Chapter Text
Near the closing years of the Anno Domini era, an extraordinary event reshaped the fate of humanity. A colossal meteorite tore through the heavens, its descent marked by fiery brilliance as it smashed into the Earth with cataclysmic force. The impact was devastating, obliterating entire cities and claiming the lives of millions. The entire world reeled in shock as seismic waves rippled across the planet.
Eventually, the meteorite was soon pinpointed to have landed on South Ataria Island, and a multinational research team was rapidly assembled and dispatched to the site to investigate the enigmatic object. Their preliminary findings, compiled into a single detailed report, delivered news that sent tremors of fear and wonder throughout the global population. The object was not a natural meteorite—but an extraterrestrial spacecraft.
Dubbed the Alien Starship One—or A.S.S. 1—the discovery was an unprecedented revelation: we were no longer alone in the universe. Faced with the implications of this revelation, the governments of the world recognized the necessity of unity in the face of this revelation. However, it would be a long bloody road before humanity would reach that destination. But eventually, the Earth would fall under one government. It’d be then, following this dramatic shift that the vessel would begin to be disassembled and analyzed. Leading to technological advancement beyond the likes humanity has ever seen before.
This would in-turn lead into the era known as the “Universal Century”. Where humans can finally live out the dream of living amongst the stars. Space colonies would be constructed, becoming a new home for mankind. For nearly a century, the majority of mankind has called outer space home, where they are born, raised and return to the aether. The cluster of colonies furthest from the Earth, known as Side 3, proclaimed itself the Principality of Zeon and launched a full-scale war of independence against the U.N government and its military branch, the U.N Spacy. Initial fighting lasted over one month and saw both sides lose half their respective populations…
…
It appears in the end, some things never truly change. This war continues to rage on. Humanity’s new frontier becoming nothing more than another one of its battlefields…
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Amuro Ray wasn’t exactly what one would call a ‘dreamer’, if you were to ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he’d likely pause for a few seconds and quietly say something about working on computers or building things. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t particularly specific either—just enough to get people off his back. For someone like him, he lived life day-by-day where things simply happened as they’d had to. He was good with machines and programming, often tinkering with leftover electronics and appliances. He’d hack into servers out of boredom, and even built a fully-functional robot as a companion when he was only ten.
Despite these accomplishments, he never truly had any ambitions of his own. Likely, that was because of how he was part of a long family line of mechanical engineers. The feats he achieved—things that should have been points of pride—felt more like obligations, the inevitable result of carrying the Ray family name. After all, his father Tem Ray could only be described in no small part— as a genius. Having been employed by the military since before he was even born, the fact his father was qualified to live in space compared to those forcefully migrated served to demonstrate his high ranking status in the military.
It’s a shame then, how none of it impressed Amuro whatsoever. In fact, he only held contempt for it as it was due to his father’s dedication— no, it was more accurate to label it as an obsession with his work, that it ended up driving his family apart. He could vividly remember his mother’s face as he forced himself to walk away from his former life holding his father’s hand… Her face resolute yet tinged with sorrow, even now it still haunted him.
“I’m sorry, Amuro… I just can’t handle outer space.”
He remembered the church bells ringing as their family home, the house where he’d spent his childhood, disappeared from view. He had held his father’s hand, but it felt like he was walking away from everything he had ever known—his mother, the soil beneath his feet, the warmth of the sun. In the cold sterility of the lone space colony known as Side 7, he felt adrift.
Living in such a cramped, artificial habitat only deepened his bitterness. School was uneventful, his house eerily silent. His father was always away, buried in his work, and Amuro came home to nothing but empty rooms. That was why he built Haro—to stave off the crushing loneliness.
Not that he ever expressed these feelings. How could he? His father barely spoke to him, and even after Amuro befriended his kindhearted neighbor who cemented herself as a surrogate sister, Fraw Bow, he refused to burden her with his troubles. Fraw was the one who often brought him food, reminded him to take care of himself, and invited him to her family dinners. She was patient, but Amuro nonetheless felt shameless for imposing on the Bow family so much.
He was also no stranger to resentment from others in the colony. Some of the other kids at school, particularly Hayato Kobayashi, eyed him with slight disdain for his father’s role in developing military weapons inside their home. Amuro couldn’t blame them. Considering the devastation brought on by the war going on between the U.N Spacy and Principality Of Zeon, he couldn’t bring himself to hate them for feeling that way. Thus, Amuro was content to continue living as he did, until inevitably taking his father’s place in developing Variable Mobile Weapons for the U.N Spacy.
