In the fictional universe Gundam Wing, Zechs Merquis (German 6, pronounced "Zex Mar-key", but in Japanese, like "Zex Mar-kiss"), also known as the Lightning Baron, was born Milliardo Peacecraft, heir to the Sanc Kingdom, a European nation that believed in absolute pacifism. When an evil United Earth Sphere Alliance General deamed their pacifism a risk to the Alliances goals, the Alliance invaded, and being pacifistic, the Sanc Kingdom was conquered quickly. King Peacecraft was killed, and his children orphaned and exiled.

Method

Zechs is very much like Char Aznable from the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Both joined the organizations that killed their families for revenge, and both quickly moved up in rank within them. When the Alliance was overthrown by OZ, Zechs became OZ's undisputed top ace. However, OZ (a corporate subsidiary of the Romefeller Foundation) betrayed Zechs, at which point Zechs became something of a freelancer and fought for his own merit. He occasionally sided with various mercenaries until being offered a head seat of the White Fang Movement, the space colony's own army.

Zechs participated in the Eve Wars (After Colony 195), and upon the conclusion of hostilities, went missing and was presumed dead.

Endless Waltz

In Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (AC 196) Zechs returned to what is now the Earth Sphere Unified Nation and volunteered to be a Mobile Suit (MS) pilot for 'Preventer' (an elite intelligence bureau designed to stop aggressive conflicts before they are executed) during the attempt to overthrow the government by ramming a Space Colony into Earth by Mariemaia Khushrenada, Treize's pre-adolescent daughter. He piloted the new Tallgeese III , and began using a new name, 'Preventer Wind'. Zechs was one of the very few people who actively fought against Mariemaia's army. At the end of the conflict, Zechs disappeared with Lucrezia Noin , his estranged lover, and headed for Mars.