Ivano Gunther was a United Forces Advisor assigned to rendezvous with the Blue Rhinoceros expeditionary force investigating the fourth planet in the Varauta system, suspected of holding Protoculture secrets or descendants. Upon the team's arrival, they discovered Ivano had been possessed by an alien Protodeviln entity, transforming him into a host body under its control.

Possessed Ivano became instrumental in the Protodeviln's subjugation of the entire Blue Rhinoceros team. The captured personnel formed the core of the Varauta Army, or Supervision Army, which later attacked the Macross 7 fleet. Brainwashing mechanisms within the helmets of possessed soldiers, including those derived from Ivano's unit, enabled their control and deployment as "vampire soldiers" tasked with extracting Spiritia energy from victims.

Ivano's compromised status marks humanity's first contact with the Protodeviln threat within the Varauta cluster. His transformation exemplifies the Protodeviln's modus operandi—using possessed hosts to assimilate others. This event directly precipitated the Spiritia-draining attacks against the Macross 7 fleet.