Attack on Side 7

Attack on Side 7
Attack on Side 7
Data
Beginning	September 18, 0079 U.C.
End	September 18, 0079 U.C.
Location	Side 7
Result	Pyrrhic Federation Forces Victory Side 7 damaged Only one unit of each Operation V machine survives Majority of White Base crew killed
Belligerents
Earth Federation Forces
Principality of Zeon
Commanders
Bright Noa
Char Aznable
Strength
1 x RX-78-2 Gundam 1 x FF-X7 Core Fighter
3 x MS-06F Zaku II 1 x MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type
Casualties and Losses
Heavy Casualties 2 x RX-75 Guntank 2 x RX-77-2 Guncannon 2 x RX-78-2 Gundam
Heavy Casualties 3 x MS-06F Zaku II
Miscellaneous

The Attack on Side 7 is a conflict in the One Year War, featured in Mobile Suit Gundam. It is also the first seen conflict in the Gundam franchise.

Prelude

Universal Century 0079. Nine months have passed since a group of colonies furthest from the Earth, Side 3, declared themselves the Principality of Zeon and began a war of "independence" from the Earth Federation. Initial fighting lasted one month and saw both sides lose half of their respective population, people horrified at the atrocities being made in the name of independence.

Thanks to General Johann Abraham Revil's "Zeon is Exhausted!" speech, the Earth Federation had been able to rework a surrender treaty into the Antarctic Treaty, setting the terms of the war. While this made Zeon invade Earth in order to get the resources needed to keep fighting, this allowed the Earth Federation to play catch up. To this end, they used Tem Ray's "Operation V" project to create their own Mobile Suits. At this point however, both sides are at a stalemate...

While on patrol, Zeon officer Char Aznable spotted a mysterious new ship, the SCV-70 White Base, heading for Side 7. Believing he had discovered where the mysterious "Operation V" was being made, Char sent three pilots, Slender, Denim and Gene in their MS-06F Zaku IIs to investigate and spy on what the Federation was doing. The three Zakus were able to sneak into Side 7 and investigate. Inside, the men discovered the jackpot - a group of nine Mobile Suits set up to be loaded into the White Base - three of the RX-75 Guntank, RX-77-2 Guncannon and RX-78-2 Gundam.

The Battle

Gene, desiring to one up Char Aznable, disobeyed a direct order from Denim to not attack and began assaulting the compound, destroying most of the Mobile Suits and killing most of the crew of White Base, with Denim decided to join him. The explosions lead to a young civilian named Amuro Ray to escape the emergency shelter in order to find his father, Tem. He was joined by his neighbor, Fraw Bow. In his search, he discovered an instruction book on the Gundam after it was blown away by an accidental case of friendly fire. After discovering his father and warning him to evacuate, Amuro witnessed another stray missile strike a group of evacuees, killing them, including Fraw's mother and grandfather. Amuro was able to get Fraw to snap out of her sorrow so she could escape.

Discovering the awkwardly fallen remaining Gundam, Amuro climbed into its cockpit and, using the manual, started to get it to stand. Gene saw this and began firing at it, discovering to his shock that the Zaku Machinegun had no effect on the suit. Amuro used the Gundam's head vulcans to scare the Zaku's back before ultimately getting it to stand on its feet, thus initiating the very first instance of Mobile Suit vs. Mobile Suit combat. Amuro continued using the vulcans to try and attack the Zakus, but was horrified when the suit ran out of ammo. Gene decided to take advantage of this by approaching the Gundam with its machinegun. However, the Gundam shoved aside the weapon and grabbed the Zaku by its nose vent, ripping it off as he shoved it to the ground.

As Denim got Gene to his feet and ordered him to retreat, Amuro discovered that the Gundam had another weapon - the beam saber. Activating it, he charged at the retreating Zaku and sliced it at the waist, causing its reactor to go critical and unleashing an apocalyptic explosion, sucking Tem Ray out into space. Determined to avenge Gene, Denim charged the Gundam. Not wanting another explosion to damage Side 7, Amuro took better aim, stabbing Denim's Zaku in the cockpit, killing him in the process.

Round 2

As the remaining civilians and the surviving soldiers prepared to evacuate Side 7, Slender returned to Char's Musai-class and told him what had happened. Char contacted Dozle Zabi, who was pleased at what Char had discovered and promised to send supplies to help out. Char and a group of pilots snuck into Side 7, intending to find out more. During this moment, Char encountered a young woman named Sayla Mass, distracting her by revealing the face under his mask and allowing him to escape while leaving her believing that he might have been her long lost brother.

With Char and other Zeon soldiers around, Bright Noa, acting Captain of the White Base with Paolo Cassius injured from the earlier attacks, ordered Amuro to destroy the remaining spare parts of Operation V to prevent Zeon from taking them. However, Char and the soldiers boarded the White Base, forcing the remaining soldiers and civilians to fight them off. The White Base escaped from Side 7 just as Char launched in his MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type, joined by Slender and his Zaku. Despite the power of the Gundam, Char's greater experience made it easier for him to get the better of Amuro, only being saved by Ryu Jose piloting a FF-X7 Core Fighter.

However, the same could not be said of Slender. The Gundam was armed with another revolutionary weapon - the beam rifle. With one shot, Slender's Zaku was pierced and destroyed. Char was horrified, asking "How could a Mobile Suit have the equal power of a battleship like that?" This ultimately forced Char to retreat.

Aftermath

With Char having fallen back, the crew of the White Base, carrying so many civilians, focused on getting to safety, and thus made the decision to head for Luna II in order to drop off the civilians so that they wouldn't be caught up in the fight. As well, Char made the decision to chase after White Base, setting up years of animosity towards him and the passengers of the legged ship.

Appearances

Television Series

• Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Episode 1, Gundam Rising
    • First Appearance
  • Episode 2, Destroy Gundam
    • Conclusion