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Once the Earth’s population had reached startling totals threatening the extinction of mankind, the Earth Federation had embarked on a bold space colonization program. Eventually, most people were living in colonies in space. Then, one colony rebelled against the controlling bureaucracy that the Earth Federation had become. In response, the UEF sent a new weapon, called the mobile suit, so put down the rebellion. Once the UEF had exercised such force, all the colonies joined in the fight against the reigning federation. The all-out war between the Earthnoids and Spacenoids became very fierce. During the extremely destructive war, many people and colonies were lost in space. Also, a new step in human evolution was taking place. People called Newtypes - people with enhanced intuition and perception and eventually almost emphatic powers, started appearing. The colonies and the Earth Federation then used the Newtypes as weapons of war. The UEF finally brought out its secret weapon. The Mobile Suit Gundam, the most powerful of mobile suits, to combat the threat. In response, the Spacenoids dropped colonies on Earth, destroying almost all life on the planet, making it inhospitable to live there. Ten billion of inhabitants were lost. This Great War had no winners. Everyone lost. Not only did the Great War eliminate most of the civilian population, it also took care of most of the newtypes who fought in it and their high-tech toys. Only one genuine newtype is known to exist now - the insipid waif Tifa Adiel. With several factions chasing after her in hopes of exploiting her newtype powers, this shy fifteen-year-old is the spark that ignites GUNDAM X's plot.
One of the first to join the pursuit is fifteen-year-old hero Garrod Ran, a wisecracking hotshot with a fanny-pack full of gadgets. Initially hired by one of Tifa's pursuers to recapture her from the piratical "Vulture" group, he soon finds himself on the lam with the drippy newtype. In short order, Tifa leads him to the resting-place of the eponymous GUNDAM X, one of the mightiest mobile suits of the great war. With Tifa at hand to advise him, Garrod is able to fend off Vulture's own war-surplus GUNDAMs and make his getaway. Having escaped both Vulture and Garrod's unsavory employer, the two teens must then contend with everyone else. Entire armies of mobile suits converge on the GUNDAM X and the desperately-sought newtype waif, and Tifa resorts to using the GUNDAM X's ultimate weapon to get them out of this jam. Using her telepathic powers, Tifa contacts a long-dormant microwave broadcast array on the lunar surface. As the moon rises over the horizon, a beam of broadcast power strikes the GUNDAM X, charging up its "satellite cannon." Used to destroy falling colonies during the great war, this weapon's effect on the attacking armies and the surrounding landscape is most dramatic. Unfortunately, the strain is too much for Tifa, and the listless newtype falls into a coma. The GUNDAM X is captured by Vulture's enigmatic leader, Jamil Neate, and Garrod is locked up aboard Jamil's land battleship "Frieden". Like it or not, he and the Vulture crew are going to become very well acquainted. This may be for the best, since they're now being stalked by a foe more formidable than any they've faced before... |
