Lunamaria Hawke serves as a mobile suit pilot aboard the Minerva, alongside Shinn Asuka and Rey Za Burrel. She typically pilots a red ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior and wears a customized version of the ZAFT red ace uniform, featuring a miniskirt instead of the standard female-issue skirt. Lunamaria attended the ZAFT military academy with her sister Meyrin Hawke, Shinn Asuka, Rey Za Burrel, Vino Dupre, and Yolant Kent, all of whom are later stationed on the Minerva.
During the Armory One Incident, Lunamaria, Shinn, and Rey become involved in the conflict, but the stolen units escape and are picked up by the Earth Alliance battleship Girty Lue, which is cloaked by mirage colloid and waiting outside the colony. The Minerva pursues the Girty Lue, leading to several battles.
In the course of the pursuit, Lunamaria encounters Athrun Zala, who is using the alias "Alex Dino" and acting as Cagalli Yula Athha’s bodyguard. Her interest in Athrun grows when he re-enlists in ZAFT as a member of FAITH and joins the Minerva's crew. However, her attempts to get closer to Athrun are sometimes thwarted by Meer Campbell, who impersonates Lacus Clyne. Ironically, Lunamaria seems oblivious to her own sister Meyrin’s interest in Athrun, even when they discuss him.
Talia Gladys, the captain of the Minerva, orders Lunamaria to spy on Athrun during his meeting with former comrades Kira Yamato and Cagalli from the Archangel. During this meeting, Lunamaria discovers that the Lacus she knows is an impostor. She provides Talia with the data and photographs she collected but omits mentioning that the Lacus Clyne working for PLANT is not the true Lacus. At times, Lunamaria appears to want to discuss the matter with Shinn, but refrains from doing so when Rey is around.
The Minerva participates in several incidents during the Second Bloody Valentine War. During the Battle of Crete, Lunamaria’s ZAKU Warrior is heavily damaged, and she is badly wounded. Upon the Minerva's arrival at Gibraltar, Lunamaria has recovered and replaces Shinn as the pilot of the ZGMF-X56S Impulse, since he is now piloting the ZGMF-X42S Destiny.
Lunamaria is shocked when she learns that Athrun and her sister Meyrin have defected together and that Shinn has destroyed the GOUF Ignited in which they had attempted to escape. In grief and denial, Lunamaria blames Logos rather than Shinn, who is clearly upset over killing her sister. Lunamaria and Shinn begin relying on each other for emotional support and develop a romantic relationship.
After Operation: Fury, Lunamaria discovers that both Athrun and Meyrin are alive and on the rogue battleship, Archangel. At the Battle of Messiah, Lunamaria refrains from attacking the Eternal when she realizes Meyrin is on that ship.
Lunamaria then battles Athrun, blaming him for taking her sister Meyrin away. He severely damages Lunamaria’s mobile suit, the Impulse, with his ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice. As Lunamaria is getting beaten, Shinn enters SEED Mode and attacks Athrun with his ZGMF-X42S Destiny. Lunamaria interposes herself between the two, trying to get them to stop fighting. Shinn, too enraged to understand what Lunamaria has done, is blocked by Athrun, who enters SEED Mode, saves Lunamaria, and cripples Shinn’s mobile suit. Shinn crashes on the surface of the moon, and Lunamaria lands her damaged Impulse nearby, holding a tearful Shinn in her arms as they watch the Requiem superweapon explode and the ZAFT fortress, Messiah, crash into the Moon.
In Gundam SEED Destiny "Final Plus," both stranded pilots are later rescued by Athrun Zala in the Infinite Justice. At the end of "Final Plus," Lunamaria is present with Shinn (alongside Athrun and Meyrin, Kira and Lacus) as he pays tribute to his deceased family in Orb.
