Akito, a reluctant protagonist with a love for cooking instead of mecha piloting, finds his life turned upside down when Mars is destroyed.
Mysteriously teleported to Earth, he seeks answers and finds himself drawn to Yurika, the captain of the spaceship Nadesico.
To stay close to her and uncover the truth behind the Mars tragedy, Akito joins the Nadesico crew as their cook, despite his aversion to fighting.
He quickly learns that the seemingly oddball crew is actually a team of highly skilled individuals embarking on a mission to reclaim Mars.
The story follows their journey as they confront the realities of war and the complexities of life that extend far beyond the giant mecha anime Akito grew up with.