Although Hiro Ishi was several years younger than Jack Archer, the two were classmates at the Robotech Academy where they became fast friends admiring the skills of the other. After graduation, Hiro was assigned to a Destroid Tomahawk onboard the SDF-1 and was subsequently stranded onboard during the accidental hyperspace fold. While Jack remained on Earth, Hiro was defending the SDF-1 against constant Zentradi attacks. These initial experiences tainted his view of the Zentraedi and viewed them as little more than animals not deserving of any mercy.