During the First Robotech War, the Robotech Masters remained unknown to humanity, who believed that the Zentraedi were their only concern. However, they became known to the RDF following the Zentraedi's defeat. Disappointed by the failure of their minions to recover the Protoculture Matrix aboard the SDF-1, they decided to handle matters personally, and prepared to depart for Earth. (Macross Saga: Robotech Masters.) During this time, their supply of Protoculture began to run dangerously low as the war with the Invid dragged on.