In an effort to provide an overview to the much-debated era of human history known as the Global Civil War, I have been requested to compile the various materials and documents available into a single comprehensive document. The purpose of this document is two-fold; first it will piece together evidence and first-person sources concerning the war, and second, it will provide clarity to alien races that wish to study human history prior to the First Robotech War. This document will attempt to make an impartial overview of the war, without taking sides by vilifying one side over another. An unfortunately common practice in some historical documents is to portray the loser in a conflict in a negative light either by exaggerating details or omitting details that may vilify the victors. The facts speak for themselves and it is up to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The Cold War dominated the world in the decades following World War II. On one side was the “West”, dominated by the capitalist United States of America and acting mainly through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while on the other side was the “East”, dominated by the communist United Soviet Socialists Republic (Soviet Union or USSR). The two sides were opposed ideologically, both in government styles and financial systems, and geographically. Nearly all events that occurred in the world during this time, such as the Vietnam War and the war in Afghanistan, became an exercise of will between the two super powers, the US and the USSR. The threat of a total nuclear war that will end life on Earth hung over the world during this era, even though neither side wanted to use their large nuclear arsenals.
The Soviet Union, after losing nearly 20 million people during World War II, was determined that it would never again be invaded and built the world’s largest military at the time. While it did rely on numbers over technology, they still built some of the most advanced war machines in the world, and many were as good, if not better, than those of the more technologically advanced western countries.
Realizing that they could never realistically match the Soviet Union in military size for any great period of time, NATO decided to use nuclear weapons as a deterrent for war. Most NATO countries built and maintained a large stockpile of nuclear arms, which were significantly cheaper to maintain then a large standing army. This caused the Soviet Union to respond by building its own large stockpile of nuclear weapons, but their numbers of lower than NATO’s.
During the 1980’s, the Soviet Union suffered a demoralizing setback when their military failed to defeat rebel factions in Afghanistan and increased military spending was tearing the country’s economy to shreds. NATO and the United States did not realize the extent of collapse in the Soviet Union until in 1989 they allowed the reunification of Germany, which had been split into two countries following World War II, one side controlled by NATO, the other by the Soviet Union. Soon after, the entire Soviet Union collapsed leaving many former republics independent for the first time ever and a much weaker Russian Republic.
The now democratic Russia was suffering from economic collapse and many western countries were too used to viewing the Russians as enemies to offer any help. This forced the Russians, and many of the independent Republics to sell many of their weapons to third world countries, such as China, the Middle East, and many countries in Africa. Some of the weapons sold were even rumored to be nuclear warheads, which would garner a huge price on the black market.
In contrast, this was an impressive time for the western countries: they had easily won a war in the Middle East against Iraq and advances in space technology allowed the concept of a space station become a reality. Since Russia had one of the world’s largest space agencies and the world’s only existing space station, they were reluctantly included in the US dominated international space agency. As computers became widespread, information became more accessible to those that opposed the world’s current notion of peace. With the Cold War over, and with many countries looking forward to a time of real pace, many powerful countries forgot that most of the world had been dominated by only a few countries and that with the collapse of colonialism, imperialism, and the end of the Cold War many of these countries were truly free for the first time ever. These countries, particularly China, India, Iran, and several countries in Africa, did not appreciate that the world had decided that there would be no more wars, no more taking from other countries what you wanted, which is exactly what the current Super Powers had done to achieve their power.
Tensions would rise continuously throughout the early half of the 1990’s, as many countries fought the “world powers” both in the United Nations General Assembly, and in world markets to achieve what they believed was their fair share. Support ebbed and waned for international cooperation throughout the world and many countries felt cheated by the United States, as the US would treat them as partners with one hand and as enemies with the other. New alliances were formed throughout the world, such as a growing bond between Islamic countries in the Middle East, between former enemies in Africa, and between China and India, but the United States viewed these alliances as strategic threats that it could not counter with traditional methods. A new world order was being built around the United States claiming the world had moved past imperialism and other countries finally moving into positions where they could execute their own imperialist goals. The International Space Station, named Freedom Station, was the focal point for the anger that had grown among the countries of the world.
