Linebarrels of Iron - Season 1

14-year-old Kouichi Hayase is a quiet student who is constantly harassed by the class bullies while secretly fantasizing about someday becoming a "hero of justice." His mediocre life takes a dramatic turn when he happens upon an accident and encounters a gigantic robot called LINEBARREL, as well as a beautiful girl Emi Kizaki who seems to have lost her memory.

Kouichi engages in a fierce battle with Sawatari of the KATO-KIKAN, the secret organization that harbors an evil plot to take over the world. Kouichi is immensely pleased with himself for having saved the town, but his efforts are not mentioned on any TV news reports. Frustrated, Kouichi takes revenge on the bullies who had always pushed him around, abusing the super-human physical powers he acquired by becoming a Factor. Kouichi's childhood friends Risako and Yajima are somewhat unsettled by the change that has come over Kouichi.

Kouichi has caused massive damage to the town during his battle on LINEBARREL fighting the secret organization KATO-KIKAN. Kizaki feels guilty for getting the citizens entangled in the battle, but Kouichi himself has no such notion, truly believing that he is the hero of justice. Then, VARDANT, controlled by JUDA's ace pilot Reiji Moritsugu, appears before Kouichi.

Having lost the LINEBARREL, Kouichi gives in to despair and violently takes his anger out on innocent civilians. Since he is a Factor, no one can match his physical power unarmed. On behalf of Risako who is worried about Kouichi, Yajima decides to confront Kouichi. In the pouring rain, Yajima and Kouichi engage in a fistfight, when a HAGURE MACHINA (stray MACHINA) appears before them...

Kouichi looses consciousness due to the LINEBARREL going out of control, and is taken into custody by JUDA. Ishigami tells Kouichi about the MACHINAs, and their enemy KATO-KIKAN. Kouichi is persuaded by Ishigami to fight together as a hero of justice, but cannot make up his mind. Meanwhile, Shizuna and Izuna Endo, twin members of JUDA's Special Task Force, were being attacked by KATO-KIKAN ARMAs and now have their backs against the wall.

Kouichi becomes a member of JUDA, and starts his duties while commuting to school from JUDA quarters. He is overwhelmed by the JUDA facilities, which include employees' housing and shopping malls. The members of the Special Task Force decide to throw a welcome party for Kouichi, who gradually comes to understand his true mission...

Domyoji, one of Kouichi's classmates, starts acting over-familiar toward Kizaki. Sensing Kizaki's discomfort, Koichi challenges Domyoji to a fight, but oddly enough, cannot even touch him. Meanwhile, Kouichi has a visitor at JUDA...

Moritsugu, Miu, and Kouichi are given a mission to assist the retreat of a US Force transportation aircraft and to exterminate the enemy there. It is the first official assignment for Kouichi. Moritsugu and Kouichi team up and take on Masaki and Yuriannu of KATO-KIKAN, who are leading a vast troop of ARMAs. Meanwhile, Miu, who is backing up the retreat of general troops on PAINKILLER, is attacked by a new enemy MACHINA.

In order to investigate the mysterious "Spheres" deposited in various locations around the world by the KATO-KIKAN, members of the JUDA task force including Kouichi head to an ARMA production base located in South America. Distracted by guilt for not being able to recognize Moritsugu's physical disorder, Yamashita makes a blunder during the operation and ends up putting Moritsugu in danger. Panic-stricken Yamashita loses control and starts taking matters into his own hands!

Christmas season has arrived. Kouichi is invited to a party Risako is organizing. Kouichi finds out that the JUDA task force is also preparing a Christmas party. Unlike Kouichi, who feels unenthusiastic about this "workplace" party, it is more of a family party for most of the members who consider JUDA their home. The party mood is suddenly interrupted by the news of an American satellite weapon being taken over by the KATO-KIKAN. This would allow the KATO-KIKAN to attack any part of the world. Assigned to shoot down the satellite weapon, Kouichi and Yamashita head into outer space!

Kouichi and Yamashita are met by KATO-KIKAN's new ARMA in outer space. While controlling the satellite weapon, the new ARMA, YAOYOROZU continues its simultaneous assault on different parts of the world. Kouichi's attempts to obliterate YAOYOROZU are thwarted by its incredible maneuverability and speed. The operation to destroy the satellite weapon from the ground also ends in failure. With no options left, even LINEBARREL gets diverted off the combat zone.

