Robotech: Exodus

by TheVampireStrahd

The attack on Earth by the Zentraedi Grand Fleet under Dolza's command was far worse than canon. In this AU, the Earth is in much worse shape and there are far fewer survivors. Drastic actions must be taken. Earth needs to be evacuated but there is still the threat of hostile Zentraedi led by Khyron and there are those among Humanity that do not want to abandon their home.

Disclaimer: I do not own Robotech or its characters, that belongs to Harmony Gold. I am just telling a story for fun.

Robotech: Scorched Earth

One Week After The Rain of Death

Earth

SDF-1

Main Conference Room

The conference room was packed with senior officers and the few surviving civilians that had managed to survive the massive bombardment from the Zentraedi Grand Fleet led by their Supreme Commander Dolza.

With the victory, the crew of the SDF-1 and their new allies of what was being called the Free Zentraedi Forces had been working non stop. Captain Henry Gloval had immediately ordered a BARCAP, a Barrier Combat Air Patrol around the SDF-1 for the Veritechs and deployed the Destroids for ground security around the grounded warship.

Next Captain Gloval ordered a complete damage control report and start immediate repairs to those systems that could be brought back online, with a priority towards weapon and critical support systems. After that, he needed to know the losses that his ship had sustained, which meant he would need to reassess and reform Veritech and Destroid units. Finally he'd ordered a recon to start looking for survivors.

Now, it was a week, more and more survivors were being found and rescued but it was also looking extremely bleak. The destruction that Humanity's homeworld had been subjected to was absolutely catastrophic. This meeting was a first of civilian and military leadership that had been cobbled together.

Currently, even though there were some civilian leaders found, Captain Gloval had invoked the emergency action clause and had declared that the United Earth Government was under martial law until further notice. The civilian leaders that were present were there to provide input but all decisions would be made by the RDF/UN SPACY.

Captain Gloval looked at his second in command, Lieutenant Commander Lisa Hayes first then at the assembled group. He reached into his jacket and pulled out his pipe. He didn't light it, but he stuck it in his mouth and growled, "Alright, let's get this started. We all have a lot of work to do. Let's not waste anyone's time."

Taking a look around the room, he saw a lot of heads nodding. "Well, start off with the security report."

His XO, Lieutenant Commander Lisa Hayes had her laptop open. She looked at the screen then looked at everyone as she was sitting next to the Captain at the head of the table. "The latest report from the BARCAP is that they intercepted a small group of rogue Zentraedi linked with Khyron's forces last night. All of them were eliminated as they refused to be captured. Destroid patrol reported another group of refugees arrived from the Midwest region. They are aboard the SDF-1 and are still being decontaminated and processed."

Colonel Maistroff asked, "What does that bring our current civilian population aboard the SDF-1 to now?"

Lisa replied, "With this new group, we are at on hundred eleven thousand five hundred forty seven."

The Mayor of Macross City let out a sigh. "We're being stretched thin. With this many people and more coming, we'll need to implement another series of ration cuts to stretch what we have."

There was grumbling which quieted down when Captain Gloval cleared his throat. "Do it. It will make the people unhappy, but we need to stretch what we have while we gather and scavenge what we can from any place we can find it."

Lisa chimed in, "What about Cheyenne Mountain? It'd deep enough that it could have survived a hit from the bombardment."

Colonel Maistroff asked, "Has there been any communication from Cheyenne Mountain?"

Lisa shook her head. "They might be unable to respond due to their systems being knocked out. But, that base could have the supplies we need and it's relatively close to our present location."

With a hum of thought, Captain Gloval ordered, "We will dispatch a Veritech squadron to fly over and do a recon of Cheyenne Mountain. If the flight leader determines that it looks good, we will deploy shuttles and personnel for rescue and retrieval of any survivors and the supplies that are within. See to it, Lisa. I want this operation underway within the day."

Lisa nodded her head while saying, "Yes sir." She typed up something on her laptop.

After a moment, the Captain gestures for the meeting to continue.

Lisa resumes, "Our latest report from Commander Breetai is that his fleet is now at four hundred sixty seven thousand warships. All of them are in various states of damage, their self repair systems are bringing them back to combat capable at varying rates but it's clear that many need actual time in a repair facility."

