Daedalus.
"Owned, fool!"
Mako Baylor was curled up on the green grass of a park field, her eyes red and her body shaking all from prolonged fits of laughter. She held her arms close to her chest, a grubby football clutched neatly in her hands. She grinned somewhat demonically, craning her neck to gaze upwards at the character now standing above her. The person leaned forwards, closer towards her, and extended a hand to offer her help to her feet.
"Damn… I can't believe you beat me again…"
As Mako returned to a standing position, she flashed her grin upon the person who had helped her up. It was a male, fairly tall yet thin, with a shag of brown hair dancing in the breeze. This was none other than her elder brother, Credle.
"Sorry… But… It's not my fault I'm better than you."
Now, the siblings exchanged hearty chuckles. Yet, even amidst their current joy, Mako couldn't help but feel like she was forgetting something. Something important… But what? The tanned girl tossed the football over to Credle, now placing her hands loosely atop her hips. Long red hair blew all around her in the breeze, almost making her look as though she were on fire.
"Credle… Weren't we supposed to be something important today?"
The brunette boy only responded with a shrug, raising his hand to his chin and now rubbing it curiously. The two looked rather awkward, tossing around a football casually while dressed in their everyday uniforms. Mako had rolled up the sleeves of her uniform and left the top few buttons unbuttoned, exposing some of her collarbone and the beginnings of her chest flesh. The collar was folded down in a rather odd fashion, to exhibit the opposite of how it was meant to be worn.
Credle had taken a different approach though. The seventeen year-old boy was far too original to even wear his uniform. Covering his torso was a dirtied black t-shirt, almost matching the dark brown color of his irises. The uniform in question, of course, was tied rather gruffly about his waist. Indeed, anyone who happened to look upon Mako and Credle at that moment surely would not believe that they were Mobile Suit pilots – Let alone two of the heirs to the Golden Eclipse.
"There you are! Oh by god, you're lucky I don't skin you alive!"
Ah, that was what they had forgotten. Today was the day the Daedalus would begin her voyage. As Minister Baylor stormed towards his two children (face about as red as a baboon's buttocks) Traend chose to poke his head out from behind the bulk of his father. The short boy shot an apologetic glance towards his brother and sister, managing to catch a glimpse of the fear the two were exuding at that moment.
"Ohh… Hey dad. Daedalus' voyage is today, eh?"
That stupid comment had come from Credle, the one who always had a habit of being 'witty' at the right time. Mako reacted quite the opposite though, not even able to speak at that moment. She avoided her father's gaze, attempting to look around him. All she managed to see was the mob of guests trailing behind him. M. Baylor had taken to scolding Credle, paying no mind to his daughter at that moment. Mako thought it was for the best; Survival of the fittest, better Credle than her after all.
"Dammit Traend! Why the hell didn't you remind me that the Daedalus is launching today?"
The thin girl bound away from her pissed off father, now standing above her younger brother and glaring daggers in his direction. All the while, the youngest of the three kept a maniacal grin on his features the entire time. Even under Mako's heavy gaze, Traend kept true to the Baylor family's reputation for sarcasm.
"I dunno. But I brought your hat…"
He pulled out the hand he had kept hidden behind his back, showing Mako her gold and silver pilot's hat. Just above the beak sat a pair of bronze wings, pinned neatly in the center for all to see. Grumbling, the girl snatched the hat out of Traend's hands, and placed it sloppily atop her head.
"Just because you're the youngest you think you can be a little snot, don't you?"
The girl mumbled this towards Traend, instinctively ruffling his hair with her hand. The two turned their backs to the enormous crowd behind them, just in time to catch the last few comments of M. Baylor's lecture.
"Goddamn! Credle, get your damn uniform off your waist and on your body!"
The man threw his arms up in frustration, though his breathing had finally regulated once again. Running a hand through his thinning red hair, the host turned to face his guests. He straightened out his collar in an attempt to regain his professional composure. Now, he stood in front of his guests once again, though now he was not as jovial as before.
"Now then. Let me introduce you all to my three children."
