The end of a story...

[Xing]

Chapter 8 - We are back home

The journey back to core space was calm as the remnant of the 7th fleet was dragged back toward New Tokyo. Within days, large hauler crafts of the imperial navy came by to tow away the gunboats that were too damaged to fly by themselves, after what, construction ships came in and began repairs already on the whole fleet even as they moved. The imperial navy was that efficient; all ships had to appear decently in front of the Emperor' throne. And it was the reason why they halted for the moment above planet Honshu, where a whole fleet of construction vessels deployed from Yukawa and Yokohama shipyards to effect repairs - for the shipyards themselves were at full capacity, repairing the damaged vessels of the bretonian conflict.

As such, Isabelle, Jimmy and fleet admiral Mitsurugi were now planetside within a small residence of the local imperial governor' mansion, who was honoured to receive "returning war-heroes".

As Jimmy and Isabelle entered the well furnished room where Mitsurugi wanted to held their meeting (he would come an hour later only to fill in reports directly to the emperor from the Yamato), they closed the door rapidly and embraced each other, immediately lost in their passion as they hugged and kissed each other...
Isabelle shed tears of relief even though she fully knew all along her lover was alive, yet the fact to be able to see him, to touch him and close to him once again, she couldn't restrain her emotions.
She shook her head against his chest, feeling a bit remorseful as she thought it was herself that did put Jimmy in such a dangerous situation...
But feeling his strong hand patting her, she felt already better, and smiled back at him. They stayed locked in this little moment of love until fleet admiral Mitsurugi arrived...

--

The elderly man sat down, his move very fluid for a man of his age, confident and strong. He truly had the essence of a leader, of a warrior.
"Well, Isa, Patterson, first, let me tell you I am glad both of you are well and alive. I see the Gods smile on the two of you, and hopefully will continue to do so."
"First, battle report. Casuality, 234 on our side among them 14 pilot casuality, 4 destroyers sunk, 15 heavily damaged, and 7 gunboats sunk, 12 heavily damaged. 14 fighters lost. And one heavily damaged battleship."
Mitsurugi smiled somewhat feeling sorry to them before continuing,
"Estimated enemy casuality would be an average of 46 fighters, 22 bombers, 16 gunboats and 18 cruisers. Rough approximation, places their casuality somewhere along the 300 some. Considering your situation, I applaud the two of you, and the rest of the 7th fleet, for surviving at all."
He nodded gravely,
"I apologize for giving you commodore Kaito. He was more of a fool than I thought he was. This nearly cost the life of the whole fleet..."

As he finished speacking, he relaxed his posture somewhat. Now ere more private matters;
"I've recently talked with some of my fellow admirals. About all the events that recently hapenned around concerning the two of you... lets say, they are reluctant. Very much so. And I guess, we don't get a more liberal mind just because we have risen to admiral..."
He smirked, as he himself became more liberal because a libertonian commodore saved his skin once upon a time...
that wasnt going to happen to every kusari for sure.
But, the 7th fleet was forever in debt to Isa.
And if he wasn't somewhat restrained by honour and humanity, he would have burned to the bone this imbecil who deared to insult the lover of the girl he tutored for so long...

"I've spoken personally with the emperor, and he seems impressed. The man is slightly more openned than my fellow soldiers... probably because they dont see you as possible rivals. Our Lord likes all that might help him to maintain his power, and that you are Outsiders doesnt seems to trouble him much... consider the two of you in his favor... for the time being."
He smiled reasuringly,
"Continue to perform well, and I'm fairly certain we will accomplish miracle."

--

later on, Isabelle stood alone with Mitsurugi in a separate room. The old man requested a few minutes alone with her, and Isa wondered what was so important - and personnal, that Jimmy couldn't listen to what was about to be said...

Mitsurugi looked around, still seated. He seemed like a much older man suddenly.
Outside, night has fallen on the planet, but neither Isa or Mitsurugi went to open the lights.

The fleet admiral looked up at the young woman, and smiled softly, although there was a certain sadness in his eyes.
"Uncle Daite... is something wrong?" Isabelle finally said, as she sat slowly beside him.
"Isabelle... will you forgive me for this single lie?..."
She remained silent, not sure what to answer, not sure either if she wanted to hear the answer. But she nodded anyway, asking for the old man to continue.
"I've talked to the emperor of you. I lied to you. The man isn't as liberal-minded as I told to you and Jimmy. Isabelle, I had no choice. To talk to him about you, to even hope to make you kusari citizen, I've convinced him you were my adopted daughter."
Isabelle felt her heart stop for a few seconds. She wasnt even sure why she was so surprised... it wasn't even really a lie after all, it was one for the emperor of course... how did Mitsurugi deared to lie to his Lord, that was truly the surprise.
But she knew her heart told her otherwise.
"How?" she asked instead.
"I've prepared this secretly. My contacts in Kusari are very powerful. I have contacts Sirius wide, even more powerful. You understand, if for a freelancer, hacking his rep with the imperial navy isnt that hard, hacking some individual information isnt much harder either."
Isabelle widened her eyes. She wasn't upset, but even more surprised, this time, truly by the power of her uncle.
"I've changed a bit your history, Isa. In the libertonian data, I've put the death -I'm sorry, Isa, but I had no choice- of your mother and father when you were 11. Kusari data already confirmed I was a close aquaintance to comodore Kaitlynn - I was watched by our intelligence agents because they were suspicious on my "frequentations", so I know of this. And I know those files are still there.
I pretended since I was the only person available for you, since your closest family members couldn't be found, you were assigned under my parenting instead."

Isabelle smiled, somewhat stunned by the news,
"Adopted by a Kusari admiral...?"

Mitsurugi noded, understanding how far-stretched the story was. But, the worst was that, this story was highly credible. Aquaintances of the fleet admiral could confirm he was often seen with a young little blonde libertonian girl... it was a story incredibly easy to believe... only a few data changes...
Isabelle was impressed.
And then, she realised something,

"B... but then, my name... I would be... Isabelle... Mitsurugi?..."

The fleet admiral didn't answered at first,
"I can change it back to Kaitlynn... we could pretend you kept..."
But Isabelle interrupted him, smiling gently, although sadly.
"Father died... I know if he trusted a person to take care of me, it'd be you. The Kaitlynns will live through me until my time has come, but for the home I will be building here..."
"Mitsurugi shall be my new name, father."

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