The novel begins in UC 0001, at the very beginning of human space colonization, and is said to cover an as yet unspecified major event that influences the course of human history forever. The main story takes place in UC 0096, three years after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack.

AC 195. Earth and its surrounding colonies were fighting the bloodiest war mankind had ever known. But on the remote asteroid colony MO-V, life carried on as normal. It wasn't long, however, before OZ agents came to enlist the colony in the battle for independence from Earth rule. Now the once neutral colony not only finds itself lending resources to OZ, but they are under attack by a mysterious group who call themselves the Stardust Knights. When Odel Bernett, the colony's top pilot, is shot down in combat, his younger brother, Odin, must don the experimental new MS, the G-Unit, and fight to defend his home. (Source: TOKYOPOP)

Year 71, Cosmic Era. After the terrible battle of Yakin Due, an uneasy peace rests between the Earth Alliance and the Zaft Empire. But even as Cagalli and Athrun visit Chairman Durandal to cement the tentative cease-fire, Zaft terrorists plot with Neo Roanoke to drag both sides into all-out war. The plan: storm Zaft territory and steal several Gundam Mobile Suits. But that's only the beginning. They're also scheming to engineer a catastrophic event, one designed to drive the Earth down a bloody path. Now the crew of the Minerva must prevent disaster, as everything and everyone-including the love between Athrun and Cagalli-is thrown in mortal danger. (Source: Del Rey)

As Celestial Being begins their anti-war activities, Fereshte begins to move in with the group being led by Chall Acustica, an ex-veteran of Celestial Being who had ended her service as a Gundam Meister after getting scarred in an unknown accident. Under her wing is Fon Spaak, an 18-year old career criminal forced into Fereshte's service by using the GNY-004 Gundam Plutone as part of his "services" as a Meister pilot.

C.E. 71: After the terrible battle of Yakin Due, an uneasy peace rests between the Earth Alliance and the Zaft Empire. But even as Cagalli and Athrun visit Chairman Durandal to cement the tentative cease-fire, Zaft terrorists plot with Neo Roanoke to drag both sides into all-out war. The plan: storm Zaft territory and steal several Gundam Mobile Suits. But that’s only the beginning. They’re also scheming to engineer a catastrophic event, one designed to drive the Earth down a bloody path. Now the crew of the Minerva must prevent disaster, as everything and everyone–including the love between Athrun and Cagalli–is thrown in mortal danger. (Source: Del Rey)

Summer AC 196, the Earth Sphere Unified Nation begins the long process of disarmament with Relena Darlian leading the preceedings. However, something troubles the Gundam pilots; rumors fly about Vulkanus, an OZ manufacturing plant, full of Mobile Dolls and lost somewhere in space. In the meantime, an organization called the Perfect Peace People is calling for even further measures of disarmament than even Relena herself. The Gundam pilots set out to find and destroy Vulkanus before anyone can get their hands on it and use it for their own purposes.

The 'neutral' space colony of Heliopolis houses Morgenroete, a top-secret weapons research facility specializing in producing the battleship Archangel and five prototype Gundams for the Earth Alliance Force. ZAFT, the rebel army composed of genetically modified humans known as Coordinators, attacks Heliopolis, stealing four of the five prototypes. Civilian Kira Yamato, a Coordinator raised by Natural parents, stumbles upon the Gundam Strike during the attack. He pilots the mobile suit for the Earth Alliance Force in order to protect his Natural friends and finds himself locked in mortal combat with his childhood best friend, Coordinator Athrun Zala, who is now an ace pilot for ZAFT. Their friendship is not the only thing at stake; the survival of an entire race depends on the outcome of this war. (Source: TOKYOPOP)

The discovery of an alien organic vessel submerged in the ocean reveals a plot to unleash planetary destruction ... a collective of evil scientists called the Reclaimers works to hasten mankind's extinction. As one of Earth's defenders, Hime Utsumiya fights on a team of mecha called Brain Powered's to combat them. Unfortunately the Reclaimers also have these mecha and mankind's fate hangs in the balance... (Source: TOKYOPOP)

The Cosmic Era. Coordinators, born through genetic modification and Naturals, who are born naturally. Both experienced two great wars. People devoted themselves to fighting for things they believed in and things they should protect. Fighting gives birth to hatred and hatred in turn gives birth to sorrow. The battlefield swallows the fate of the soldiers and turned into the gravestone to an invisible future. Although a transient piece arrived in the end, the scars of war run deep. Yet in such a world, there were those who walked a path they strongly believed. Engineers giving their lives and roles to that which was discarded and destroyed: Junkers. Those who fight for those without power: Mercenaries. Those who convey the truth to the people: Journalists. Even if they deviate from the noble path, they will follow a path they believe in according to their own beliefs... Astray.

As the continuation of Zeta Gundam, this series once again follows the story of the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) battleship Argama after Zeta's final episode. To fight off the Axis Zeon, now called the Neo Zeon, Captain Bright Noa recruits a group of teenage junk collectors led by the loudmouthed but powerful Newtype Judau Ashta to pilot the Argama's mobile suits. Now sporting a line up of the behemoth MSZ-010 Double Zeta Gundam and the returning MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, RX-178 Gundam Mk-II and Gundam-like MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, the group is nicknamed the Gundam Team. As such, this became the first of a number of Gundam series where a team of Gundam mobile suits fight alongside each other regularly. The climax takes place at Side 3 in the Battle of Axis. (Source: Gundam Wikia)

It has been five years since the Vanadis Incident, in which all Gundams became forbidden... These mobile suits were deemed "curses," but now they're running amok on Earth. (Source: Yen Press)

Kidou Senshi Gundam U.C.0096: Rising Sun is intended to serve as a sequel to the 0094 series and will expand on it with new characters and new mechs.