In Gradius V, a destructive life form born from the dark depths of space was destroyed in a strenuous battle with the Gradius army. However, remnants of the life form’s cells floating in an unnoticed pocket of the universe somehow survived. Slowly but surely the cells multiplied and began to form a new bacterial cell. Suddenly an orbiting space station took massive damage from a surprise attack. Now, the Gradius army must quickly develop a counterattack strategy and protect the universe.