In the coming era, as Earth's population swells, humanity constructs enormous orbital habitats arranged in clusters called "Sides." With the privileged few on Earth pushing most people into space, dissent begins to grow. In Universal Century 0079, the cluster Side 3 declares itself the Principality of Zeon and initiates a secession war against the Earth Federation. Although possessing only a sliver of the Federation"s resources, Zeon rapidly seizes advantage by deploying massive humanoid mecha known as mobile suits. Among Zeon"s top pilots is Char Aznable, a shadowy masked figure dubbed the "Red Comet." When his squad encounters the Federation"s nascent prototype mobile suit, the Gundam, on Side 7, they launch a savage strike. Amuro Ray, son of the prototype"s creator, pilots the Gundam and repels the Zeon onslaught. Confronted directly by Char, Amuro is compelled to escape the colony aboard a Federation vessel.