[ANI] Ariel was a Invid Simulagent (e78.02:07), an evolutional experiment (or more accurately the prototype) for the Regis' new Invid society. She was the "first experiment in humanoid reconstruction" (e76.01:12) and used as a spy (e76.01:16) to be "placed among the people of Earth to learn their plans and report back" (e82.16:21). Unfortunately for the Regis, Ariel had apparently "malfunctioned" (e76.01:14) and failed to establish communications with the Invid collective (e76.01:20).

Ariel was inserted into the world at Point K under the watchful eye of a squad of Invid troopers. She had lost her memory due to her "unsupervised transformation" (e78.02:07) and ended up with Scott and his band of freedom fighters. She became "a living, breathing, walking blank" who "can't even remember what her purpose in life is" (e80.13:52).

The Invid Prince Corg and Princess Sera, whose origins paralleled Ariel's, were ordered by the Regis to make contact with her and "determine the cause of her dysfunction" (e76.01:25) so that it could be remedied and the "final phase of [the Invid's] domination" (e76.01:32) of Earth could begin. Sera was the first to make contact, and she demanded to know why Ariel "disobeyed the Regis" (e82.16:17). The stunned and disbelieving Ariel timidly shouted at her, "I'm not an Invid!" (e82.16:19), "you're lying, you must be" (e82.16:36). Before Sera could receive an answer from her, the battle drew closer and she withdrew.

After the next battle, Ariel received a cut on her left arm (e83.17:19). Scott along with the rest of his band saw it bleed green blood, proving to everyone, even Ariel herself, that she was an Invid. She ran off into the distance with her eyes flooded with tears (e83.18:04) and Scott stopped anyone from pursuing, adding that "that women proved that what a person is made of doesn't determine their spirit or the love they possess" (e83.18:28).

Ariel reappeared soon afterwards on the doorstep of Reflex Point right in the middle of the REF's final attack. She stood before the mecha of Corg and Sera and tried to get them to stand down, saying "this maddness must be stopped" (e84.05:53) and explaining that the humans were "only fighting to regain the land that is rightfully theirs, the land we're taking away from them" (e84.05:57). Corg brushed away her words, but they impacted Sera deeply (later in the battle she remembered them (e84.09:45) and saved Lancer's life).

Shortly after her encounter with Corg and Sera, Ariel transformed herself into radiant light and appeared to Scott and the rest of their friends (e84.10:38), summoning them all to the central core of Reflex Point, "the heart of the Invid civilization" (e84.11:46). Ariel believed she "was neither human nor completely Invid", but a "new form of life that [was] a blending of the two" (e84.11:37). With this new found understanding, she attempted to mediate between the Regis and the Robotech defenders, making the Regis understand that humans "are not animals or barbarians" but a "brave and noble people trying to protect what is theirs" (e84.16:53).

Corg interupted the debate and Scott fled in his Alpha Veritech to meet him in battle. Corg bested Scott and sent his mecha crashing onto the surface (e85.00:59) and Ariel quickly ran to his aid (e85.01:20). When Scott fell back into consciousness, Ariel was over him wiping his brow with a damp cloth (e85.04:34). She begged for him to stay (e85.04:56) and confessed her love to him (e85.05:22), but he told her "I'm capable of only one thing, fighting the Invid" (e85.05:14). Scott left Ariel behind and fled to his Beta fighter, saying a quiet appology to her in his mind.

When the dust of the final battle settled, Scott left Earth to search for Rick Hunter's missing ship (e85.19:39), and Ariel (though perhaps Marlene is a more appropriate name at this point) was last seen riding in an APC with Lunk and Annie (e85.19:24). -Macross

"I know it must sound strange, but I honestly don't remember." - Ariel (e80.13:45)

"We've traveled far, and yet we have learned nothing Sera, nothing." - Ariel to Sera (e83.06:25)