Apollo rested very nicely on the prison transport. He was blindfolded and cuffed but it didn't stop him from enjoying a good nap on the ship. After eluding the hand of the law several times, his past finally caught up with him, he wasn't even caught in the most glamorous way either. Apollo had always thought that if he was going to prison it would be in a guns blazing manner of taking down and disarming as many of the UHFS Astrays as he could in his Valentine War era ZGMF - GOUF; his past ventures had helped him become remarkably good at doing that. Alas his capture was done in a very underwhelming matter, as a SWAT team raided his home in the hills Onogoro Island.

Apollo expected the transport time to be only a half hour or so to the nearest maximum security prison on Earth, but he had been asleep and awake for a lot longer than that. He heard the familiar metallic grunge of a hangar bay opening. One of the guards watching him pulled off his mask, and suddenly Apollo realized where he was. He saw the ZAFT Emblem blazoned on every wall of the colony's port. They had taken him up to the PLANTs, most likely they were docked on Aprilius to consult his new relatives, the Zala family, about his misbehavior.

"WELCOME TO ARMORY ONE KIDDO," the guard grumbled in a loud voice.

"Wait Armory One?! Isn't this a military personnel only colony?"

"Yes indeed it is, we were on special orders to deliver you here rather than to the Maximum Security Prison. You've got some relations with some really powerful people kiddo, anyone with your record would be put on the chopping block or set for life."

"Mind telling me why?"

"You know very damn well why you little runt. Mobile Suit grand theft, obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting known criminals, assault on military and law enforcement personnel, and robbery at gunpoint."

"Half of that stuff isn't even true. I only borrowed those mobile suits, you guys were in my while I was trying to dish out justice, I didn't swear that one guy I bought movies off of was funding a crime ring, and..."

"That's enough," a calm voice added to the conversation. The voice originated from a woman in a Red Uniform. She apparently was standing next to Apollo and the guard unnoticed, "My name is Shinonome Sayaka, Apollo-kun, you are under my care for today. Guard, here are your next assignments, get ready for take off."

"Roger that Shinonome-san," the guard replied, "watch out for this one he's troublesome, probably will escape when given the chance."

"I'll be extra careful then," she smiled. "Apollo."

"Yes, ma'am," Apollo responded diligently. He straightened up to an attentive position.

"I see you'll make a fine soldier and pilot," Shinonome said as she observed his stance. "I believe you are good man who just got involved with the wrong people."

"Those people are my friends," Apollo replied angrily. Reminded of his good friends at home who taught him how to fly a mobile at a young age, "they ..."

"Are also wanted criminals who recognized your natural gift and abused it," she added, "come this way, you'll be meeting the captain who'll assign you to a mobile suit team."

"Wait, I'm already being given a red uniform?"

"Yes, Apollo-kun, thanks to your name's history and frankly your own skill it has been decided that you will be assigned to an MS Team. Now come we're wasting time out here." The two then proceeded to head to the Captain's Office which overlooked the rest of Armory One in a high watchtower. Aside the entrance to the office were stationed two guards, whom promptly stood at attention when recognized by Shinonome. The guards opened to the door to the lobby and Shinonome and Apollo waited for the Captain to come out of his personal quarters.

"Is Shinonome here," said a muffled voice from beyond the door. "Oh she is, bring her in then." The door to the Captains Quarters opened and Shinonome escorted Apollo in, she stood outside the doors as they closed leaving Apollo by himself with the Captain. The Captain was an older man probably in his 40s, he wore a white uniform and Captain's hat which denoted his rank in the ZAFT military. He sat comfortably in his desk as he looked at Apollo's file on the holo-monitor. He gestured his hand at the seat in front of his desk, "Please sit."

Apollo sat down in the chair and slouched a bit. He forgot that he had been handcuffed and began squirming around a bit as he tried to re-position himself on the chair. "Zachariah can you please remove these cuffs this is embarrassing." Zachariah abruptly walked up to Apollo and undid the locks on his cuffs.

"Thank you," Apollo exclaimed. He stretched out his arms to relieve some of the stress from being cuffed for that long. "Zachariah is it? The name's Apollo," Apollo stretched out his hand and expected a handshake, but Zachariah politely declined with a stern look. However the Captain gladly accepted the offer and stood up to shake his hand.

"My name is Captain Jo-ash Connor, I am in charge of this section of Armory One as well as the ship you will be assigned on, the Eternal."

"I thought the Eternal is an ancient ship, it will be demolished by pretty much any modern mobile suit in an instant."

"Yes that is true, but we have completely refurbished the Eternal with all the latest armor and weapon technology."

"I see," Apollo replied. He turned toward Zachariah and started shooing him off, "I think its time for us to have our important talk now, I heard I'll get to be a mobile suit pilot."

"Well, Apollo, we actually need Zachariah here," the Captain said with authority. He paused to clear his throat and continued speaking, "Zachariah Zala is your stepbrother. Not only is he your stepbrother but he is also your commanding officer as a FAITH member and experienced ZAFT mobile suit pilot." Upon hearing this information, Apollo's jaw dropped to the floor.\

"So, I have to follow his every order," Apollo asked.

"Yes you do, brother," Zachariah replied casually with a grin, "everything I say you must do, if I tell you to drop and give me a 100 push-ups you will give me 200."

"And why should I give you 200," Apollo replied starkly, glaring at Zachariah.

"Because I will have you shipped off to prison with no chance of parole the moment you even step your foot off the line, Apollo."

"That is actually true if you do happen to be the criminal everyone thinks you are," the Captain continued, "you're being given this opportunity because, Apollo," he paused to think, "Because, Apollo, you are clearly not aware of your natural talent, and you can aspire to be someone greater. Over the course of your lifetime you've managed to outmaneuver even our most experienced pilots in a century old mobile suit only outfitted with some new armor and a barely passable propulsion system. Shinonome happened to be one of the victims of your latest mobile suit stunt and she's been training and going on operations for the last 6 years. She's regarded as one of the best MS pilots in this company."

Apollo had to let all that information soak in. He realized he is a better pilot than what the military has to offer. "Well just to avoid going to prison, I'm in."

"Well good," the Captain replied heartily, "Welcome to the Parallel Program, Apollo Zala."