But that would all change sooner than he’d ever imagined, and it’d begin with a girl. Not just any girl, but perhaps arguably the most important person in this entire story.
Lynn Minmay.
Compared to the reclusive and attitude-ridden Amuro Ray, they could not be any further apart. Whereas Amuro was an introvert with an attitude, Minmay was the exact opposite. She had a lively personality, the kind that would make people of all types gravitate towards her. It was a sort of hypnotic charisma world leaders would kill to have. Amuro lacked determination, whereas she carried plenty. She dreamed of stardom, having spent her middle school years taking lessons on singing, dancing and acting. She aspired to be like Jamis Merin, the singer and actress hailing from Side 6. These skills formed from pure hard work only added to her appeal. One could almost mistake her as being naturally talented. In where Amuro preferred solitude, Minmay thrived in the spotlight.
“Nothing else matters to me, if I can’t sing I’d probably die.”
At the outset, she was the typical fun-loving and playful girl who effortlessly captured the hearts of her peers. It helped that she had only recently transferred to St. Valencia in Side 7, providing the daily life of its students with some much needed energy and excitement. The fact she originated from Earth in Chinatown, Yokohama, Japan mattered little to the bitter Spacenoids. Even punks like Kai Shiden, who was typically critical of the Earth-born elites, fell head over heels for her. She quickly formed a close-knit group of friends, including Fraw Bow. The kind who you’d see tag along with her seemingly everywhere she went akin to a pack of wolves following the leader. Yet, one could never describe her as an arrogant person in spite of her overwhelming popularity. Maybe it’s due to her determined nature making her such a hard worker, living in her aunt and uncle’s restaurant and serving the tables every evening— or the fact she didn’t view herself as perfect. She held insecurities over aspects of her body, much like everyone else. She disliked how her thighs were too wide or how, in her own words, she had a “baby face”.
So, what sort of relationship did she have with Amuro given they were in the same class? Well if you were to ask her, she’d say “Who?” and if you asked him, he’d say “What do you mean?” all the while blinking in confusion. Fitting, considering they have never once spoken to each other. Amuro was too much of a recluse and Minmay was a free-spirit, if they were to have ever gone on a date together— it’d be over in less than an hour. She’d leave, likely having gotten bored of his personality before he could even initiate a full conversation. Still, in spite of such an immeasurable distance, much like most boys in his class, he’d often admire her from afar. Even picturing her in his midnight fantasies. After all, Amuro was only a teenager, one dealing with raging hormones and feelings he yet lacked the maturity to grapple with in a reasonable manner.
…Thank goodness Fraw wasn’t brazen enough to enter his house in such times, though he should really consider taking back the keycard he lent her.
Nonetheless, reality never stopped moving in Side 7 and Amuro had come to terms with that a long time ago. He was like any boy, ordinary but also relatively apathetic. Who— in any other life would never find his fate being tied together with a girl like Lynn Minmay, let alone by war. Yet, life never goes how one expects it. Especially during such harrowing times of conflict. Then again, maybe he should’ve paid closer attention to the signs. The war refugees had frequently warned that Zeon would inevitably order a raid on the colony if the U.N Spacy continued their Mobile Weapon development.
That raid would end up happening on October 10th, 0079.
It was Lynn Minmay’s sixteenth birthday.
↯
The wind was blowing.
Which is pretty normal, all things considered, nothing more than a light breeze to start off the morning—except for the fact that this gentle gust was flowing through a massive cylindrical colony suspended high above Earth's atmosphere.
Minmay paused, brushing aside a few strands of hair from her face as she looked around, taking a good look at the artificial sky arcing high above. She still couldn’t understand why her parents had been so dramatic about her moving to space. They’d painted such a bleak picture: a lifeless, sterile void devoid of any life filled with the cold hum of machinery. Yet Side 7 was nothing like that. If she hadn’t known otherwise, she might have mistaken it for a small, idyllic town nestled somewhere on Earth—a little quirky, sure, given the name. But it was far from the desolate space station she'd imagined. She wouldn’t be surprised if they were lying in order to scare her.
