The contents of this page are courtesy of Keith Rhee (quattro@netcom.com).
Time-line / Synopsis
Original Gundam TV series started with a mass immigration into space due to overpopulation and the Federation government treating the colonists like second class citizens. Zeon Zum Daikun at Side 3 declares Side 3 the Independent Republic of Zeon. He is assasinated and is replaced by his lieutenant Zabi. Zabi rechristens the place the Zeon Archduchy and starts a war of conquest under the pretense of independence.
Using Minovsky particles to jam radar and Mobile Suits in close quarter combat, the Zeons kick the Federation's butt. They also use ABC weapons and even drop a colony on Earth. Later, the Antarctic Treaty is signed by both parties to prevent massive death via ABC weaponry.
The EFM starts their own MS program and creates the Gundam, which in the hands of Amuro kicks major Zeon butt. The EFM starts to gain the upper hand, and the Zeons suffer a power struggle in their own ranks. The EFM wins the war.
Gundam 0080: A Side Story, deals with the Zeon commando "Cyclops" and their attempt to destroy the NT-1 Gundam prototype, which fails.
Gundam 0083: Delaz was pissed at the violation of the Antarctic Treaty on the Feds part by the building of the Atomic Gundam. He decides to steal it and use it against them.
Zeta Gundam: The Titans form at the end of 0083 to prevent any additional actions like what happened there. Over time, they turn into a bunch of bullies, suppressing any anti-EFM movement. The more moderate faction of the EFM break off and forms the AEUG to oppose the Titans.
Gundam ZZ: After the Titans' defeat, the Axis force comes into play. Axis helped the EFM and the AEUG defeat the Titans under the condition that they get Side 3 back. When the EFM breaks their promise, the AEUG is stuck with fending off Axis. Axis terrorizes the EFM until they recant and give Side 3 to Axis. Reforming as Neo-Zeon, again they suffer an internal power struggle, and the EFM/AEUG close in and win.
Char's Counterattack: Char, who disappeared in Zeta, reappears with a huge and motivated army and seeks to "punish" those on Earth by dropping Axis asteroid on Earth. Amuro, in his trusty Nu-Gundam puts a stop to this. ^_^
-- Intermission
OK, here's where the timeline gets relevant to Victory, so pay attention. ^_^
Gundam F-91: After the Zeons' wane in power, the Crossbone Vanguard take over the Frontier colonies and declare them the Cosmo Babylonia. The EFM puts up a fight to stop this (not too successfully).
After F-91, the CV manages to keep their hold on the colonies they swiped by striking a deal with the Jupiter Energy Fleet and holding Earth's energy supply hostage, forcing the EFM to leave them alone.
After Iron Mask's death in F-91, Vera Rona goes back to Babylonia and denounces her father's claim of a born nobelty that people should follow. The CV breaks down due to internal strife, but not before Vera learns of a force in the background that was manipulating things behind the CV... Vera and her followers disappear on the CV's flagship, the Babylonia Vanguard ...
Turns out that Vera and her crew disappeared on purpose. The ship is rechristened the Mother Vanguard, and now they fight the so-called Jupiter Empire, a presumed elite-force amongst the Jupiter Energy Fleet. The Jupiter Empire is too small to confront the EFM by itself, so instead it backs other groups like the CV with financial and technical support, waiting for the EFM to weaken until the Empire can go in and strike the last killing blow.
Crossbone Gundam: A Side Story manga by Tomino. Shows the efforts of Vera Rona, Seabrook Arno, and Zabine Chareux to stop the Jupiter Empire. Hasn't ended yet.
Victory Gundam: Side 2 secedes from the EFM, declares itself the Zanscarl Empire, and is bent on EFM conquest. It is strongly hinted that the Jupiter Empire is backing this group also. Usso, a 13 year old kid, gets his hands on the Victory Gundam and helps the civilian militia, the League Militaire, fight the Zanscarl Empire's troops.
Yes, Victory Gundam has already ended. But with Tomino's new manga establishing the link between F-91 and Victory Gundam, along with the hinting of a larger conflict with the Jupiter forces, I'd say we Gundam fans are in for another interesting Gundam story or two.
^_^
(Thanks to Mark Simmons for the info on the manga)