Freedom Station had cost over 100 billion American dollars to construct and had taken over three years to finish. When it was completed on February 16, 1996, the members of the International Space Agency cheered and looked forward to using the station for research into survival in space and industrial applications of space. Almost overnight, NASA had risen in importance in the American public’s eyes and its popularity skyrocketed, but this was nearly overshadowed by criticisms from several countries that complained that they would not be given a fair portion of the station’s facilities. China led the criticisms against the International Space Agency, when it had announced that Freedom Station’s crew would be made up of Americans and Russians. While some countries, mainly other NATO members, would be given access to the station’s laboratories through remote control, countries such as China, which had contributed several billion dollars to the project, would be refused access to the station during the first few years of the project. China also claimed that the United States had stated that the Chinese would be considered invaders if they tried to dock with the station without permission. China, India, and several other countries withdrew from the International Space Agency.
Tensions rose between the countries of the world, but nothing could stop the momentum that the Freedom Station incident had caused, all the world needed was an excuse to start a war. The excuse soon presented itself through a simple accident. The Russian complement of Freedom Station had already arrived at the station and was waiting for the American complement, when a routine diagnostic caused a mysteriously explosion that destroyed the Chinese module of the station. The Chinese were furious; they had spent billions of dollars and years of research to build the laboratory module, and claimed that the Russians had destroyed it on purpose as a warning to the Chinese. Allegations of sabotage were thrown around in the United Nations Security Council and on May 1, 1996, the Chinese declared war on the Russian Republic.
China quickly consolidated its forces and declared the existence of the Sino-South East Asian Alliance. Members of the alliance included North Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and nearly all other countries in South East Asia, with the exception of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. The Chinese-led alliance quickly launched its armies against Taiwan and South Korea and before the end of the second month both countries were firmly under the control of the Chinese. The United States of America, living up to its position of defense for both South Korea and Taiwan, declared war on what became known as the Sino Alliance.
With the United States distracted in the Far East, several Arab countries in the Middle East declare war on Israel and several neighboring former Russian Republics. As part of their war effort, these countries cut the world off from all oil produced they produced and force the surrender of all European, American, or Canadian forces within their borders. This sent oil prices skyrocketing and world economy began to collapse, but many western countries instituted special war bonds to keep their economies running for the war efforts. To assist Israel, NATO organized an expeditionary force and sent it to the Middle East through the Persian Gulf, but the fleet was intercepted by a carrier group from India. Not wishing to start a war with India at this stage, NATO withdrew its expeditionary force from the Indian Ocean. The United States pulls most of its forces into the Pacific Ocean to wage its war against the Sino Alliance, but it has little chance of defeating the huge Chinese army.
Africa descends into chaos as several countries, bolstered by military arms sold by the former Soviet Union, declare war on their neighbors. Old tribal feuds, hidden for decades, resurface as leaders feel that the present is a perfect time for revenge.
As the interests of the United States pull it away from the interests of the European countries, NATO becomes sidetracked and the European countries give their full support into the European Union. As part of this new support, a common currency is brought into effect, as is the European Union Reaction Force.
China launches its invasion of Siberia and quickly captures Vladivostok. The degradation of the Russian military is exposed, as more troops run away from the Chinese army then try to fight it. China contains Japan by blockading the island by sea and constantly attacking the island with its massive air force. The United States is forced to operate further and further away from China, as the island bases it maintained since World War II are systematically destroyed by long range cruise missile attacks from China. Fortunately, the United States is using its own cruise missiles to directly attack China’s industrial centers.
