Al Shahal has fallen to the Windermere Kingdom and all remaining forces still loyal to the New United Government gather on Ragna, which is their final line of defense. Knowing that the Windermereans' plan can only work with all Protoculture ruins operational, the Government makes preparations to destroy the ruins on Ragna, despite the possible consequences to the planet's environment. As the population evacuates, the members of Chaos convince the military to delay their plan to blow up the ruins as they take off with their fortress, the Macross Elysion, to commence Operation Einherjar (オペレーション・エインヘリャル Operēshon Einheryaru) confront the enemy forces.