Many, many posts ago, I theorised that the bugs (for want of a more accurate term) in M3 may well be connected to the bugs in Macross frontier.
Can anybody remember if there was ever an explanation given as to what exactly the bugs in M3 are? My memories of the M3 story are rather sketchy, as it's years since I last played the game (I should dig my Dreamcast out of storage).
Having a private (non-UN Spacy) military force could be the reason why they have the VF-171 as the main fighter rather than an advanced version of either the VF-19 or VF-22, which may still be restricted to UN Spacy use only and/or too expensive for a non-UN colony fleet to buy in sufficient numbers.
It also leaves the door open for an apperance later in the show by the VF-19 or VF-22, should the UN military make an appearance.
Graham