In September 1996, India joined the Sino Alliance and brought its army to bear against the nuclear-armed Pakistan. For unknown reasons, the government of Pakistan surrenders to the invading Indians without much of a fight. India proceeded to invade Bangladesh and Sri Lanka before moving its army into Kazakhstan. The Indian navy completely takes control of the Indian Ocean, forcing the remaining NATO ships to fall back into the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The European Union forms an alliance with the Russian Republic and deploys a large portion of the EU Reaction Force into Siberia to slow the advancing Chinese army. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of their troops, the United States, in conjunction with the Japanese and the Canadian, develop several prototype power armor suits, although many of these crude designs are eventually copied by the Sino Alliance.
After successfully completing their invasion of Israel, the Arab countries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon form the United Arab Empire. The United Arab Empire proceeds to invade the rest of the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, which requires only two months to finish. Afterwards, the United Arab Empire turns its attention against Europe and begins its invasion through Turkey and into the Balkans. The European Union recalls much of its force back from Russia to stop the invasion from the Middle East.
Advances in technology continue to shift the war in favor of the United States and the European Union. The European Union Reaction Force easily overpowers the invasion from the Middle East and successfully forces the United Arab Empire to pull back its troops. The EU is once again able to send its forces, now equipped with power armor designed in the United States and Canada, into Russia to slow the advancing Chinese army.
Through superior technology and tactics, the Americans are able to gain total supremacy in the Indian and Pacific Ocean, allowing them to increase their raids against the industrial centers of India, China, and the United Arab Empire. While the Chinese army is slowing in central Siberia and the Indian army is heavily engaged in Kazakhstan, the Americans are continuing to systematically destroy the industrial capabilities of both countries, and it is beginning to have a serious impact on their abilities to continue the war.
With the decreasing support from their industries back in China, the Chinese army is forced to stop its advance and begin to fall back as supplies begin running out along the Siberian front. While not quite the same feet as the storming of the beach at Normandy, the Americans and Canadians succeed in landing an army in northern Russia, which places the army behind the main Chinese army. The American and Canadian army is able to liberate Vladivostok and begin an invasion of northern China, where it finally meets resistance from hastily assembled Chinese reserves.
In February 1998, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor is successfully tested in Princeton University in the United States of America. This new reactor will allow for more powerful military equipment to be built, from tanks and airplanes to ocean ships and power armor. Seeing increasing opportunities for cooperation, the European Union, the Unites States, and Canada begin to coordinate their military actions through NATO.
The second-generation power armor troops from NATO land in Sri Lanka and capture it from the occupying Indian forces. This, coupled with disastrous defeats in Kazakhstan, forced the Indian government to reevaluate its position in the Sino Alliance and it begins to seek a way to end its involvement in the war. The main Chinese army fell back far enough that it had to engage the advancing Russian / European Union army and the American / Canadian army simultaneously.
It appears that at the current rate, the Sino Alliance would have been forced out of Siberia, but whether the advancing armies would have been able to successfully invade China itself is highly questionable. Even without the actual invasion of China, many soldiers had been killed in the three-year conflict, but nowhere near as bad as the wars that continued to tear Africa apart.
What changed the course of the war and the destiny of humankind was a strange visitor from the stars. It passed through the atmosphere above the east coast of the United States and proceeded on a low orbit trajectory towards its final resting place on Macross Island. In its wake, every area that it passed over was devastated; the visitor accomplished in a single night what the Sino Alliance could not accomplish after three years of missile attacks. Hundreds of thousands of people died in the United States as the result of atmospheric disturbances, floods, and earthquakes that followed the visitor during its journey across the sky. The visitor leveled entire cities and the chaos that followed led to the deaths of thousands more.
An immediate ceasefire was called and World War III suddenly ended as the United Nations Security Council learned of a worse danger, a danger from the stars. But in the seeds of the armistice that ended World War III, laid the seeds for many new conflicts that would haunt the world struggling to rebuild and prepare for an invasion from above. As part of the armistice the Sino Alliance withdrew from Russia and Mongolia, but China still retained direct control over Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Also, India withdrew from the Sino Alliance and all of territory that it had conquered, which included Pakistan, Bangladesh, and most of central Asia. Many of countries in central Asia, already devastated by war, turned to the United Arab Empire to provide them with protection. The only change in the United Arab Empire, besides gaining new territory in central Asia, is the liberation of Israel and the formation of Palestine from the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
After the end of the Cold War, great efforts were made to integrate the world together in a process known as globalization. The end result would be that all parts of the world would be integrated economically so that no one would want for anything. Unfortunately, after only a few years of globalization it became apparent that this would not occur at least for many years. Many companies shut down factories in prosperous counties and relocated them to poor countries where worker wages were lower and less money had to be spent on environmental protection or safety regulations.
