Jion Daikun was born in space in U.C. 0009. He had two children, Cassoval Rem Daikun, and Artasia Som Daikun. Daikun favored the philosophy of Eleism, and proposed combining that with a pro-Side agenda.
He soon became leader of the Side-3 colonies, and in 0058, proclaimed Side-3's independence, establishing it as the Jion Republic. The Earth imposes economic sanctions, and in 0060, begins a military build-up, commissioning a space armada. Daikun continues to push for the colonies to have "freedom from the whims of Earth," for not only Side-3, but for all the colonies.
In 0068, Jion Daikun is assassinated, most likely by his advisor, Degin Zabi, who succeeds him. Zabi proclaims Side-3 the Archduchy of Jion, and himself the Archduke. Supporters of Daikun respond by assassinating Zabi's second son Cicero, and he purges Side-3 of Daikun's supporters.
Cassoval and Artasia are taken away under the care of Jinba Ral. They are taken to Earth, and adopted by the wealthy Mas family. Artasia Som Daikun is raised as Saila Mas. Here, there are conflicting reports about what happens to Cassoval Daikun. One report has it that he, too, was adopted by the Mas family, and given the name Edward. Another says that he stayed with Jinba Ral, who taught him about his father's ideas, his father's enemies, and how to wage war against them. Regardless, in the year 0074, Cassoval Daikun has infiltrated the Duchy of Jion, and entered the Jion academy under the alias Char Aznable.
In January of 0079, the Duchy of Jion declares war for independence against the Earth Union. The Jion's British Operation forces a colony out of orbit, intended to strike at Jaburo, the Earth's military headquarters. The colony lands at Sydney, Australia, creating a crater 560 kilometers across, the largest man made mark on Earth. The One Year War begins.
In the week that follows, from 01.03 to 01.10, 0079, is the One Week War. Indiscriminate use of nuclear and biochemical weapons results in the elimination of one forth of the total human population. A cease-fire is declared, and leaders from both sides meet in Antarctica and within days hammer out a treaty banning nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. This is known as the ABC Treaty. There is no talk of a peace settlement.
The One Year War marked the advent of the mobilesuit as the conventional weapon of war. Based on the human form, it had a multitude of uses, and high maneuverability. But it was the Minovsky particle that made it a necessary tool.
The Minovsky Physics Institute was founded on Side-3 in U.C. 0045. In 0065, Dr. Yuri Tereshkovich Minovsky predicted the existence of subatomic particles that absorb electromagnetic radiation in the longer wavelengths. These particles were discovered four years later. Minovsky particles interfere with any type of radio or radar waves, creating a near total jamming effect. They do not, however, interfere with visible light or lasers.
The effects of the Minovsky particle were widespread. A device was created for larger ships to scatter a "cloud" of Minovsky particles around them. Long range electronic warfare became obsolete. Everything had to be line-of-sight, and the mobilesuit was the ideal weapon for this new environment.
In addition, the Minovsky particle also made possible the compact fusion generators necessary to power the mobilesuit, and further developments led to the development of the particle beam weapon. New thruster systems for large craft were developed that allowed them to "levitate", the Minovsky particles affecting the gravity affecting them.
The mobilesuit, with its high maneuverability and potent firepower, made them the ideal weapon in this new world. One mobilesuit with the right pilot could be a deadly combination. A good example of this is young Jion cadet Char Aznable, who earned his nickname "The Red Comet" by single handedly destroying five Union cruisers with his customized Red Zaku.
The mobilesuit gave Jion an early advantage in the One Year War. The Union responded with its newest mobilesuit, the RX-78 Gundam. The Gundam was built with the newest armor, Gundarium, and was armed with a particle beam rifle. The shells of the Zaku's autocannons barely scratched the Gundam's armor, and their armor was easily pierced by the Gundam's beam rifle.
Aumro Rey, pilot of the Gundam, and White Base, the cruiser on which it was stationed, became heroes of the One Year War, and turned the course of events in many occasions.
Resulting from Char's treachery, Galma Zabi is killed while assaulting the White Base on Earth. His father Degin withdraws inward, mourning the loss of his favorite son. His eldest son and chief advisor Giren Zabi steps up the war effort and takes over for his Father. Gifted with an I.Q. of 240, Giren is in favor of an all out war on Earth, and his political philosophy pays homage to the likes of Machiavelli.
At his brother's funeral, Giren makes an impassioned speech calling for an increased effort in the war to avenge his brother's death. This speech marks the first use of the rallying cry that would bolster Jion for years to come: "Jiku Jion!"
Solomon is a heavily fortified asteroid that Jion has positioned as a line of defense for Side-3, and a major strategic target for the Union. The battle of Solomon is the largest space battle in history. Almost nine thousand mobilesuits engage in combat. Jion loses 35% of their forces, and the Union fleet captures the Jion stronghold, penetrating their first line of defense.
The Jions develop the first psychommu controlled unit, the mobile armor Elmeth. Piloted by Lalah Sun, and using the remote pods known as 'funnels', the Elmeth destroys four Union cruisers in its first trial run. The Earth cruisers are completely unaware of what has hit them, the Elmeth operating well out of the range of their sensor array.
Amuro Rey in the Gundam destroys the Elmeth, killing Lalah Sun.
Degin Zabi, growing genuinely tired of the war, calls for an armistice to discuss a peace treaty. He meets with General Reville of the Union 1st fleet. Both parties bring sizable fleets to the conference, but Zabi is truly willing to negotiate.
