A pilot aimlessly wandered around the deck of the Guwaden. This Mothership had been specially modified for the use of the merc group the HouseCards. The artificial gravity was bothering him a little, but he didn't let it show. The halogen lights illuminated his short curly dark brown hair. Light danced off of the crystal lenses of his glasses and cast sparkling light on some parts of the walls. His old fleet uniform contrasted greatly with the menagerie of clothes worn by the other four pilots. He was soon joined by a female pilot with long braided red hair. Her braid bounced merrily behind her at her waist. The red jumpsuit she wore seemed to light up the drab metallic corridor as she firmly embraced his arm and refused to let go. "Noriko, don't you have to practice your marksmanship or something?" The male pilot asked as he turned to look at the girl glomping his arm. She shook her head furiously then rested her cheek on his shoulder as she smiled blissfully. The male pilot sighed and continued his way towards the bridge. "Sir!" Another male pilot with a blond crew cut saluted as He entered the corridor. "Bob, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" The first pilot almost shouted as he stopped to enter the pass code for the bridge door. "Sorry sir, I mean Ran. It's just the uniform reminds me of my old military days and I just..." "Gods, if you didn't sound so much like a cadet, I swear I'd slap you." Ran responded heartlessly as Noriko continued her attachment to her favorite pilot. Soon the electronic doors slid open to reveal the drab, if not practical, command deck. The captain's chair sat empty with various empty soda cans strewn about. To the left of the captain's chair was the navigator's chair, in which the pilot with the blond crew cut went to sit. To the right of the captain's chair sat a girl with long black hair whom was flipping through monitor windows showing the ship's current armaments and shielding values. "You know, you really shouldn't be letting her do that in public, Captain. Or your pilots might just get the wrong idea." A woman with short green hair commented as she entered the bridge. "Mina, does it look like I enjoy having her hang from my arm every chance she gets?" Ran replied as he gently pushed Noriko towards her seat on the bridge. "Don't make me answer that Captain." The green haired woman laughed as she took gunnery position next to the black haired girl. Noriko innocently made her way down to her seat in front of a large touch screen, where she began to softly talk to the monitor. "Noriko will supply the computer with the destination of our next contract." Ran called out as he sat in the Captain's chair and scanned the room. Several large screens in front of him lit up and the entire ship seemed to jump back to life. "Wait, where the hell is Stevens?" Ran shouted as he spotted an empty seat. "Probably crying over the fact that the Captain always has a pretty girl next to him, and that he'll never be nearly as lucky as the Captain." Mina whispered to the black haired girl, whom in turn started to giggle. "I heard that, Mina." Ran glared as he turned his head towards their direction. "But Captain, you know that it's probably true." Mina replied in a singsong voice. Ran just stopped and glared as the black haired girl burst out in laughter. "What'd I miss?" Another pilot shouted as he shambled his way into the room. "Nothing, Stevens." Mina called out sweetly as he made his way to his seat. "You know, you really shouldn't be so mean to him, it's not like you're doing any better." Bob called out. And then there was silence. "Uh, so what's going on?" Stevens asked softly over the deathly silence of the bridge room. "Noriko's going to take us to the next contract. Are we ready to go?" Ran turned to face the main view screen and the rest of the crew. "SIR, YES, SIR." Everyone shouted in unison, except Noriko, whom seemed to be having a very nice conversation with the computer. "Gods! I hate it when you people do that!" Ran shouted as he nearly fell out of his chair. "And we hate it when you wear that stupid uniform Captain." Mina responded as the ship lurched foreword.