This process was mostly put on hold during the Third World War, but it still continued in certain areas. For example, North American companies, cut off from the Asian market, turned to South America, Central America, and Mexico to establish low cost facilities, and over the course of the war, the general technological level in those areas rose dramatically. This culminated with the completion of one of the most advanced semiconductor factory in Costa Rica.
After the armistice that ended the World War III was signed and the true nature of the Visitor was revealed to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, serious talks began about creating a permanent defense force that would be controlled by the United Nations. This plan met with immediate problems, as countries that faced each other in war only months earlier attempted to decide how such a defense force would be controlled. After a long period of negotiations between the Sino Alliance, the European Union, the United States, Canada, and a coalition representing the countries of South America, a new international body called the United Earth Government (UEG) was established. This body would be responsible for controlling the new United Earth Defense Force, which would be used to protect the Earth from the alien invaders. The first Prime Minister of the UEG was a former democratic senator from the United States named Harlan J. Niven.
One of the major differences between the United Nations and the United Earth Government was its organization. The United Nations was organized as a collection of governments that were working together to create international committees, whereas the UEG was organized as a government, with a two tiered legislative body and headed by a Prime Minister. The first level of the body was called the Assembly and consisted of 3141 seats that would be distributed based on population to every country in the world with a population over one million and the second level was called the Senate and each country with a population of over a million was given two seats and each country with a population less then one million was given only one seat. This two-tiered system created some balance, because together, the Sino Alliance and India held a third of the seats in the Assembly, but only four seats in the Senate. The only restriction on who could serve in the Assembly and the Senate is that they must have authority to make independent action. This restriction greatly sped up decisions within the United Earth Government. The Prime Minister was chosen from the Senate, but had to be approved by the Assembly. How the members of the Assembly and Senate were chosen was up to each individual country, but the disposition of seats in the Assembly was calculated every five years, corresponding with the global census held in the years 2000, 2005, and 2010 CE and a new Prime Minister was to be chosen at that time. The Prime Minister was chosen by first establishing a list of candidates, each of which must have been nominated by at least four other countries, and then having an election to choose the top two candidates, and then finally a second election was held to determine which of the two would become the new Prime Minister. Prime Ministers were only allowed to serve a single term, although former Prime Ministers could remain in the Senate for as long as their country of origin chose to allow it.
During this time, the United Earth Defense Force was beginning construction on the Apollo Moon Base in 2000 and Mars Base Sara in 2001, and the decision had been made to use the Visitor, now called the Alien Space Ship-1 (ASS-1), as the flagship for a space fleet to protect the Earth and restoration efforts were beginning and a military base and a community for workers had been built on Macross Island, where the ship had crashed. Also, the United Earth Defense Force had acquired plans to build space ships capable of combat from the United States. These plans would eventually evolve into the Oberth Class Space Destroyer. Among the other technological discoveries related to the ASS-1 were the ground-combat anti-giant weaponry, or “Destroid System,” and the all-purpose variable combat system, which would eventually become the Veritech Fighters. Major construction efforts by the United Earth Defense Force include their headquarters in a remote part of Alaska, and the Grand Cannons, which were located in Alaska, Australia, Brazil, the Central African Republic, and Luna (the moon) and began construction in 2002, 2004, 2004, 2005, and 2006 respectively.