Even if they were right, it wouldn’t have stopped her. She wanted to make her parents proud and she couldn’t do so held back by Earth’s gravity.
Regardless, the wind continued to move imperceptibly through her hair as she’d glanced down from the open window. She could spot her rascally neighbour Yoshio and his friends Kikka, Katz and Letz playing about in his backyard. Yoshio was a good kid, a bit of a pain in the neck sometimes with how often he’d cause a ruckus whenever things didn’t go his way. But it did give her a good laugh or two, so she didn’t mind his company. He’d even embraced the nickname she’d given him, wearing it like a badge of honor.
“Mornin’~” Minmay called out, waving a hand as she leaned further out the window.
“Heyyyy Minmay!” Yoshio shouted back, his grin wide and infectious. The others chimed in with their own greetings, their voices overlapping in a cheerful cacophony.
“Happy Birthday!” Kikka added, her words catching Minmay off guard.
That’s right. She nearly forgot. It’s hard for her to believe she’d only been living here for only a few months, but if you asked an outsider— with the way she cemented herself here amongst the community they might’ve assumed she’s lived here for her entire life. “Thank you!” Minmay yelled before getting ready for school today.
It was October 10th, her sixteenth birthday. A day that would mark a turning point in her life, or so she’d hoped. Her dreams of becoming a star felt closer to reality than they had before, especially with her performance at the upcoming cultural festival. She’d spent the last few weeks rehearsing, learning the moves, perfecting the song. She was ready. But there was a nervousness in her chest, a flutter that refused to go away, no matter how hard she tried to push it down. Minmay hurried out of her uncle and aunt’s Chinese restaurant, the “Nyan-Nyan Cafe” , the warmth of the kitchen clung to her clothes as Minmay rushed out the door, her bag slung over her shoulder. The shutter was only half-lowered as she announced her leave.
“Bye!” she yelled.
“Be careful!” her aunt shouted back, the clang of dishes punctuating her words. Minmay nodded, and quickly jogged towards the nearby bus stop, the air cool against her skin. As the bus arrived, she rushed forward, waving to the driver. “Please wait! I’m getting on!” She jumped aboard, her breath slightly labored, and began searching for an available seat. However, before the bus even left the block— it abruptly came to a screeching halt as alarms began to blare from seemingly everywhere much to her discomfort. An automated voice then rang from the speakers, informing all colony residents to head to the nearest shelter. The entire bus sprung into a panic, the bus becoming a mosh pit as people moved about like a tidal wave. Pushing and shoving as they hurriedly left for the shelter.
It was overwhelming, Minmay felt as though she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. It was by sheer luck she wasn’t trampled on and managed to escape, her aunt Feichun’s voice providing a beacon for her. Her family was there, their car parked nearby, the trunk stuffed with bags. Minmay didn’t hesitate. She pushed her way through the crowd, her heart pounding in her ears as she reached the car and threw herself inside. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her hands trembling as she clutched the seat in front of her.
“What’s going on?” she wheezed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why are we taking shelter? Is this some kind of drill?”
Her uncle’s hands tightened on the wheel as he continually broke the speed limit on the colony’s roads, his knuckles turning white. “No, dear,” he said, his voice grim. “It’s not a drill. We’re being invaded. Zeon forces are here.” The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her chest tightened, her mind racing as the cold hard reality of the situation began to sink in. Truthfully, the war between the U.N Spacy and Zeon was something she hadn’t really thought about— war always seemed like a faraway thing out of reach. Even when she had lived on Earth, it never really intruded on her daily life.
Through the car window, she caught glimpses of the invaders—hulking, inhuman shapes moving with deliberate, mechanical precision. Zakus. The word echoed in her mind, cold and foreign. She had seen them before, of course, in broadcasts and propaganda reels, but never like this. Their mono-eyed heads swiveling as they advanced, their massive frames casting long shadows over the colony’s pristine streets.
The appearance reminded her of an old story, about the ghost with one eye who’d enter your home and steal your soul.
“What a ghoulish thing…”
She knew it was ridiculous to think, but she couldn’t stand to keep looking at them, lest she end up getting her soul sucked out of her body.