Giren Zabi sees an opportunity for the debut of his pet project, the "Solar Ray System". The Solar Ray is a hollowed out colony that has been converted into a laser cannon. Giren fires the weapon at the conference, eliminating 60% of the Union fleet, the Jion forces that were there, General Reville, and his father.
Kishiria Zabi, even though she is shocked at their father's death, takes advantage of her brother's maneuver, mobilizes the Jion Luna assault fleet and turns the tide of battle further in favor of Jion. The battle of Abawaku begins, everything seeming to go wrong for the Union fleet.
During the battle, Kishiria executes her brother Giren for the crime of patricide. This marks the beginning of the end for the Jion forces. Aguille Delaz, a Jion admiral, enraged upon hearing of the news of Kishiria's treachery, and knowing that the battle was lost, withdraws his forces from the battle.
The Union forces penetrate Abawaku. Amuro in the Gundam faces off against the massive mobile armor Big Zam, piloted by Dozul Zabi, and defeats it. Dozul's daughter, Mineba Rao Zabi, is spirited away from the battle. She would be taken to Axis, a Jion asteroid base is a long cometary orbit around Jupiter, and put under the charge of Haman Kahn.
Amuro and Char face off for the last time in the interior of the massive asteroid base. Char in the psychommu controlled Jiong, and Amuro in the Gundam. Both units were destroyed in the combat, and the two continued their battle with rapiers. The battle was interrupted by Char's sister Artasia (Saila Mas), leaving Char with a scar on his forehead, and Amuro with a wound in his shoulder.
Char withdraws, and searches out Kishiria, trying to escape in a Jion cruiser. He fires a rocket into the bridge, killing her, and fulfilling his vow of revenge against the Zabi line for the murder of his father.
The Union forces take control of Abawaku, renaming it the Gate of Zedan. On the first day of 0080, the treaty ending the One Year War is signed at Granada on the Moon. The Archduchy of Jion once again becomes the Jion Republic.
After the war, the separation between Earthnoid and Spacenoid grew even more pronounced. The Earthnoids felt a sense of superiority to their counterparts in space. The Earth began to dismantle space colonies to get the raw materials it needed to rebuild the wounded planet. Now, more than ever, the Spacenoids heard the echo of Jion Daikun's words: "...freedom from the whims of Earth..."
In 0083, the specter of Jion would rise again. Anaheim Electronics new Gundam units, the GP01 and GP02, were brought to Earth. Despite the treaty, the GP02 is armed with a nuclear warhead. Revenants of Jion forces manage to steal the Gundam unit, and take it into space. This is the beginning of Operation Stardust.
The Delaz Fleet announces its intention to resurrect the ideals of Jion. It cites the arming of the GP02 with nuclear weapons as a violation of the ABC Treaty, and a reflection of the general disregard that the Union has for Spacenoids. Delaz' message is heard throughout the colonies.
The Delaz Fleet makes a devastating strike at a Union naval review, destroying over two-thirds of the Union fleet. Operation Stardust continues with the capture of two empty colonies being transported for the colony recycling program. The colonies are collided with one another, and the one colony heads for a collision course with Von Braun on the Moon. Union forces speed to intercept it, burning all of their fuel in order to be there as quickly as they can. The Delaz Fleet bargains with the leaders of Von Braun to fire their lasers at the colony, activating the colony's propellant, and sending it slingshotting away from the moon's gravity and putting it on a collision course with Earth. The Union forces, left stranded in space without any fuel, are helpless to stop it.
Jamitov Hyman sees this opportunity to advance his career, and takes advantage of it. Union forces led by colonel Bosque Om create a "Solar System" weapon that uses the reflected and focused light of the sun. Jion forces prevent the ray from being used effectively, and the colony crashes through it, past the point of defense. The colony is headed for Earth, its just a matter of where. The logical target would be Jaburo, but the Jion forces steer it toward the grain fields of North America.
But forces within the Delaz Fleet had been working as a double agent, and led to the elimination of the Jion threat. Axis forces that had been supporting the Delaz Fleet were forced to withdraw back into deep space.
The impact of the colony brought up a new wave of anti-spacenoid sentiment among the Earth. Jamitov Hyman formed the Titans. The Titans were a special force formed to stamp out remaining elements of Jion. Led by Jamitov Hyman, and strong-armed by the ruthless Bosque Om, they pledged to protect the Earth that is "constantly exposed to various dangers." Bosque Om's words were broadcast all over the Earth, and his fierceness was simply manifest of the attitudes and fear all Earthnoids felt. "Earth, symbol of the Universe, we are born to protect her! Earth! In order to return her true power...to those who truly deserve it, the Titans will stand!"
Blex Forra, a Senator for the Earth Union Government, disapproved of the retributive attitudes within the government, and of the actions of the Titans.
On the Side-1 colony of 30 Bunch, there was staged a peaceful rally protesting the actions of the Titans and the EUG. Bosque Om responded by gassing the colony with G3 gas, a lethal nerve toxin. Over thirty million people were killed. Blex Forra fled to Sweetwater (Side-2), and formed the Anti-Earth Union Government (AEUG) in response. The enigmatic Quattro Bajina, who had saved Forra from an assassination attempt in 0085, serves as his lieutenant.
The year is U.C. 0087.