"There are still too many wrecked hulls of Zentraedi warships in unstable orbit around the planet, with Breetai's assistance we have started identifying which of the largest wrecks are in danger of their orbit decaying and thus impacting the planet. Priority is given to those so that they can be pulled into a stable orbit so we can salvage anything, or if they have nothing salvageable to be destroyed safely."

"We are still identifying which wrecks that are floating in space between Earth and Luna that can be salvaged or have anything recoverable like Protoculture."

Captain Gloval asked, "Speaking of Protoculture, what is our supply looking like for us?"

Doctor Lang answered, "The SDF-1 is slowly replenishing its Protoculture stocks. Where it is coming from, we don't know, but our supply is steadily increasing. We will be needing more and getting it from the wreck Zentraedi warships will be necessary."

Captain Gloval grunted.

"What else do we have to report on the rogue Zentraedi forces?"

Lisa answered, "Intelligence believes that Khyron may have managed to slip in one of his ships through and that's where that group of Zentraedi showed up. We're looking for where they are."

Exedore chimed in, "According to our latest scout report is that Khyron's task group is still at the edge of the solar system, hiding within the Oort Cloud. We have Cyclops scout ships watching the area."

Colonel Maistroff asked, "I thought you had said that Khyron was going to leave the system and return to the Robotech Masters. Why is he still here?"

Exedore replied, "Khyron most likely does not have enough Protoculture to Fold back to them. That may be why he is still here, he is attempting to gather Protoculture from wrecked warships so that he can get enough to return to the Robotech Masters."

"Why doesn't he just take it from those warships in his own fleet?", someone asked.

Exedore looked over to the person that asked, it was a woman with jet black hair and slightly tanned skin. Exedore answered, "Because, while Khyron commands through his reputation of ruthlessness, if he were to attempt to do so, it would be enough to galvanize those under his command to kill him. Many of Khyron's inner circle are still loyal to him but he would lose that loyalty if he was not careful about keeping his men under his command under his control."

"Khyron is not stupid, he's aggressive, he is reckless, but he is cunning. Remember the trap he laid for you back on the fourth planet. He was almost successful in capturing this warship before you managed to escape. If a ship managed to get through, we must ensure that the Protoculture supply is secure. They may make an attempt against the SDF-1 in it's weakened state, you are vulnerable."

"Do we know how many warships he has under his command?", Lisa asked.

Exedore replied, "Less than ten thousand. His own Protoculture supplies are dwindling, he will scavenge what he can from wherever he can so that he could return to the Robotech Masters."

"What would they do to him once he returned to them?", Captain Gloval asked.

Exedore was silent, his head bowed down then he looked up and said, "Once they took his report of what has transpired, they will kill him and purge his fleet. One for his failure, two because they would realize that his fleet is...contaminated just as Dolza deemed us to be contaminated. Deep down, he has to realize that this would happen but he could be denying this possible outcome to himself. There is a possibility that once he has enough Protoculture, he will simply leave and go off somewhere else entirely and go completely rogue. I believe you call them, pirates?"

There were murmurs and jostling of papers from people at the table.

Captain Gloval said, "We request Commander Breetai that he keep an eye on Khyron's forces at the Oort Cloud for now. As much as I would like to request that he deploy a fleet to destroy Khyron, it is most likely that Khyron's forces would flee, rather than engage.

With a smile that a shark would run from he continued, "However, I think we can be a little clever ourselves. Direct broadcasts of Miss Minmay's music, as well as music and video of our more popular culture material towards the Oort Cloud. Let Khyron's Zentraedi listen and watch our music and our shows and see if it destabilizes his fleet."

There were chuckles from a few people at the conference table.

"Next item, Doctor Lang, you and your associates said that you had something very important to say at this meeting. What is it that you have to tell us?"

The senior Robotech scientist that was Doctor Emil Lang looked to his right, where a Japanese man nodded his head. With a grunt, the scientist stood up and said, "Captain Gloval, and to the few members of the civilian leadership that are here, I wish my colleagues have some good news to report but unfortunately we do not."

Everyone was looking concerned.

Doctor Lang continued, "We have been taking radiation level readings and it is becoming extremely clear to my colleagues and I that the radiation levels are not going to be dropping to less harmful levels for the foreseeable future. In fact, we are looking at the beginning of a nuclear winter starting to form. These two combined will make the planet largely uninhabitable. We cannot stay on the planet. We must round up the survivors we find that cannot live underground and evacuate the planet."