Within a span of a year, the UEG had established its presence on the world and built its headquarters in Sweden. The United Earth Defense Force was quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with and was spreading across the globe to ensure that every place was protected from alien invaders. But everything was not as perfect as it appeared to be. Across the globe those that had battled against globalization, fought against losing their independence as a country, and fought against becoming friends with those they considered to be their enemies, found that they all faced the same entity, the United Earth Government.
As these groups began joining together and staging protests, rallies, and demonstrations, a movement known as the Anti-Unification Movement was established. This movement was never a single group, but many groups sometimes working independently, sometimes working separately, and sometimes even working against each other. The movement located places in the world where they could gather and use as staging areas, these areas were in Africa and in the Middle East.
The United Arab Empire refused to participate in the United Earth Government in any way and sent its military might against Islamic countries of Northern and Central Africa, such as Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, that also refused to join the UEG. The rest of Africa was still struggling with chaos and many refused to join the United Earth Government if it meant working with their enemies. To combat the situation in Africa, the UEG authorized the use of the United Earth Defense Force to invade the most violent and aggressive countries in hopes of convincing the weaker countries that joining the UEG was better then any other alternative. Unfortunately, the UEG was divided on how to deal with the United Arab Empire, so instead of military action, a trade embargo was established. Unfortunately, the trade embargo created a perfect place for the Anti-Unification Movement to establish a presence outside of UEG jurisdiction.
Outside of the efforts of the United Arab Empire, three major anti-unification groups were formed and laid the foundation for the peak of the movement, which would occur in 2005. The first group, known as Liberty Front, was an amalgamation of several militia groups in the United States and it was well supplied by dissident members of the United States military. The second group had no official name, but it was an ultra-violent faction of the Chinese military that broke from the People’s Liberation Army following the end of the Third World War. The group, under the command of Colonel Long, was able to leave the Sino Alliance with a full strength brigade, including tanks, helicopters, and soldiers, and escaped into what was once Afghanistan, but now under the control of the United Arab Empire. The third group, and perhaps the most important, operated from deep within the European Union. The group, known only as the Black Group, consisted of many high ranked political figures throughout the European Union, and with their influence to secretly organize riots and protests.
The first major action of the Anti-Unification Movement was staged in May of 2002, when a special-forces company from the United Arab Empire landed on Macross Island and attempted to destroy the ASS-1. The battle lasted several days, and while the soldiers were able to cause severe damage to the facilities around the ship, all of their efforts to actually damage the ASS-1 failed and they were eventually captured or killed by the United Earth Defense Force. This attack created a huge political nightmare for the United Arab Empire; the United Earth Government had evidence that the United Arab Empire had engaged in an act of war. The danger that the UEG was invade hung over the United Arab Empire for many months after the incident, but no invasion occurred as the United Earth Defense Force was still too occupied in Africa.
In 2003, the United Earth Defense Force established a special sub-division called the Robotech Defense Force (RDF), which would command all military forces that utilized the advanced alien technology, called Robotechnology. The RDF would control the new Destroids, the variable fighters, and even the space fleet, but the United Earth Defense Force retained command over the Grand Cannon projects and all suits of power armor.
While 2004 saw a rise in violence against the United Earth Government, such as riots in Kazakhstan, Europe, and North America, and several military actions in Africa by the United Arab Empire, the Anti-Unification Movement peaked in 2005. During the month of January, the United Arab Empire sent another military force against Macross Island, and while this group was also destroyed, it cause much more damage to the island and the facilities located there. This battle also marked the first use of Destroids in a real combat situation. In April, 2005, just prior to the election for a new Prime Minister, the current Prime Minister, Harlan J. Niven, was assassinated by people working for the Black Group. Niven’s chosen successor, Robert A. Rhysling from Britain, announced that the United Earth Defense Force would not rest until all anti-unification terrorists were stopped.
In July, 2005, Liberty Front began a campaign against the United States government. The group was responsible for attacks against military, political, and commercial targets in over 30 states and is directly responsible for the deaths of thousands. Because of secret internal support for Liberty Front within the US Government, the President called the RDF into America to deal with the terrorist group.
