Robotech

In the fictional Robotech

Robotech

Robotech is an 85-episode science fiction anime adaptation produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and first released in the United States in 1985...

universe, the Robotech Masters are a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of humanoid

Humanoid

A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...

s
who mostly appear as triumvirate

Triumvirate

A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...

s, native to Tirol

Tirol (fictional planet)

In the fictional Robotech universe, Tirol is the homeworld of the Robotech Masters, who are the leaders of their race - the Tirolians, and their bioengineered Zentraedi troops. Tirol is the third moon distant from the blue-green, Jupiter-sized planet Fantoma, whose large ring system is extremely...

, a moon of the planet Fantoma. According to the Jack McKinney

Jack McKinney (writer)

Jack McKinney was a pseudonym used by American authors James Luceno and Brian Daley before the latter's death.As well as adapting Robotech into novel form, they were also responsible for the Sentinels series which continued to expand the Robotech Universe...

 novelizations (which are not considered canon

Canon (fiction)

In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...

 by some), a Tirolian scientist named Zor discovered the Invid homeworld, and the mysterious Flower of Life

Flower of Life (fiction)

Flower of Life is a term used in several animanga series.-Robotech:In the storyline of Harmony Gold's Robotech, the Flower of Life is a plant species originating from the planet Optera, where it was used primarily as a food staple for the native Invid species...

. This discovery led to the development of Protoculture, a source of tremendous power and unique qualities. Their imperial machinations lead them to turn their cloned

Cloning

Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...

 Zentraedi

Zentradi

The are a fictional, militastic race of alien, humanoid giants and often the main antagonist in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross anime series and its Robotech adaptation....

 miners into a formidable military force, used to steal the Flower of Life from the Invid

Invid (Robotech)

The Invid are a fictional alien race in the Robotech storyline. They appear in the New Generation portion of the series, which uses the animation of the unrelated Japanese series Genesis Climber MOSPEADA, so their on-screen behavior and appearance matches the antagonists of that series, called the...

, defoliate Optera

Optera

In the Robotech storyline, Optera is the homeworld of the race known as the Invid. The Invid lived in peace and harmony with their Flower of Life for millennia until the arrival of Tirolian scientist Zor. Zor seduced their female ruler, the Regis, who revealed certain secrets of the Flower of Life...

 and conquer the Local Group of star systems.

With Zor's theft of the SDF-1

SDF-1 Macross

The SDF-1 Macross is a fictional interstellar transforming spacecraft from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, an anime science fiction series that aired in Japan in 1982–1983, and its American adaptation Robotech...

 and the destruction of Dolza's fleet in the First Robotech War, the Masters were left critically short on protoculture, and were forced to invade Earth in 2029 to reclaim the last remaining Protoculture Matrix, thus initiating the Second Robotech War.

The structure of the Robotech Masters' society is hierarchical. At the bottom are clones, who carry out the day to day operations of the civilian part of the society. These clones are triumvirs. The clone pilots of the Bioroids, as they are not independently intelligent, may be said to be even lower than civilian clones, except that they are valued more highly because of their military capability. Bioroid pilots do not appear to be triumvirs. Above the civilian clones and Bioroid pilots are more advanced triumvir clones such as the Terminators, who function as police, and the pilots of the Red and Green Bioroids. Into this group as a subcategory of high rank fall the pilots of the Invid-enhanced Bioroids. Above them, and at the first level of Robotech Master Society that might be considered equivalent to nobility, are the Clone Masters. These triumvirs are responsible for managing the day to day operations of the Robotech Masters' great vessels and the behavior of the civilian and military clones.

There are usually three or more triumvirates of Clone Masters aboard each ship. Above them in prestige, if not in influence, are the Science Masters, who strive to become Robotech Masters through their knowledge of protoculture and technology. There are usually two triumvirates of Science Masters per ship. Equal to the Science Masters, but less powerful in society than the Clone Masters, are the Mistresses of the Cosmic Harp, whose duty it is to keep the civilian and military clones docile through their music. Usually there is only one triumvirate of the Mistresses per ship. Above them all are the Robotech Masters, who rule with iron fists and do not tolerate disobedience or failure. There is only one triumvirate of each per ship. Above even the Masters are the Robotech Elders -- the leaders of their race. There is only one triumvirate of Elders in all of Robotech Master Society, and the Masters themselves fear and respect them.

The most frequently seen triumvirate of Robotech Masters were a trio of almost identical looking balding, severe looking older men who distinguished themselves from each other by different color robes. All three members of this trio was voiced by the late Bill Capizzi

Bill Capizzi

Bill Capizzi was a voice actor who is also known as Bill Capeze and Bill Kapezi. He was born in North Hollywood, California.-Anime:* Digimon Adventure - Frigimon* G-Force: Guardians of Space - Galactor...

.

The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross

The story in which the Robotech Masters appear in the Robotech universe is originally from the anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 series Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, in which they were referred to as the Zor Supreme Commanders. The Zor are a race who serve as the antagonists for the Southern Cross army. The Zor were the former inhabitants of the planet Glorie, but had to evacuate, due to an apocalyptic war. Their advances in biotechnology surpass that of humanity, and the weapons they employ called "Bioroids" serve as a formidable enemy to the units of the Southern Cross. They operate in groups of three. Each member is responsible for one of three functions: information, decision, and action. As a whole, they present a powerful threat, but if one member is lost to the group, then they lose their stability, and become unable to function. Characteristically, the Zor are human in appearance, tall and slender with violet eyes, silvery hair, and pale skin.

The Zor have a symbiotic relationship with a flower native to Glorie, referred to as the "Protozor", which, like them, exist in trinities.

Adaptation of Seifriet Weiße

In Robotech, Seifretti Weiße of the anime Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross is adapted into Zor Prime

Zor Prime

Zor Prime is a fictional alien character from the Robotech universe, mapped onto the human character Seifriet Weiße from the Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross source material.-Fictional character biography:...

. Unlike Zor, who, in the Robotech adaption is one of the Robotech Masters — to be precise, a Tirolian scientist — Seifretti Weiße is a human pilot, who was captured and brainwashed by the Zor to become an informant. Other than this difference, Seifretti is the same as Zor. Like in Robotech, he is recaptured by Lana Isavia (a.k.a., Nova Satori), and his memories are examined for clues into the nature of the Zor. Later, his human mind begins to conflict with his Zor brainwashing, and he is nearly driven insane. But instead of breaking down mentally, he decides to take revenge on the Zor for their violation of his mind.

Clones or Androids?

The dialogue in various episodes of the Robotech Masters segments appeared to use the terms clones

Cloning

Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...

 and androids interchangeably. In the episode The Trap, Louie Nichols observed a tank of body parts in nutrient solution and identified them as spare parts for androids while noting that they were very realistic in appearance. However, Zor Prime and other citizens of the Robotech Masters society were clearly shown to be living organic humanoid beings. A nursery with infants was also seen aboard the Masters' ship, which is incongruous with androids as androids do not experience stages of maturity. This inconsistency is usually attributed to the scripts for various episodes were written and edited by multiple writers. Dana ironically after she captures a 'bio-android' and the alien pilot is obliterated after being examined completely, she realizes that, logically, a machine piloting a machine makes no sense, and calls this out, but her objections are dismissed. It's very possible that the idea the enemy pilots were constructs and not living beings was simply propaganda to 'de-humanize' the human looking invaders.