The room exploded into an uproar with many people screaming and yelling. Captain Gloval grabbed the gavel and slammed it on the table. "That's enough! Quiet, all of you!"

The room quieted down and he glared at the men and few women that had caused the ruckus.

Captain Gloval roared, "I realize we are tired, exhausted, overwhelmed but that's no excuse for such behavior! So, sit down, shut up and listen!" Glaring at everyone, he looked at Doctor Lang with a softer expression but still hard and said, "Continue, Doctor."

Clearing his throat first Doctor Lang said, "I know what I have just said is...not what you were hoping for, but it is a scientific fact. The radiation readings are still at extreme lethal levels in certain areas of the planet, the temperatures are dropping as the ash clouds from the bombardment are enveloping the planet. Heat from the sun's rays will bounce off, this planet will suffer a nuclear winter."

A hologram of Earth appeared as the Doctor was speaking and the image of the hologram showed the ash clouds covering more and more of the planet as the nuclear winter progressed until it had enveloped almost the entire planet, leaving a very small amount of the southern hemisphere exposed to the sun's rays. Parts of Argentina, South Africa, Australia, the southernmost parts would still have sunlight, but beyond that, it was a cloud covered world.

The scientist next to Doctor Lang stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. The man was of Japanese ethnicity, his black hair flecked with gray. "We realize that this is not the news you were looking to hear but considering we are talking about Humanity's survival."

One of the civilian leaders, a woman that was the Secretary of Education before the Rain asked, "How certain of this data are you, Doctor Fukishima?"

The Japanese scientist replied, "Very. Ninety eight point seven percent according to our present models."

The room was quiet now.

"Options?", Captain Gloval asked.

Doctor Fukishima replied, "As Doctor Lang said, we will need to evacuate the planet. Even those civilians in underground shelters will not live long enough before the civilians run out of supplies."

Another civilian cut in, "What about deploying Robotech terraforming satellites? That was something being discussed to terraform Venus and Mars. Couldn't we use them to clean the atmosphere and heal the planet?"

Doctor Lang shook his head. "We need to build the satellites for one, two the satellites will not be able to reverse the nuclear winter in time. But once we build them and put them in place, it would shorten the nuclear winter a great deal. The big problem is time. We simply don't have it. The second problem is manufacturing capacity, we don't have enough to build all the satellites we would need."

"How many civilians have we been able to locate?", asked Colonel Maistroff.

Lieutenant Commander Lisa Hayes said, "So far, we've made contact with two dozen emergency shelters around the world, we're looking right now at a total of three million three hundred forty six thousand four hundred four civilians. We are making contact with more every day, the number is only going to rise."

Another military officer exclaimed, "There's no way we can get all these people off of the planet! Where would we put them!?"

"What about loading everyone aboard the Zentraedi warships?", someone asked.

"Are you nuts!? The civilians are scared shitless because they just had their world bombed by giant aliens from space and now you want to put them on the same ships with these giant aliens?! They'd panic, riot, and call for their blood!", someone else yelled.

With a grunt Captain Gloval said, "We have a separate issue, the SDF-1 is currently unable to return to space. Repairs are still underway and we are still working to find out if she can get back into space. Then there is what the Mayor had said that we're being stretched thin with regards to housing and caring for the incoming refugees."

Exedore, the Zentraedi advisor to Breetai, the Zentraedi senior leader that was now in command of the Free Zentraedi Forces and aligned with Humanity cleared his throat and chimed in. "If I may interject, I believe that Lord Breetai would have the location of something that can help you."

Captain Gloval looked at the micronized Zentraedi and asked, "What would that be?"

"Our masters, the Robotech Masters have deployed mobile factory satellites that the Zentraedi Fleets have access to for repairs, resupply of munitions, mecha, and clones to replenish lost warriors. Lord Breetai would have knowledge of where these Robotech Factory Satellites are located. It may be possible to deploy a Zentraedi task group with Human support to one such Factory Satellite, take it over and Fold it back here."

"Once you have the Factory, you can use it to repair the SDF-1 as well as all the damaged warships, and build new ships. It is a marvel of Robotechnology, when fully powered and operational, a Robotech Factory can produce one million warships, the ammunition, mecha, and clones for such a fleet in one month. To build a small fleet of ships capable of supporting all the civilians aboard, it would be simplicity in itself."

