After a year long stalemate with the United Nations Earth military, the Space Revolutionary Army carried out a massive colony drop onto the Earth, killing 99% of the human population and plunging the world into a nuclear winter. Now, 15 years since the wars end, the Earth has finally started on the long road to recovery in an era known as After War. Garrod Ran, a boy born at the end of the war survived the harsh world by becoming a technician and capturing mobile suits to sell on the black market. After completing the capture of a Jenice mobile suit, he is approached by Reich Anto for a job, to rescue a girl captured by a Vulture captain named Jamil Neate. Successfully rescuing Tiffa Adill from the Freeden, Garrod heads to the randevu spot to find Reich Anto waiting for him to take Tiffa back. Noticing how terrified the girl is of the man, Garrod instead drives off with her, following her directions as they try to evade Reich as he chases them with a trio of mobile suits. Finding an abandoned base belonging to the United Nations Earth military, Garrod finds a GX-9900 Gundam X and climbs into the cockpit with Tiffa. Activating the Gundam, Garrod engages in battle against the three mobile suits to protect Tiffa.

Defeating Reich Anto, Garrod comes face to face with the Gundam Leopard and the Gundam Airmaster from the Freeden, and barely escapes the two professional pilots. As Garrod Ran and Tiffa Adill rest, information brokers spread out and sell information on the battle they had just seen and the appearance of the Gundam X. The pilots of different Vulture groups all track down and locate the Gundam X as Garrod and Tiffa try to make camp in the forest, only to force a battle between the young pilot and an army of mobile suits. As the Gundam X starts to falter due to the vast amounts of mobile suits attacking it, Garrod swears not to let Tiffa die, his words causing Tiffa to use her Newtype powers. Registering the Gundam with a lunar base, the main weapon activates on the Gundam X and Garrod takes aim as the captain of the Freeden tries to make contact with Tiffa to warn her not to let the weapon be fired.

The Frieden has approached Garrod, he tries to fire upon it with the satellite cannon but realizes it takes too long to charge for him to be able to shoot. Jamil runs out on top of the ship and fires a magnetic grappling gun at the Gundam X. Garrod flies back but Jamil already has the gun attached and is pulled to the gundam. Jamil opens the cockpit and the gundam automatically stops flying back. Jamil takes the gundam back to the Frieden after telling Garrod he has no right to have the gundam or Tiffa.

In the hallway, Garrod stops Witz and Roybea, telling them they must not leave. Witz says he'll be in pain if he doesn't move. Garrod tries to stop them and is kneed in the stomach. From the floor he grabs Witz's ankle, begging, Witz then kicks him in the face. Garrod wipes away the blood and stares at the two in disgust. Witz is confused by the look, and Roybea explains why Garrod acted the way he did with a theory on kids. When questioned if he supports him, Roybea says no because adults can't do that. Garrod sneaks up on the doctor, planning on putting him to sleep with powder. The doctor turns and says not to disturb his reading, and lets Garrod have some time alone with Tiffa. Garrod apologizes to Tiffa, saying it is all his fault. The doctor knocks on the door and says visiting time is over because someone is coming. Garrod leaves and bows his thanks to the doctor.

The Freeden dodges to the side, only taking a little damage on the side of the main engine. The other Vultures send out mobile suits to provide cover for the Freeden. Shagia sends Olba off and easily destroys several vulture mobile suits. Garrod tries to take the GX, but Jamil stops him. He asks Garrod why he is going to help, and Garrod says it is natural because he wants to help Tiffa. Jamil gives him the control unit and lets him go out to battle the ""mysterious gundam."" Jamil tells Kid that Garrod is better than him, because of his cockpit phobia. Garrod rushes out to save Tiffa, and the Gundam Virsago stops him. Garrod fights a defensive battle against the skillful pilot of the Virsago, and the Freeden crew wonders why Jamil is fighting so oddly until he walks into the room and confirms Garrod as the pilot. Garrod continues to fight, slowly getting more skillful as the battle progresses. Outside of a party that he is the very host of, Roybea seems to regret leaving the Freeden