It is year 71 of the Cosmic Era. The Naturals, unmodified humans who comprise the Earth Alliance, are at war with the Coordinators, a race of genetically modified beings. The Naturals have developed new Gundam mobile suits to aid them in the fight. Coordinator Kira Yamamoto has been working on the neutral colony where the Gundam suit are being manufactured. When his fellow Coordinators lead a raid to destroy the factories producing the suits, Kira finds himself in the strange position of piloting one of these new enemy weapons.