By September, 2005, threats from several anti-unification groups forced the UEG to shut down Mars Base Sara to protect the population of the base. Much of the population of the base was brought onboard the Oberth, the first Oberth Class Space Destroyer, for the journey back to Earth. Unfortunately, the Black Group orchestrated the hijacking of the third Oberth Class Destroyer, the Koroljev, and used it to destroy the Oberth while it was still carrying the people from Mars Base Sara. On its way back to Earth, the Koroljev was attacked and destroyed by the Goddard, under the command of Captain Gloval, who would go on to command the ASS-1 / SDF-1. Suddenly exposed, nearly all members of the Black Group were quickly arrested by the United Earth Defense Force. The European Union also organized a massive internal investigation to clean out any remaining elements of the Black Group.
Following closely after the incident involving the Koroljev, the United Arab Empire launched an attack against the incomplete Grand Cannon II in Australia and the Grand Cannon IV in the Central African Republic. Both unfinished cannons were destroyed, but the United Arab Empire suffered huge riots protesting the current violence against the United Earth Government. Many groups operating against the regime in control of the United Arab Empire also began receiving secret aid from the United Earth Defense Force.
After many early successes in the United States, Liberty Front was forced into hiding by the Robotech Defense Force. Realizing that Liberty Front had supporters within the government, the President of the United States declared martial law. During the first few months of 2006, the President cleaned the government and congress of all those supporting Liberty Front or other anti-unification terrorists. By June, 2006, Liberty Front had been disbanded and its leaders were captured. Soon after, the President of the United States ordered an end to martial law and resigned from office.
Showing himself for the first time since he abandoned the Sino Alliance, Colonel Long began a three month long siege of Macross Island starting in April of 2006. His forces had occupied nearly all of the surrounding islands and established bases of operations for their attacks. Long’s campaign against the United Earth Defense Force and the Robotech Defense Force almost succeed, except for the presence of the CVS-101 Prometheus and the SLV-101 Daedalus, which allowed the United Earth Defense Force to systematically capture each of Long’s island bases. By the end of the siege, Colonel Long was killed and his forcers were captured or destroyed by the combined efforts of the Earth Defense Force and the Robotech Defense Force.
In September 2006, the last elements of the Black Group, now completely cut off from all support and hunted by the European Union and the United Earth Government, traveled to the Russian Republic with a small tactical nuclear weapon. The weapon was detonated in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, and killed hundreds of thousands of people.
By the end of 2006, the last remaining countries in Africa that were rebelling against the UEG put down their weapons and negotiations begin to bring them peacefully into the Organization of African Unity and the United Earth Government.
Throughout 2007 the United Arab Empire struggled with internal dissident elements that were opposing the increasingly oppressive regime. Slowly, country after country separated from the United Arab Empire and declared its independence. Most of these countries sought immediate admittance into the United Earth Government and the Islamic League was formed within the United Earth Government. By the end of the 2007, the United Arab Empire had completely collapsed and from the ashes of the empire came many of the countries that had originally formed it.
The Global Civil War always consisted of two separate parts that have become merged into a single event in the eyes of history. The first part, World War III, was never actually stopped, and many sides were unsatisfied with the results of the war, but found a way to release these feelings through the Anti-Unification Movement, which forms the second part. It is strange to see, but the Anti-Unification Movement was almost successful in pulling apart the UEG. Nearly all militaries on Earth contributed to the movement, but never at the same time.
If it had not been for the Zentraedi Holocaust, which killed 98% of all Humans on Earth, the United Earth Government might have collapsed within a few years of the completion of the SDF-1. As we see from events following the start of the First Robotech War, even the United Earth Defense Force gained a life of its own and was positioning itself for a coup d’état to stay in power if it felt threatened. The only international organization that was successful was the RDF, which had NATO working side by side with former members of the Chinese, Indian, and Russian militaries. It is therefore fortunate that the RDF is one of the few organizations that withstood the Zentraedi Holocaust and served as a model for a world struggling to survive.