One year has elapsed since the cessation of the conflict between Earth and its colonies in After Colony 196. Heero, Duo, Trowa, and Quatre bid adieu to their Gundams and eject them towards the sun. Relena Darlian has now become the deputy minister of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. Unfortunately, as the Gundam pilots settle into a peaceful existence on Earth, Relena is taken hostage and a fresh menace arises, led by Marimeia Khushrenada - the offspring of the deceased dictator Treize Khushrenada and the inheritor of the Barton Foundation. Adding more complexity to the situation, Wufei, the pilot of the Gundam Nataku, has joined this faction. The Gundam pilots must recover their mobile suits and re-enter combat in order to thwart Marimeia's army's endeavor to attain total rule.