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For Amuro, a young boy whose heart frequently beat in sync with the whirring of gears and the hum of engines, the sight of the Zaku was both positively electrifying and deathly terrifying. Its sheer size and destructive potential filled him with a deep, primal terror, the kind that gnawed at the edges of his courage. However, he couldn’t help but be fascinated by Zeon’s crown jewel. What were its specs? Was it really more durable than a Valkyrie? Although stricken with fear, he couldn’t help but dissect its every movement, analyzing its gait, its armor plating, the fluidity of its servos— it’s almost funny… less than a few hours ago, he was having trouble getting out of bed. Now, he’s standing in the middle of a borderline war zone gawking at the Mobile Weapons currently terrorizing his colony.
But then, it would fire its rifle.
The deafening roar of the weapon shattered his trance, the force of the blast sending shockwaves through the air. Screams rang out, explosions rumbled like distant thunder, and the acrid stench of burning metal and flesh invaded his senses. Reality crashed down upon him like a tidal wave. It was like a cold hard slap back to reality, reminding him of what he was supposed to be doing. That’s right, the people aren’t safe here. Now where is he…? His father should be nearby, hopefully he could convince him to evacuate the remaining citizens aboard a U.N Spacy ship. But it was near impossible to tell where he might be considering his surroundings. Smoke coiled in thick, suffocating plumes, blending with the dust kicked up by the destruction. Fires flickered in the distance, casting eerie, flickering shadows over the wreckage. His eyes darted through the haze, searching, straining to make sense of the chaos. But he had no choice—he had to move. He chased after the silhouette of a man wearing an astronaut suit, assuming it must’ve been a military official.
As the gap betwixt them steadily closed, he saw it was indeed his father spouting orders to his fellow engineers. “Dad!” He could barely hear his own voice over the chaos, but he knew he had to reach his father. He kept screaming, straining his voice to its limits in the hopes he could hear him. “Daaaaaad!”
“The Gundam must go before the evacuees. Take it up to the Macross and prepare it for battle!”
What? Dad, how could you say something like that? As if somehow having heard his thoughts, Tem Ray turned sharply, his eyes, usually distant and preoccupied, locked onto Amuro’s with an intensity that made the young man freeze in his tracks. His expression, one of frustration and concern over his son, had been warped by Amuro’s coloured perception— interpreting it as a glare of discontent. “Dad! Are these Mobile Weapons more important to you than human lives?!” Damn it, Fraw’s family is dead and you’re more concerned over your work! Was what he wanted to say, but he knew it’d mean nothing to him, the name would only elicit a raised eyebrow at best.
“Amuro! What are you doing here? Go to the port and evacuate to the Macross!”
“Macross?” Amuro repeated, his mind scrambling to process the order.
“The warship that’s in port,” his father snapped, already shifting his attention away. “Damn it, what’s taking so long?!” Amuro followed his father’s eyes and saw the problem—the truck carrying the platform trailer with the Gundam had refused to start. Panic rippled through the workers as they tried desperately to get it moving.
So that’s the Gundam…
He recalled having seen blueprints and schematics for it before in his father’s study; it was apparently made as a direct competitor to the Zaku. Rather than follow in the footsteps of its older brother, the Valkyrie— it was developed with the intent of being an all-rounder combat unit when it came to space warfare. Supposedly unlike the Valkyrie, it lacked the ability to transform— however the tradeoff came in a larger height, more durable armour, built-in Vulcan cannons, an internal learning computer algorithm and a Minovsky reactor. Knowing he’d only get in the way or end up killed if he kept standing around, Amuro took to his father’s advice and left for the space port to reunite with Fraw Bow and the others, that is until a blast knocked him down on his feet. His father gone from where he had stood less than a minute ago.
All the while, the Gundam laid there. Unresponsive.
It was in that very instant, an intense drive born from righteous anger began boiling up inside him. His eyes were no longer that of a mere high-schooler, but of a courageous soul who was prepared to fight to the bitter end. Before his mind had the chance to shift into gear, he was already in motion. Now peering into the cockpit nestled within the belly of the towering titan, Amuro felt as though the empty seat itself was silently beckoning him—inviting him to take his place at the controls. The array of blinking lights on the instrument panel seemed to cry out, almost as if the mech was urging him to get inside the cockpit. A strange mix of urgency and inevitability hung in the air as he hesitated for only a moment before lowering himself into the seat.
”Incredible… It’s already on.”
