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The SDF-3 Pioneer is the third human Battlefortress to be built and was originally the largest ship to be commissioned by the United Earth Government and the Robotech Expeditionary Force. The SDF-3 Pioneer is the Flagship of the REF and the Pioneer Expedition to the Robotech Masters's homeworld of Tirol in the year 2022, an also carried onboard mankind's only Protoculture Matrix.

History[]

The SDF-3's construction began in 2012 in the RFS after the destruction of the SDF-1 and SDF-2 during Khyron's suicide run on New Macross City. (Macross Saga: To the Stars)

The Crystal War[]

Incomplete SDF3

The uncompleted SDF-3 during the Crystal War. (Crystal Dreams 1: Crystal Dreams)

Although built for the mission to Tirol, the SDF-3 was deployed before said mission, in 2021. In an incomplete fashion, it was a center point in the first battle of the Crystal War, where non-culture-affected Zentradi began attacking the ship. Kyle Bartley and Max Sterling helped fight off the army, although that was only the start of the war. (Crystal Dreams 1: Crystal Dreams)

The War ended a year later with the defeat of the hostile Zentraedi, however, the population of Earth became paranoid that the Robotech Masters would sent more Zentraedi to attack Earth and thus the preparations of the Pioneer Expedition were put in motion.

The Pioneer Expedition[]

The SDF-3 Pioneer originally launched in the year of 2022 to search for the homeworld of the Robotech Masters. Its exterior was designed to resemble a Zentraedi warship, to confuse the Masters. (Robotech II: The Sentinels)

After they arrived at Tirol, they were attacked by the Invid Regent's forces, which had invaded and occupied Tirol, and the SDF-3 was heavily damaged to the point that the REF was unable to make a space fold, which left them stranded for 21 years in the Local Group of Fantoma. While part of the REF joined the Sentinels to free other planets of the Invid, the SDF-3 remained in Tirol, to protect it while it was being repaired.

The REF Civil War[]

In 2042, the SDF-3, once again under Lisa Hunter's command, was heavily damaged during T. R. Edwards' rebellion against the REF, when they attempted to prevent Edward's escape from Optera in the Icarus. The bridge of the fortress was damaged by Shadow fighters before the ship's frontal part, including their reflex cannons, were destroyed by a shot of the Invid Regent's Carrier. Several of the crew were injured, including the ship's commanding officer, Lisa Hunter herself, who was left in a wheelchair.

Over the next year, the SDF-3 was refitted over Tirol with its destroyed reflex cannons replaced by twin synchro cannons. (Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles comic: "The Enemy Within")

The refit SDF-3, now displaying a much more squared shape, was sent to the Invid homeworld of Optera where the ship destroyed a Genesis pit mutated Edwards with a bombardment from its synchro cannons, putting an end to the REF civil war. (Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles comic: "The Children of the Shadows")

The SDF-3 and the science vessel Deukalion traveled to the Omicron Sector to test-fire a Neutron-S missile. During the test, the missile created a Black hole, crippling the Deukalion and damaging the SDF-3. (Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles)

The Fourth Robotech War[]

Both vessels were aided by the Icarus, which was sent to check on the SDF-3 after contact was lost with the vessel. They found it, but were attacked by an unknown enemy, in the first shots of the Fourth Robotech War. Due to the loss of the SDF-3's fold drive, the Icarus planned to jump to hyperspace close to the SDF-3, engulfing it in its hyperspace bubble. However, the SDF-3 was rammed by an Haydonite warship, preventing it from jumping with the Icarus and sending it back towards the black hole.

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The SDF-3 attacked by Haydonites

The status of the SDF-3 was unknown, though the Haydonites believed that it had managed to escape the black hole and expected it to have retreated back to Space Station Liberty. They were surprised to not find it there when they launched their attack on the station.

Following the battle Captain Vince Grant was given the mission to take the Ark Angel and search for the missing vessel. (Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles)

Crew[]

Behind the scenes[]

  • The SDF-3 is only portrayed in one scene in the completed Sentinels' animation. In such a scene it is portrayed to be a light shade of red - however, in the Sentinels' comic books and the cover of End of the Circle, the SDF-3 is depicted as green and yellow.
  • In the novels, the SDF-3 is rebuilt from Breetai's Flagship.
  • The SDF-3 is the first known Space Fortress unable to change his shape, apparently before and after its reconstruction.
  • The SDF-3 was the second biggest warship built by mankind, second only to the SDF-4. (The Art of Robotech: the Shadow Chronicles)

Designs[]

Appearances[]

Secondary continuity[]

Sources[]

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