Casval Rem Deikun's life is thrown into turmoil in the year 0068 of the Universal Century with the killing of his father, a renowned figure in the battle for civil rights for humans who dwell beyond the Earth's surface. Casval and his sister Artesia are aided by troops loyal to their father, and the siblings are spirited away from their home, separated, and forced into a twisted fate that sees them mature into soldiers and adults. Casval must struggle with the growth of a military version of his father's beliefs and his own vindictive temperament as cosmic conflict molds him into a renowned mobile suit pilot years before taking the name Char Aznable or his "Red Comet" reputation.