The military leaders looked each other. The news of such a creation by the Robotech Masters capable of repairing and building new Robotech ships and mecha would be an answer to a desperate prayer, especially if they could use it to create a specialized ship to carry civilians in space. They could use the SDF-1's Macross City as inspiration.

Captain Gloval asked, "Is there such a Factory in this galaxy?"

Exedore shrugged, "I'm afraid I do not know. That information was limited to senior Zentraedi commanders like Lord Breetai. It is possible as we came from our home galaxy that you call Andromeda, the Masters may have deployed one in this galaxy to handle our needs to keep us focused on the hunt looking for the SDF-1. Otherwise, we would have to Fold back to our home galaxy to where one is located.

As Exedore was speaking, Henry Gloval was struck by a question that he'd been wanting answered ever since the Zentraedi forces had appeared near the moon on the SDF-1's launch day. He needed to speak to Exedore privately right after the meeting was over.

"That is definitely something we can look into, Exedore. Thank you.", Captain Gloval said.

Exedore gave a single nod of his head and responded, "Certainly Captain."

"We must inform the civilians to stay underground for their safety.", Lisa said.

The various people in the room nodded their heads.

The meeting continued and decisions were made. Captain Gloval would speak to Breetai with Exedore to find out if a mission could be launched to retrieve a Robotech Factory and bring it to Earth space so that it could be used to repair the SDF-1 and build new ships that could support the millions of civilians that would need to be evacuated from the planet.

As the group broke apart to return to their duties, Captain Gloval said, "A moment, please Exedore. Would you join me in my ready room?"

Exedore turned from the door he was about to leave and said, "Certainly, Captain. It is no trouble."

"With me, Lisa.", Captain Gloval ordered.

"Yes, sir.", Lisa responded.

The three walked to the Captain's Ready Room which was near the Bridge of the massive warship. The journey was in silence and very short as the main conference room wasn't too far.

Upon entering the office of Captain Henry Gloval, the Captain walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of liquor and poured a small amount. "Bohze moi, just when I think things can't get any worse, they do. Exedore, there is a very important reason I asked you to join me here."

He took a drink then set it back down and walked to his desk. Once there he pushed a button which secured the room from any recording equipment. Then he sat down in his chair and steepled his hands in front of him.

"We have been so damn busy trying to stay alive for the past two years, that we've really been unable to stop and ask a question that needed asking." He looked at Exedore who was standing in front of the large desk while Lisa had taken a seat next to him that was in front of the desk.

The Captain pointed a finger at Exedore and asked, "Up till Commander Breetai and his fleet joined forces with ours, your fleet has been chasing this ship since the day of her launch. I want to know why. Why were you so intent on capturing this ship, you had more than enough firepower to blast the SDF-1 out of the stars but every attempt your forces attacked ours was an attempt to capture, not destroy. I need to know why."

Exedore looked at Captain Gloval then to Lisa Hayes. He took a breath and then replied, "This is a long story Captain."

"Give me the short version, I need to know why the Zentraedi were so intent on capturing this ship.", Gloval stated.

Exedore began, "This ship was the ship of Zor, the Robotech Master. Zor was the one who created Robotechnology, he discovered Protoculture which gave rise to the Tirolian Empire which the Robotech Masters rule. Prior to his death at the hands of the Invid, he apparently stole something from the Robotech Masters and hid it aboard this ship."

"Supreme Commander Dolza had been ordered by the Robotech Masters to retrieve this ship and bring it back to them. From there, Dolza had ordered Lord Breetai to this task, to capture the battle fortress and bring it back to him."

Lisa looked surprised while the Captain leaned forward and said, "You are saying that this Zor hid something aboard this ship?"

Exedore nodded his head. "According to what I was told he did, we were never told what it was that Zor had hidden aboard, just that it was important and that it was absolutely critical that we capture the ship intact."

Captain Gloval rubbed his chin in thought. He said, "There are still parts of the ship that have never been fully explored. It is possible that whatever it was that this Zor hid, is in one of these areas. I will contact Doctor Lang and see if we can send in some personnel to look in these unexplored areas and find whatever it was that this Zor hid."

"Then you haven't found it?", Exedore asked.

Captain Gloval shook his head. "No. I know of no major discovery that would warrant your pursuit. All we did was reverse engineer what we've been able to find and understand. If there was something hidden aboard this ship, it's never been found."

