The story begins in 1999, when a gigantic alien spaceship strikes the Earth at Macross Island in the Pacific. The people of the world, now knowing that they are not alone in the universe, end all wars and unite to understand and assimilate the advanced technology and prepare for the inevitable alien invasion that is sure to come. After a decade of analysis, repair, and study, the Earth forces are ready to relaunch the gargantuan flying fortress, now called the SDF-1 just as the alien Zentraedi attack, hoping to capture it. Meet Rick Hunter, and his best friend, dashing fighter commander Roy Fokker; aspiring singer Lynn Minmei, Captain Gloval, his straight-laced assistant Lisa Hayes and the entire crew of the Super Dimensional Battle Fortress SDF-1 as they match wits with powerful aliens who have come to Earth in search of a mysterious force known only as 'Protoculture'.