mention of shin

When did THAT happen? Roy was never shot down, was he? I only remember him being shot in the side of the cockpit by that blue-haired Zentraedi woman, but he still flew home to base and then he died of his injuries in his apartment at the SDF-1. Right?

Anyway, regarding "Macross Zero", I believe that the Alien Bird/Sara, by destroying the Anti-UN submarine boat, broke the initiative and resolve of the Anti-UN war effort. Maybe the "Space bird" project was their last chance, and after this incident there was presumably peace.

What I don't understand is how Shin could fly into space without a ship that had fold-space tech. Could it be that Sara took hold of him and pulled him with her, after she had steadied the controls of his jet?

Roy was never shot down. He landed in Macross City to show Rick how to use his Veritech. Captain Kramer was the ranking officer when Roy detached formation to go help Rick. Roy wasn't just Skull Squadron CO, he was the CAG (Commander of Air Group) for the entire SDF-1 AND the incorporated fighters aboard the Prometheus. Meaning he was in charge of MULTIPLE squadrons. Every squad has a CO, but Roy was the big boss.

Roy took over the Skull Squadron after it was wiped out when the SDF-1 landed in 1999. They were out on patrol and all of the other pilots except Roy were shot down during the air battle with the "other side" or destroyed by the Blast Wave of the SDF-1 hitting Macross Island. Roy was the sole survivor of his Carrier Group (along with Admiral Hayes *Lisa's dad*)and of the Skull Squadron.