667 - Resignation part 1/2

The New World, United Nations, Sawtooth Mountain Airbase

Massive wheels lined with treated slime squeaked loudly as they hit the tarmac. Friction between the two surfaces, burnt off the rubbery slime and smoke trailed behind the turning wheels as the wing ship taxied to a stop on the runway. The gigantic flying wing halted right before a tiny goblin waving a pair of light wands excitedly and a boarding bridge was slowly extended out to the side forward hatch while its rear cargo hatch slowly swung open.

Carrying Coa in one hand, Blake strolled out of the hatch with Sherene and the waiting honour guard contingent lined along the boarding bridge snapped to attention and saluted at their arrival. At the end of the bridge, both military and civilian officials awaited patiently and upon spotting the Princess, they all broke into applause and cheers.

Sherene was further overwhelmed with gratitude when they made their way out of the airbase, where thousands and thousands of well wishers had gathered outside the main gates of the base. Flowers were offered and confetti and flags fluttered in the air. Balloons and both magical spells and fireworks were released by the huge crowd that welcomed Sherene home.

It was like a festival as the lands outside the perimeter fence of the airbase had booths set up that sold food and drinks to even a stage where popular musical artists performed. Further out there were even hundreds of tents as many had come much earlier to wait for the return of the Princess. Hundreds of soldiers had to be deployed to patrol the grounds and kept the crowd controlled and orderly when the Princess exited in a motorcade.

With tears in her eyes, she stepped out of the vehicle waved to the crowd under the torment of cheers. Coa overwhelmed by the loud noises, cried and Sherene lifted him higher to show him off to the crowd which cheers intensified even more at seeing the Grand Prince. Seated inside the vehicle, Blake let out a sigh as he watched the people's worship of the Princess and his child.

"Captain, it is good to see you all back safe and sound," Seated across Blake, Commander Ford congratulated him. "It... must have been very hard for them..."

"Yes, it is something we can't imagine," Blake replied sharply as he glared at Commander Ford who looked away in embarrassment. "But that is in the past... Now they are back and I will keep them safe."

"Yes, sir," Commander Ford replied guiltily. After a while, Sherene returned to the vehicle, her face flush with gratefulness to the people. She carefully handed Coa over to Blake and was about to address Commander Ford when he spoke first.

"Princess, I want to apologize..." Commander Ford said stiffly. "Due to my incompetence, your safety had been compromised. Now that you have returned... I will formally submit my resignation."

Blake frowned at Commander Ford's words while Sherene shook her head. "It was not your fault in the first place... Who could have expected such a turn of events?"

"Still, it is the lack of my duty that you have suffered..." Commander Ford kept his head lowered. "I will take full responsibility for this."

Sherene gave Blake a helpless look before she said, "I accept your apology but not your resignation."

"The UN government needs you," She added. "If you want to make up for your mistakes... You should continue working for the government to improve the lives of its people!"

"She is right," Blake sighed before he continued. "We need you at the helm of the government, because... the one resigning would be me."

Commander Ford's eyes went wide as he stared at Blake in shock. "What?"

"I am stepping down from command," Blake repeated tiredly. "I plan to retire with Sherene and look after them."

"But..." Commander Ford was speechless. He had come with a steeled heart to resign and take all responsibility for the screw up but instead, he was told to stay and the Captain would resign instead. "The UN is you! You are the UN!"

"No, I am not," Blake shook his head. "I had not shown my best when Sherene was taken from me..."

"Instead it was people like you, Dr, Sharon, Lieutenant Tavor and many others that displayed your true strengths when shit went down," Blake quietly admitted his flaws. "While I drowned myself in defeat and disgraced the uniform."

"If we were still under UNM Space Command... The things I had done and not done..." Blake let out a self reproaching smile. "I would have long been court martialed and stripped of my uniform and command!"

"Hence, now that I found back my family," Blake gently patted the excited child in his arms. "I decided to step down from command and instead focus on them."

"But, Sir, the UN still needs you," Commander Ford tried to persuade Blake from stepping down. "It was by your leadership that we got this far!"

"No, it wasn't just by my leadership," Blake shook his head once more. "It was the combined effort of everyone here! You, already are doing a damn fine job of keeping the UN running while I was down and out..."

"I have decided," Blake forestalled any more objections by Ford. "I will make this announcement tomorrow at the general assembly."

"And I want you to take over my position."



***** Author's Rumblings *****
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