made for the sole purpose of fighting to keep the peace.

With the loss of the Protoculture Matrix, the Robotech Masters dispatched the Zentraedi with the task of finding and recovering it on-board Zor's Battlefortress. This was because they lacked the technology to create Protoculture on their own and were desperate to recover the last production matrix. This chain of events led to the First Robotech War that saw the Zentraedi defeated with this seeing a large burst of Protoculture. The Robotech Masters concluded that either the disciples of Zor had defeated their warriors or the Invid had acquired the Matrix. Thus, they decided to depart their region of space and make their way to the source of the Protoculture signal namely Earth. In January 2023, the Robotech Masters fleet arrived in the solar system where they took positions around Saturn causing the UEG to lose contact with Space Station Liberty. An Earth fleet later comes under attack from the unidentified Robotech Masters forces who retreat when reinforcements arrive but not before gathering battle data. In 2029, they had managed to arrive near Earth with their Protoculture reserves being critically short with them seeking to take the Matrix. Upon arriving at Earth, they engaged the forces of the Army of the Southern Cross leading to the Second Robotech War. In orbit around Earth, they had knocked much of the planets satellite communication system and cutting their link to Space Station Liberty as they sought to claim the world's supply of Protoculture.

In an effort to find the Protoculture, the Masters arranged for Zor Prime to crash and be captured by the Earth forces. This was with the intention that he would be allowed among the humans where the Robotech Masters could covertly view through a neuosensor implanted in his brain.

As the flagship proceeded to take the Protoculture Matrix, Zor Prime decided to sacrifice himself to prevent the Masters from accomplishing their mission. This involved him killing the last of the Masters and firing at the core of the ship but not before having the populace evacuated. It was hoped that the destruction of the Matrix would prevent any further harm and he used his Bioroid to detonate the core. This caused the flagship to be destroyed with its debris crashing on the surface of Earth. However, this had the opposite effect as it caused the seeds from the Flower of Life to spread as they blossomed allowing them to take root across the planet now that they were freed from the confines of the SDF-1. In the aftermath, hostilities between the United Earth Government forces and the remnants of the Tirolians ended which signalled the end of the Second Robotech War. Despite that, it was considered a pyrrhic victory as the Flower of Life spread was detected by the Invid who sought to claim the Protoculture for themselves thus triggering the Third Robotech War.

Overview

In appearance, the Robotech Masters were a humanoid species that greatly resembled humans.

They were described as being an ancient race of techno-voyagers. It was claimed that they were renegades that were descendants of Zor who was the originator of the science of Robotechnology. Such was the cold and ruthless nature of the Masters that they took no issue with sacrificing large numbers of their civilian population by jettisoning them into space during their resource crisis. Others were even conscripted to be deployed as soldiers and sent en masse during the all out attack against Earth.

A key aspect of their society was the use of the Triumvirate with their clone people divided into groups of three. Each of the three was stated to fulfil the primary functions of thought, action and reaction.

The structure of the Robotech Masters' society was hierarchical. At the bottom are clones, who carry out the day to day operations of the civilian part of the society. These clones are triumvirs. The clone pilots of the Bioroids, as they are not independently intelligent, may be said to be even lower than civilian clones, except that they are valued more highly because of their military capability. Bioroid pilots do not appear to be triumvirs. Above the civilian clones and Bioroid pilots are more advanced triumvir clones such as the Terminators, who function as police, and the pilots of the Red and Green Bioroids. Into this group as a subcategory of high rank fall the pilots of the Invid-enhanced Bioroids. Above them, and at the first level of Robotech Master Society that might be considered equivalent to nobility, are the Clone Masters. These triumvirs are responsible for managing the day to day operations of the Robotech Masters' great vessels and the behavior of the civilian and military clones.

