The story takes place 12 years after the end of the second Neo Zeon War. In U.C. 0105, the Earth Sphere is plagued by intermittent military conflicts and corruption within the Earth Federation government, which has accelerated Earth's pollution and implemented a "Man Hunting" policy where civilians are forcibly exiled to outer space. Hathaway Noa, son of Bright Noa, leads the anti-Federation organization Mafty, which carries out terrorist acts against government officials. With ties to the One Year War and a deep understanding of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable's ideologies, Hathaway fights for a path forward through armed resistance.