In the Universal Century year 0079, the space colony known as Side 3 proclaims independence as the Principality of Zeon and declares war on the Earth Federation. One year later, they are locked in a fierce battle for the Thunderbolt Sector, an area of space scarred by the wreckage of destroyed colonies. Operation Maitreya begins! Sojo Levan Fu has at last assembled his forces--an army of Psycho Zakus led by Daryl Lorenz--for the battle to seize the Solar Ray weapon. In a twist of irony, Io Fleming and his comrades in the Earth Federation fleet now head for Side 3--the Republic of Zeon--to defend it from the Nanyang Alliance. With everyone equipped with the very latest in mobile suit technology, and using powerful and shocking Newtype abilities, the looming conflict promises to be costly for both sides...