The members of the JUDA task force have come to a tropical island as a company outing. Thanks to the good-natured whim of Ishigami, Risako and Domyoji have also been invited to join them. Kouichi finds himself in an uncomfortable position as Domyoji asks him which is his true love interest, Risako or Kizaki. Their brief vacation is interrupted as the members go missing...one by one.

The tropical vacation is still the hot topic discussed between Domyoji and the task force members. Only Kizaki does not seem to share their post-vacation hype. The vacation has also left an awkward rift between Kouichi and Kizaki. Kouichi and Yamashita are summoned to a meeting and head to Ishigami's room. At that instant, they hear a gunshot from Ishigami's room.

Unexpected incidents occur one after another. The secrets of LINEBARREL are revealed, leaving Kouichi in shock and others including Ogata in distress. Meanwhile, Kiriyama, who had aligned himself with the KATO-KIKAN, continues to tighten his control over Japan until the country virtually falls into Kiriyama's and KATO-KIKAN's hands. JUDA is acknowledged as the anti-national armed group and is attacked by the JINNRAI team of the SSDF. Kouichi tries to breach their defenses with LINEBARREL, which is the only working MACHINA left.

Kouichi and Kizaki find a safe area and take a brief but much needed refuge. Kizaki, who is starting to regain her memory, confesses to Kouichi that she is afraid of recalling memories she had long ago lost. Seeing Kizaki desperately fighting her angst, Kouichi makes a certain resolution. However, their peace is short-lived as they are suddenly attacked by IDATEN and KAGUTSUCHI piloted by Sawatari and Demitry.

With a renewed sense of justice, the JUDA task force members begin their battle against the enemy. The first step is to regain JUDA which has been taken over by Kiriyama and his horde. While Kouichi diverts Kiriyama with LINEBARREL, the others sneak into the facility via an emergency route. As they make their way in, they find that the facility is protected by JUDA's state-of-the-art security system!

Yajima returns while the puzzled Risako and Kouichi try to keep the secret of Yajima's so - called death. But behind the seemingly good comeback, Yajima reveals himslef to be the pilot of Apparition, one of Katou's new Machinas before the rest of JUDA during their party and kidnaps Kizaki as a mission from Katou.

Following Yajima's instructions, Kouichi reaches an abandoned Russian base in search for Emi, but it was only Katou who was waiting for him there. Meanwhile, Yajima questions Emi about her feelings for Kouichi and the rest of the JUDA team struggles to protect Misaki City from an invasion from the enemy.

GLAIN-NEIDR, piloted by Masaki, appears in Misaki-cho and starts to install the last Sphere. Miu, Yamashita, and the JINRAI brigade led by Doumyouji return fire, but are no match. Meanwhile, Kouichi rescues Kizaki and heads back to JUDA, when he is stopped by Yajima. Yajima insists that Kouichi stop fighting and return to Risako. The two are unable to reconcile. On the beach in the pouring rain, APPARATION and LINEBARREL: Yajima and Kouichi exchange blows.

Since the last battle, Miu's slump hasn't gone away and with PAINKILLER unable to advance, has further prolonged her state. Miu' reckless drive to train, has left her body and spirit broken. Miu finally cheers up when Koichi comes to visit... Meanwhile, KATO-KIKAN has set up Spheres throughout the world on a large-scale trajectory to open up a multidimensional invasion. It's up to Shizuna and Izuna to convince the UN to take action...but will they listen?

It's now up to Koichi and the rest of JUDA to hold back the launch of the SPHEREs. However, Yamashita has a different mobilization unit out, after receiving a letter designating him to fulfill a special duty surrounding a secret reunion around the base of Mt. Fuji near the Aokigahara Sea of Trees. As Koichi races towards Yamashita, he is completely unaware of what is awaiting for him there.

Standing in Koichi's way is none other than his nemesis: Moritsugu Reiji. Blasting forward, Moritsugu is prepared to show Koichi and company their inexperience and lack of power, compared to his. Unable to gain enough power and strength against Moritsugu, Koichi is left almost helpless. As Vardant's violent battle ensues, will Linebarrel be able to show off its power?

The enemy invasion has begun and it's up to Koichi and his team to defend the earth. Koichi and his Linebarrel take it upon themselves to drive the invaders into the space-time continuum and back into their respective dimension. As Koichi and his Linebarrel blast off into space, Kizaki initiates a surprise attack against the infiltrators.

Anywhere else, Hayase Koichi is just a normal junior high school student. However, he's become a part of the Linebarrel, made and lost friends, and discovered the thing that he wants to protect the most. And just as Koichi reflects upon his life up to now, Linebarrel decides to finally show its true and ultimate form!