The year is 0079 of the Universal Century, the Earth Federation and its space colonies are engaged in an apocalyptic war. A rebellion among the enormous orbiting space colonies that house much of humanity pits the Principality of Zeon against the Earth Federation. The rebellious Principality of Zeon, using humanoid fighting machines called mobile suits, has all but vanquished the Federation. During a Zeon raid on his home satellite of Side 7, Amuro Ray stumbles into the cockpit of the Federation's top-secret weapon, the Gundam Mobile Suit RX-78. He successfully guides the giant robot and ignites a rivalry with Zeon ace pilot Char Aznable, a.k.a. the Red Comet. Now the Federation's last hope is the prototype mobile suit Gundam. When a twist of fate makes young civilian Amuro Ray the Gundam's pilot, his own battle begins - a struggle not only for the Federation's survival, but for his own.