Dana Sterling - Third Robotech War

Third Robotech War

Zor Prime's death takes a heavy emotional toll on Dana as she had fallen in love with him. In addition, Rolf Emerson, Dana's godfather, is also killed in the final battle against the Robotech Masters. This combined with the massive devastation and loss of life caused by the Second Robotech War, to be followed by only more devastation when the Invid invade less than a year later, causes Dana to become somber and pessimistic and a pale shadow of her former cheerful self.

It is believed that she and other survivors of the 15th squadron joined in the hopeless fight against the Invid invasion in 2031. Subsequently, it is believed that Dana joined the underground resistance against the Invid occupation. However, the exact sequence of events remains unclear:

• In the comic Robotech: Love and War, Dana, Bowie Grant and Angelo Dante (and possibly other survivors of the 15th squadron) are briefly seen taking off in Jonathan Wolfe's spaceship with the intent of contacting the Robotech Expeditionary Forces in 2031, apparently just as the Invid invasion begins.
• In the decanonized Jack McKinney novel "Rubicon" (book 17 of the Robotech series), Dana, Louie Nichols, Bowie Grant, Angelo Dante, Sean Phillips, Marie Crystal, Musica and Allegra acquire Jonathan Wolfe's ship, travel to Tirol, and meet up with the Robotech Expeditionary Forces in 2033.
• In the Wildstorm comic, Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, at least Dana and Louie Nichols reach Space Station Liberty.

During her brief appearance in the Prelude comic, a still subdued Dana reacts strangely when she meets Tirolian Scientist (and Sentinels member) Rem onboard Space Station Liberty. Her mostly non-verbal behavior indicated that she recognized him, but this is only because, like Zor Prime, Rem is another clone of Zor. When Rem asks if Dana and he have met before, Dana simply states "In another lifetime." It is also apparent, again through non-verbal behavior, that there is friction between Dana and her younger sister Maia Sterling, who was born in space during the REF's 22-year mission. When Dana and Maia meet, they simply stare at each other for a long moment until Dana walks away, without speaking a word, with a sad look on her face. The reason for the tension between the two sisters is unknown. One explanation is that Miriya died during Maia's birth (this explanation would also explain why there is no mention of Miriya in the Prelude comic.) Another is that Dana is angry over the fact that, after being left behind on Earth to endure a difficult childhood, her parents then had another daughter and in her mind; she had been "replaced" by Maia. Dana is not seen in the movie Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and her fate is presently unknown.