Lisa asked, "What is it you think that this Robotech Master Zor hid aboard the ship?"

Exedore rubbed his chin then lowered his hand and replied, "I am speculating, but given all the effort to try to capture this battle fortress, I believe that Zor took and hid the Protoculture Matrix aboard this ship. That would be the one thing that the Robotech Masters would want back at all costs. If you haven't found it, I am confident that it is still aboard this ship waiting to be discovered."

Exedore tilted his head and looked at Captain Gloval. "It was reported in the meeting that the ship's Protoculture stores were rising after being depleted at the last battle. That is a clear indicator to me that the Protoculture Matrix is indeed aboard this ship. None of our ships can make more Protoculture, they must resupply from a Robotech Factory. You must launch a search into areas of the ship you have not explored and find the Protoculture Matrix!"

Captain Gloval hummed in thought and closed his eyes. This news was massive. If it was true that such a device or technology was aboard the SDF-1 and it had remained undiscovered even after the ship had crash landed on the planet more than ten years ago, it was a monumental discovery in the making.

Captain Gloval picked up his phone and dialed an extension. After a moment the call was answered, "Doctor Lang, please report to my ready room at once." Then he hung up the phone.

Looking at the two in front of him, Captain Gloval got up and walked back to where he had the rocks glass. He picked it up and poured from a pitcher of water into it. He turned around to look at Lisa and Exedore and said, "The Doctor and I were among the first to enter the SDF-1 after it had crashed. We, along with three others were the first to search the ship. We never found this Protoculture Matrix but the ship is so large...it is possible that we missed it."

He offered a drink to Exedore and Lisa but both declined. He returned to his chair, drinking the water in his glass. Time passed and finally Doctor Lang had arrived, entering the room when instructed.

The scientist looked at the three people in the room and inquired, "I'm here sir, what is going on?"

Captain Gloval said, "I was speaking with Exedore to find out the reason that the Zentraedi were so intent on capturing this ship. Exedore has provided the answer, that there is something extremely important that was hidden aboard this ship, something that Exedore calls a Protoculture Matrix."

The chief engineer/scientist aboard the ship arched an eyebrow. "A Protoculture Matrix? What is that?", he asked.

Exedore answered, "It is the backbone of the Robotech Masters' technological power. With this, Protoculture is refined and processed, it is what allowed the Robotech Masters to seize power and convert Tirol from the Tirolian Republic to the Tirolian Empire. If I'm right, and I believe that I am, you must find the Protoculture Matrix that Zor hid aboard this ship."

Doctor Lang looked at Captain Gloval then Exedore, and a glance at Lisa. "I have been wondering for many years where the ship is getting more Protoculture to resupply our needs. It makes sense now. Captain, I will gather some engineers and begin a new search in areas we've never investigated or skipped over. We will find this Protoculture Matrix, I promise."

Nodding his head and giving a grunt, Captain Gloval said, "I trust that you will."

Author Note: So, here's another plot bunny that hit me in the face. In this Alternate Universe, the damage of the Rain of Death from Dolza's bombardment was much, much worse than canon. There are less survivors, higher radiation levels, a stronger nuclear winter is coming. They don't have the capacity to build a lot of Robotech terraforming satellites at the moment when there is so much that needs to be done.

The SDF-1 is undergoing self repairs from its own advanced systems as well as the crew performing their own repairs to try and get the ship back into space given the news that they need to evacuate Earth.

Breetai's gathering the remaining Zentraedi that surrendered and those that are part of his fleet under his command. They are loyal to Earth now. Among those Zentraedi are Azonia and her fleet as well. In this AU, Breetai was the one to save her, not Khyron so she's feeling very loyal to Breetai. Right now they are pulling the damaged wrecks out of Earth orbit that have Protoculture or anything that can be salvaged and/or repaired.

Khyron has taken his fleet and fled to the Oort Cloud. He's going to try to get enough Protoculture for his forces that they can Fold back to Tirol and he can pretend to be a good Zentraedi and tell the Robotech Masters what's happened. Eventually, he'll realize that the Masters will kill him and every Zentraedi under him if he were to return so he will try to form some new powerbase of his own. He will be the big bad guy number one. Number two will be a certain Colonel Anatole Leonard.

Anyway, don't know when more of this will happen, depends on the muse.