Week Three: Robotech Art Three by Carl Macek

We have left Robotech Art Three's episode by episode guide for the first two weeks, and now we are onto the week by week synopsis for the next eleven weeks. So, I'm just going to list the plot points from Week Three entitled The Coming Of The Sentinels.

1. The REF build a base on the moon of Fantoma
2. The Sentinels, a group of aliens from Invid conquered worlds who are fighting to free their planets, arrive and ask the REF to join them.
3. Lisa and Karen develop a friendship
4. Dr. Lang reveals that Janice is an Android (probably only to the audience) and reprograms her as a soldier for the Sentinels
5. Rick, Lisa and a few others resign their commissions to join the Sentinels in their fight for freedom
6. As Rick and the rest leave, Edwards sees his chance to take over the REF
7. The Invid try to recapture the moon of Fantoma
8. The Sentinels Mission is launched.

Differences from Art Three

• Pretty much everything as the novels had the chance to expand upon and describe the REF's first meeting with the Sentinels and the beginning of the mission.
• Some notable differences include:
• Sue Graham is a 16 year old trainee with the REF
• Carbonara is now Karbarra
• Gnea's hair is now a white blonde and not red
• Tesla has is a prisoner of the Sentinels and not the REF.
• Instead of revering Zor, the Praxian's hate Zor and what his people have done for them.

Here's a summary of what happened in the first nine chapters

As the REF celebrates Earth's New Years Eve, and just as the Admirals Hunter take to the dance floor, the party is over. The SDF-3 detects an alien, and possibly enemy, vessel entering the Valiverre Star System. The REF promptly goes on combat alert.
Because the REF is on a diplomatic mission, the SDF-3 hails the alien vessel and prepares to launch the Skull Squadron to buzz the alien vessel when it does not respond to the calls, when the alien vessel decelerates, enters into Tirol orbit, deactivates it's weapon systems, and hails the SDF-3 with a message: "Respond, please. Alien vessel, please respond. We come in peace. We come in friendship. Do not fire! We are desperately in need of your help!"

Upon the SDF-3's request, they identify themselves as the Sentinels.

Despite opposition from General TR Edwards, Admiral Hayes-Hunter allows the alien vessel to land (while the SDF-3's main cannon and the GMU's main gun are trained upon it).

While the alien vessel begins the land upon the moon's surface, the REF's scientists analyze the vessel and determine that it is made up of many different types of technology, including what appears to be technology from Earth's steam era.

Admiral Hayes-Hunter, Vice Admiral Hunter, Breetai, Exedore, and Dr. Lang are there to greet this vessel upon Tirol's surface and are surprised, and initially terrified, of the truly alien appearances of the vessel's occupants.

The Sentinels a loose alliance of many aliens who were captured by the Invid and meant to be trophies of the Invid Regent. They overtook their captors, took control of the ship, and came to Tirol, after finding out that the REF managed to defeat the Invid, to seek the REF's assistance. They took the name, The Sentinels, as it means "The Watchman. The sentries who say, 'This place, I protect! Protect with my life! Meddle here, and you start a war only one of us can survive'" in Zentraedi.

And they request the REF's aid in the form of supplies, weapons, and allies to free their worlds from the Invid.

As the REF Plenipotentiary council meets to discuss a possible alliance with the Sentinels, the SDF-3 detects an Invid vessel heading towards Tirol, the Invid Pursuer. It is quickly decided by a five to four vote that the REF will ally themselves with the alien Sentinels, and both team up to destroy the Invid Pursuer, which has been chasing the Sentinels since they commandered their ship.

The plan, fire the GMU's cannon and the SDF-3's cannon at the Pursuer at the same time, but there needs to be an REF liason onboard the vessel.

Edwards volunteers, but Rick is chosen due to his experience and knowledge of the SDF-3.

The Sentinels' vessel, the Farrago, launches, and is pursued by the Pursuer in Tirol's atmosphere, and is destroyed when the Farrago breaks up into it's individual ships, revealing it's Protoculture homing device and the SDF-3 and GMU fire upon it.

Afterwards, it's time for the Sentinels new ally to find out what they have taken prisoner, their captor, the Invid scientist, Tesla.

Over the course of the next three days around 1000 REF soldiers are included in the Sentinels mission; all the Zentraedi, save for Exedore, are resized for the Fantoma mining operation which completely wears out the last remaining Zentraedi sizing chamber; Dr. Lang reprograms Janice to join in the Sentinels mission and then, upon the urging of Bela, builds a Pegasus mecha as a morale booster for the Praxians; command of the SDF-3 is given to Captain Forsythe; Ensigns Baker and Penn are promoted to Liuetenant Junior Grade; the Zentraedi return to their old home of Zarkopolis on Fantoma; and Edwards begins his plan to take over the REF while Rick and Lisa are away.

And, as the REF's newest recruit, Lynn Minmei, sings a soulful version of We Will Win, the Farrago departs the Valivarre system for Karbarra.

The R.E.F. Contingent of the Sentinels

• Admiral Lisa Hayes-Hunter
• Vice Admiral Rick Hunter
• Captain Vince Grant
• Dr. Jean Grant
• Col. Jonathan Wolff
• Captain Max Sterling
• Captain Miriya Sterling
• Lt. Jack Baker
• Lt. Karen Penn
• Janice Em

The Alien Sentinels

• Karbarra: Lron and Crysta
• Praxis: Bela and Gnea
• Geruda: Kami and Learna
• Haydon IV: Veidt and Sarna
• Spheris: Baldan and Teal
• Peryton: Burak
• Tirol: Rem and Cabell

Differences from Art Three and the first nine chapters of Dark Powers

• Once again, some of the dialogue has been changed
• Also, I don't have the first two issues of Robotech II: The Sentinels Book Two, so it's onto, only, issues three through seven
• Lisa is startled by the Sentinels alien appearance, but instead of Rick fighting Burak, Rick keeps Edwards from firing upon them
• There is a little more added to Minmei's and Wolffe's relationship, all while the bearded REF soldier watches.
• Edwards points out that the SDF-3's targeting system was damaged by the Invid, so instead of using that to calculate the targeting of the Invid Pursuer, Rick recommends Cabell
• Oh, and Cabell working on the REF computers is a bit like Scotty working on a Mac, the computer is to slow and primitive for them.
• Instead of watching the meeting of the REF and the Sentinels, Karen hears about them from Jack who describes them thusly. "They're all huge slobbering monsters! With fangs and claws! They invited Admiral Hayes' party into their ship . . . then ATE THEM!" (PIC)
• One of the big differences between Art Three and the comics is the design of the Carbonarites/Karbarrans. In Art Three, they have ridiculus smiles, here they have standard bear snouts and bear teeth. (PIC)
• Not really a difference, but as the Farrago is breaking up into it's individual components, there is a Rick and Bella face to crotch collision, on both characters ends. (PIC)
• Jack Baker and Karen Penn both take part in the operation, in Alphas, as observers.
• Now, these aren't really differences from Art Three or the novels, but they are differences from both Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles and Shadow Chronicles.
  • Edward's contact with the Invid brain gave him delusions of granduer
  • Haydonites need to be fed.
• The Sentinels wish to depart in one day, but it is delayed due to repairs needed on the Farrago
• On Praxis, we see the Invid Regiss has been conducting experiments on "volunteers", transforming the proud amazons into horrible monsters that don't last very long.
• For the first time we see that the SDF-3 is not alone in it's mission. Along side the Farrago, before it's launch, we see a Garfish, an Ikazuchi, and the SDF-4, but the Farrago leaves Tirol orbit alone. (PIC)