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This was just the absolute worst! Her hair is a mess, the shelters are cut-off by blockades caused by the debris everywhere and her outfit—the one she had carefully picked for her birthday was all smudged with dirt and dust. And now, of all things, she was running for her life through the streets of Side 7. “We’re almost there,” her uncle said as they ran, his voice tense. “Just hold on a little longer.” Minmay nodded, trying her best to keep her trembling legs forward. Her shoes pounded against the cracked pavement, her heart hammering in her ears. The artificial sky overhead was shrouded in smoke, the usual soft blue replaced by swirling clouds of fire and debris. Somewhere in the distance, she heard the distinct thoom of a Zaku’s rifle firing.
The colony’s streets, once bustling with students and workers, were unrecognizable—collapsed buildings, wrecked cars, craters from weapons fire. Bodies shredded and charred beyond recognition. Her stomach twisted, but she forced herself to look away. But her ears had overheard the sounds of sobbing, it was Yoshio. “Someone help me! I’m stuck!” her feet changed course immediately as she headed for the source of his cries. Her aunt called out to her, but all she could do was apologize while she ran over to help him. She fought against her better judgment as she found her neighbour trapped underneath some rubble.
“Yo-chan! Are you okay?”
“M-Minmay… Momma… sniff… s-she… She!”
Minmay didn’t need to ask where the large pool of blood seeping below those rocks was coming from. Instead, she faked a winsome smile hoping to console him. “It’s alright, I’ll get you out. You go with my aunt and uncle to the space port, promise me!” Yoshio nodded, his face dripping with snot and tears as Minmay freed him. She watched him run over to where her family was, but right when she was about to join them— the ground shook and she fell flat on her face. Lifting her head up, blue irises shrunk when she found herself eclipsed by the shadow of a Zaku. It loomed over her like a mechanical titan, its bulky frame clad in thick, olive-green armor that bore the scars of countless battles. Its monoeye seemingly staring down at her, her mouth left agape as she froze in terror.
I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die here, aren’t I?
If she died here—if she disappeared into the rubble like so many others—what would be left of her? A girl who almost became a star? Who worked in her aunt and uncle’s restaurant and dreamed of being on stage? Someone whose biggest concern this morning had been getting the high note just right for a performance that would never come?
Damn it all… At the very least, don’t trample her. If she was going to die, she’d prefer if she looked like a human being and not a pile of hamburger! Still, beggars can’t be choosers. So, she figured she’d might as well get it over with and shut her eyes. Hoping it’d be at least quick and painless. But as time continued to pass, she could still hear her heart thumping— her breathing. Somehow, she was still alive.
“Please, get yourself to the space port! There’s a clear path if you take a right then left over by the park!”
Who said that? Opening her eyes finally, Minmay lets out a gasp when she sees a massive machine staring at her, humanoid in shape yet impossibly sleek and powerful, its armor gleaming even beneath the smoke-darkened sky. It stood tall, its piercing gaze locked onto its enemy. It was like something ripped straight from a super robot television show, the kind aimed towards kids to sell model kits. But that wasn’t what left her speechless. It was the voice that came crackling through the external speakers—frantic, determined, yet unmistakably familiar. Had she heard it from somewhere before?
“Get down!”
Minmay’s breath hitched, her chest tightening in anticipation. Before her, the mechanical titan moved with a terrifying grace, its massive frame shifting with deliberate precision. From its side, it drew what appeared to be a saber, but this was no ordinary blade. The weapon came alive in a flash of brilliance, heavy metal particles superheated to thousands of degrees, coalescing into a searing streak of light. The radiant energy solidified into the form of a sword, its edges shimmering with an almost otherworldly intensity, casting an eerie glow across the battlefield.
The Zaku would raise its weapon in retaliation, a large machine gun. The titan crouched low, its movements fluid yet deliberate, like a predator poised to strike. With a sudden, calculated thrust, it aimed the blazing saber directly at the enemy’s cockpit. The strike was swift and merciless, the blade piercing through armor as though it were paper. In an instant, the saber retracted, leaving behind a gaping wound of molten metal and scorched circuitry. The Zaku shuddered violently, its massive frame collapsing in on itself as the pilot within was utterly obliterated, reduced to nothing more than ash by the saber’s overwhelming, annihilating heat.
Little did they know that this was the moment in which the course of history would change forever.