Zeon Zum Deikun dies in the middle of an independence movement speech; in the fallout, Degwin Sodo Zabi continues to manoeuvre to seize control of Side 3 as Deikun's orphaned children face troubling destinies.

Three years after their escape to Earth, Casval and Artesia are once again targeted by the Zabi family; Side 3 is renamed the Autonomous Republic of Zeon, where development of a new weapon begins.

Casval enrols in the Zeon's Space Defense Military Academy using the false identity of Char Aznable; he develops a friendship with his classmate Garma, a Zabi heir.

After the Dawn Rebellion, Char moves to Earth and meets a mysterious girl named Lalah Sune; meanwhile, Amuro's father, Tem Ray, is working on the Gundam development project.

The Battle of Loum begins as Zeon's forces attack Earth in full force. Char distinguishes himself as a Zeon pilot while the whole world gets drawn into the conflict.

A decisive battle between Zeon and the Earth Federation begins at Side 5, or Loum; though the Zeon forces are outnumbered, their secret plan suddenly turns the tide of battle.