Three centuries after a great conflict between Earth and Mars known as the “Calamity War,” politician Kudelia Aina Bernstein travels to Earth to speak for the independence of the Martian city of Chryse, which is under the control of the Earth government. Escorting her are private security company CGS members Mikazuki Augus and Orga Itsuka. When a group named Gjallarhorn attacks CGS and Kudelia, Orga sees this as a chance to rebel against CGS and launch a coup. To fend off Gjallarhorn, Mikazuki pilots an old mobile suit from the Calamity War called the Gundam Barbatos.

While humanity is yet to expand to the moon and Mars, the Edmonton that appears first in episode 24 is strikingly similar to the layout of the city as it existed in 2016, albeit with a slightly exaggerated sprawl. Press in Edmonton seemed excited that their city was being showcased in a piece of media outside the realm of subpar Christmas movies, even if a bit uneasy at the prospect of their home being ripped to shreds by giant humanoid robots.

While IBO’s double train route through North America does not exactly line up with a specific real line or car style, that certainly didn’t stop Pashimo, a blogger at otakucrossing.com, from doing a leisurely passenger rail tour from Vancouver to Edmonton before heading downtown to recreate some angles from the fight scene and attend the local convention.