The year is After Colony 195. After years of oppression by the tyrannical Earth Sphere Alliance, rebel citizens of certain space colonies send five youngsters to Earth to destroy OZ, the Specials military force that provides the Earth Sphere Alliance with military power. They are disguised as shooting stars.

At the time that these five warriors are launched to Earth, Vice Minister Darlian and his daughter, Relena, are returning home to Earth from a dimplomatic visit to the colonies. Relena sees one of the "shooting stars" out of the shuttle window. Her father mentions that it's part of Operation Meteor, the secret mission to bring down OZ from the colonies.

Simultaneously, an OZ mobile suit carrier is in the atmosphere, and catches one of the renegade "shooting stars" trying to get to Earth. The carrier is commanded by Lieutenant Zechs Merquise, an ace pilot in the Specials. Zechs decides to lauch an attach on the aircraft and destroy the weapon and the pilot. In front of their eyes, the "shooting star" reveals itself to be a highly advanced mobile suit made of gundanium alloy- a gundam. It is the Gundam Wing, piloted by Heero Yuy. Zechs gives chase, and a battle ensues. In the course of thebattle, the gundam is disabled, and plunges to Earth, along with an OZ Leo, with the rebel pilot inside. The Alliance marina offers to bring up the mobile suit from the ocean where it fell.

Meanwhile, Darlian and his daughter return safely to Earth, and Relena starts walking home. On her way out of the spaceport, she comments that she wishes her father would pay more attention to her, especially so close to her birthday. It's then that she sees a body lying on the beach. She runs down to see if the person is okay, and then calls for an ambulance.

At the same time, the other four "shooting stars" attack various OZ facilities around the world. There is Duo Maxwell, piloting the Deathscythe, Trowa Barton, piloting the Heavyarms, Quatre Raberba Winner, piloting the Sandrock, and Chang Wufei, piloting the Shenlong. None of the gundam pilots know that there are others fighting on their side. They all think they are alone in their mission.

Back on the beach, Heero wakes up to find Relena kneeling beside him, with an ambulance on the way. Knowing that he could be caught, he attempts to kill himself, but it doesn't work. He then hijacks the ambulance. Relena introduces herself to him as he speeds away.

Later on, Relena returns to her posh private school, and is immediately surrounded by her adoring (and often annoying) entourage. During one of her classes, a new student is introduced. It is Heero Yuy. He takes a seat next to Relena, but ignores her polite offer of friendship. A little later on, Relena gives Heero an invitation to her birthday party. Heero tears it up in front of her face. When she cries and asks why, Heero brushes away her tears and utters the infamous, "I'll kill you." Relena, terrified, realizes that Heero Yuy is not all that he seems.