As Credle finished placing his uniform overtop his torso, he marched to stand on the left side of his sister. He flashed the girl a grin, flicking her affectionately in the forehead. Now she was glaring dangerously towards him, readying to slap him while her father went on senselessly rambling. She raised her right hand and…
"Credle, Mako, Traend… Please, step forward."
Darn. Maybe some other time. Sticking his tongue out in Mako's direction, Credle stepped forwards first. He gave his audience a bow, then Mako stepped forwards and repeated the action. Lastly, Traend stepped forwards and chose to salute rather than bow. Must have been something about him being a Captain and all… Whatever that was about.
"Now then! To the Daedalus; Let the festivities and voyage commence!"
Excited chatter rose among all of the guests, ZAFT veterans and Earth Alliance veterans sounding as though they were all about to implode from anxiety. Honestly, Mako didn't know what the big deal was. The Daedalus was just another ship. Though, she wasn't one to question her father's motives. The girl simply sighed in defeat and followed suit as the mob approached the hangar.
The entire group filed in neatly, many gasps and 'oohs' coming out. The short Mako struggled to look over the sea of heads standing ahead of her, though she did manage to catch some interesting sights. For example, her eyes caught sight of pink hair. Lacus Clyne, without a doubt. Wow… Even the Lacus Clyne was attending the Daedalus' voyage. Perhaps this was a big deal.
"Our Daedalus is one of the largest battleships ever to be developed! Mind you, it isn't just a battleship. We have resorts, pools, restaurants, the works! Anything to make your stay and her journey comfortable and worthwhile. Now, you've all received a numbered card. These are your room keys; Please, try not to lose them. Don't worry about getting lost aboard her! Even if you do get lost – which is quite possible, my dears – consider it an opportunity to explore one of the greatest creations ever known!"
Minister Baylor paused for a second, a smile crossing his lips as he caught glimpses of the excitement erupting amongst the crowd.
"We hope you feel right at home aboard our ship! Please, feel free to socialize and wander whenever your heart desires! Now… All aboard the Daedalus!"
As the Minister ushered his guests inside, Mako felt a tug on her arm. Of course, it was Traend dragging her along to the back of the crowd. They – along with Credle – were to make sure everyone boarded the ship successfully. Now standing in the gaping opening of the hangar, the girl gazed towards her brunette elder brother. The last few passengers had boarded – Now it was their turn. But Mako still had a question for Credle before that… Grabbing his arm, she gazed at him intently.
"The Mobile Suits? Are they coming as a precaution? I doubt we'll get our voyage accomplished without coming under attack…"
"They're all on board. All of the Mobile Suits being maintained here have been transferred onto the Daedalus… Even the veterans. Just in case… I hope to god nothing goes wrong…"
Credle and Mako exchanged awkward sighs, Traend looking at them in a bizarre fashion. He hated being left out of conversations. He stuck his tongue out rather immaturely towards his older siblings, now walking onto the Daedalus himself. This would be Traend's first official sailing as a Captain, and now he wondered what all of the guests would think when they found out their Captain was a fifteen year-old coordinator. Maybe they wouldn't mind… He would be guided by his father the entire time, after all. And he always had the support of his siblings. With one final gulp, the young boy pulled himself on board his ship. Mako and Credle followed suit expectedly, the three now making a steady approach towards the bridge. As Traend took his seat in the Captain's chair, he noticed that the chair beside him was empty. Looking around rather helplessly, his eyes landed upon Credle.
"Dad isn't coming… Someone has to stay and take care of the G.E. while we're gone."
Some response that was. Traend sighed in defeat, holding his composure as high as possible. Biting his lower lip eagerly, the fact that he was the sole Captain of the Daedalus set in. The screen in front of him flashed, running with familiar information. Then, a screen full of green checkmarks. All of the passengers had time to get settled in…
"We're good to go, I guess… The Daedalus is launching now!"
It was then that the enormous explosion occurred outside the hangar, emerging the entirety of the Golden Eclipse in flames.