There are usually three or more triumvirates of Clone Masters aboard each ship. Above them in prestige, if not in influence, are the Science Masters, who strive to become Robotech Masters through their knowledge of protoculture and technology. There are usually two triumvirates of Science Masters per ship. Equal to the Science Masters, but less powerful in society than the Clone Masters, are the Mistresses of the Cosmic Harp, whose duty it is to keep the civilian and military clones docile through their music. Usually there is only one triumvirate of the Mistresses per ship. Above them all are the Robotech Masters, who rule with iron fists and do not tolerate disobedience or failure. There is only one triumvirate of each per ship. Above even the Masters are the Robotech Elders -- the leaders of their race. There is only one triumvirate of Elders in all of Robotech Master Society, and the Masters themselves fear and respect them.

A noted triumvirate were the Muses with the Guardian of the Cosmic Harp being a key figure who skilfully controlled the electronic beams of the device to produce a music. This song played a vital role as it controlled the motor nerve reflexes of the clones in a Robotech Master population. The Robotech Masters themselves were responsible for plotting strategy and determining the actions of their civilization.

The Masters had developed cloning technology that they used to create their civilization and allowed for the development of the Triumvirate.

Architecturally, they had developed structures that resembled those of Ancient Rome on Earth.

The Robotech Masters were able to achieve high levels of mental manipulation. Through a Zylonic Mental Probe, they were able to probe the minds of a living being and even reprogram them. Another device was a machine known as a Neurosensor that could be implanted in the brain. Such implants were able to transmit visual feed back to central computers allowing the host to serve as a unaware spy. These devices were said to produce a specific hyperfrequency that more primitive civilisations were unable detect.

The military forces of the Masters made extensive use of mecha with these consisting of humanoid shaped Bioroids. These mecha were a complicated network of mechanical parts that consisted of circuits that were bio-genetically imprinted that allowed for control by biological stimuli making them a form of bio-mechanical lifeforms. Special relays were present that helped transmit commands that made them act as power amplified body armour making them act akin to a muscle and thus operated as extensions of the pilot. The armored suits operated through a network of biological diodes the mecha was connected to the pilot who transmitted orders from his brain whereupon the Bioroid acting in that manner in a matter of nanoseconds making them highly manoeuvrable.

A craft in their fleets were the Tirolian Corvettes that were heavily armed and armored gunships that also served as troop carriers. These craft were able to be deployed to fight against enemy fighters with them carrying more firepower than an entire squadron of human Veritechs.

Motherships did not use conventional engines for interstellar travel but folded space by twisting opposing forces. Thus, through space folding, these massive ships were able to cover large jumps across space. A hyper-balance was maintained within the vessel to maintain stability. A bio-magnetic induction network was used to create a perpetual bio-magnetic cycle by drawing the Protoculture molecules together and then forcing them apart. Thus, it harnessed the power of these two strong mega-forces by means of magnetic bonding. As a result, the ships structure was simultaneously explode and implode with this reaction being the source of the spacecrafts power. Destabilising the bio-equilibrium of the ship thus causing its power source to partially fail.

Their sheer destructive power and Robotechnology was said to far outweigh the strength of the Army of the Southern Cross.

Members

• Zor : male who discovered the secret of Protoculture and developed the science of Robotechnology that was used by his people to found their empire.
• Karno :
• Musica : a female clone that was the Guardian of the Cosmic Harp and one of the Muses.
• Octavia : a female clone who was one of the Muses and sister to Musica.
• Allegra : a female clone who was one of the muses and sister to Musica.

Notes

• The Robotech Masters were adapted from the Zor Lords from The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross series that was incorporated into the Robotech saga.
• All three members of the ruling Masters was voiced by the late Bill Capizzi.
• Robotech II: The Sentinels showed that the Robotech Masters were native to the planet Tirol and that they had abandoned the old and young non-clones on the world whilst they sought out Zor's Battlefortress towards Earth. This left the Tirolians helpless before the invading force of the Invid Regent who sought revenge against the Robotech Masters and the recovery of the Protoculture Matrix.

Appearances

• Robotech:

External Links

• Robotech Wiki Entry

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.