Rodriguez was a Colonel assigned to Mars Base One with Jenkins and Karl Rieber and was the officer in charge. Two years later, they tested the new Reflex Furnace, which attracted the attention of a Zentraedi gunship led by Krohn. A Cyclops was deployed, which targeted the base's defenses and life support systems. The Cyclops was chased off by the Oberth, and the staff evacuated in a shuttle. Krohn's ship returned and destroyed the Earth starship and the shuttle, stranding Rieber and other survivors. They were able to channel the power of the Reflex Furnace into a powerful blast, destroying the Zentraedi warship. (Mars Base One)