Introduction
Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket takes place, as the name implies, in U.C. 0080, specifically in the
closing weeks of the One Year War. The story begins with an attack by the Cyclops team, a
special Jion commando force, on a secret EMF base located somewhere in Antarctica. Despite the
Cyclops team's attack, the EMF defenders manage to load a new prototype mobile suit, the NT-1
Gundam "Alex", into a shuttle and launches it into space.
Side 6
The story shifts to the neutral colony of Side 6, and focuses on a young boy
named Alfred Izuruha who lives there. Al and his friends, like many kids their
age, are fascinated with the war and the military, especially the Jion mobile suits.
While sneaking around the colony in search of mobile suits, Al accidentally
photographs the arrival of the NT-1 "Alex" to the colony. Then on his way to
school the next day he witnesses a battle between several Jion Zakus and EMF
mobile suits. He pursues one of the Jion Zakus as it is shot down with his camera,
and follows it to the crash site. At the site of the wreck Al meets Bernard
"Bernie" Weisman, the pilot of the fallen Zaku. Bernie trades Al his rank
insignia in exchange for Al's camera. Al eagerly agrees. Bernie then escapes the
colony with another Zaku.
The Jion high command analyzes Al's film and learns that the NT-1 "Alex" is on Side 6. The
remaining members of the Cyclops team, along with Bernie, are ordered back to Side 6 to capture
or destroy the prototype Gundam. Upon arriving at Side 6, Al runs into Bernie again, and
convinces the Cyclops leader to let Al join their team. (In reality, the Cyclops leader just wants to
keep an eye on Al and make sure he doesn't tell the authorities about them.) Al and Bernie search
the colony for the current location of the NT-1. During the search Bernie meets Christina
McKenzie, Al's next-door neighbor and old baby-sitter. Bernie immediately falls in love with
Christina, but he and Al are unaware that Christina is secretly a test pilot for the EMF.
Ultimatum
Bernie and Al eventually locate the "Alex," and the Cyclops team launches an attack. However,
Christina and the "Alex" easily repel the team's mobile suit. All the Cyclops team members except
Bernie are killed in the attack. Bernie contacts the Jion informant on Side 6 and discovers that the
Jion command plans to destroy Side 6 with a nuclear missile if the "Alex" isn't destroyed by
Christmas. Bernie initially decides to run away, but Al convinces him to stay and protect the
colony. Al and Bernie repair Bernie's old Zaku, and Bernie prepares to destroy the NT-1, still
unaware that Christina is the pilot. Bernie gives Al a tape to play in case he is killed. As Bernie
launches the attack, Al learns that the Jion fleet carrying the nuclear missile was destroyed in route
to Side 6, therefore Bernie no longer needs to face the NT-1. Al runs to the battle site and tries to
stop the fight, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Before Al can stop them, the Gundam and the Zaku
destroy each other. Christina is wounded and Bernie is killed.
Conclusion
The next day the One Year War ends. Al plays the tape Bernie left him before going to school. In
the tape Bernie gives Al info about the planned Jion nuclear attack, and tells him to take it to the
authorities. He also tells Al to say good bye to Christina for him. As Al goes to school, he meets
Christina. She tells Al that she has been transferred back to Earth and will be leaving very soon.
She says good bye to Al and asks him to say good bye to Bernie for her. When Al arrives at the
now-destroyed school he listens to the principal talk about friends and family lost during the war.
The previous events finally become too much for Al, who breaks down crying. His friends try to
comfort him by saying "Don't worry Al! Another war will come around soon!"