New friends, new horizons

Epilogue

15 years after raid

JSA shuttle Yamato

Earth orbit.

"This is shuttle Yamato, request permission to detach from ISS."

"Commander Nishizumi, you are clear to detach shuttle Yamato from ISS and return to earth for landing at Shimoji island air force base"

"Cheers Mako. Airlock depressurized, disengaging docking clamps, firing separation thrusters in 3..2..1.. firing. Separation thrusters fired, re-entry course laid in, auto pilot engaged. So Mako, you coming to the reunion tonight?"

"Nicholas! We've been over this a thousand times, no chit chat over the Radios." Said Mako. Nicholas laughed,

"Come on Mako. You have been with the space agency for 2 years I've been here for 3. I've been into space 12 times and you've been once. This is my last Hop, and your one of my best friends. I think I've earned the right to ask you if you're going to be at the Sensha-dō ball this year." Said Nicholas. Mako sighed and said,

"You know regulations Nicholas as well as I do. But to answer your question, yes I am, and your wife just arrived, so kick that hump of junk into afterburner and get down here."

"Yes doctor." Said Nicholas with a laugh as he finished the re-entry procedures.

Miho Nishizumi smiled and watched from the control tower of the Shimoji Island air force base. She was waiting for her husband to return from his 'day job' as an Astronaut with the Japanese space program. Today was his last at the space program. He had made a promise and he was going to keep it. She reminisced about the 15 years that she had been with Nicholas: from the moment they first met, to the day he proposed and she was abducted and he rescued her. The day that they were married and all through university. The sad passing of Nicholas' grandfather to Darjeeling and Orange taking over White industries. To more recently, Nicholas leaving the Air force and joining the space agency. She was bought from her musings by one of her best friends joining her from inside the control tower.

"Nicholas just completed re-entry and is on final decent." Said Mako, her lad coat floating in the light breeze. "How have you been Miho?"

"Good thank you Mako?" said Miho happily. "Yourself?"

"Good thank you." Said Mako, "I'm getting a lift from the base to the Arena."

"How's things going with your boyfriend?" asked Miho. Mako then blushed for the first time that Miho had seen.

"I'm hoping that Jake is going to propose tonight." Said Mako. Miho looked at her surprised. Her intelligent friend blushing heavily.

"Congratulations!" said Miho happily. "Does he work here at the agency?"Mako smiled,

"He's Nicholas' co-pilot." Said Mako. She pointed to into the distance. "There's the Yamato." Miho returned her attention to the large white and black space shuttle as it lined itself up on the runway for landing.

"Come on Miho." Said Mako, "We can get a jeep down to the shuttle." The 2 old friends raced down the control tower toward a waiting jeep.

"Landing gear down and locked." reported Nicholas. "100 feet to runway." The 2 ½ mile long airstrip at the Shimoji island air force base was the home of the Japanese space program. Usually host to military jets, today it was receiving The Shuttle Yamato for the last time under Nicholas' command. Today, he would hang up his space suit for the last time before taking up a teaching position as a flying instructor with his wife at the Nishizumi School of Tankery. No matter how many times Nicholas landed here, he always enjoyed the sight and feeling of the undercarriage gracing the tarmac on landing. He felt the reassuring thud as the shuttle's undercarriage took the weight of the shuttle over from the wings.

"Deploying airbrakes and parachute." Said Nicholas.

"Confirm chute deployment." Said his co- pilot Jake. Jake had been one of Nicholas' best friends at the space centre and in his personal life. They had both been in the air force together since basic and Nicholas trusted Jake with his life, he had occasionally had too. Plus he was going out with Mako so if she trusted him, it was good enough for Nicholas. As the shuttle slowed to a halt. Nicholas took the opportunity while the tractor that would tow them to the disembarkation point was being hooked up, to look out of the vision ports one last time. He saw a jeep speeding over from the control tower and he instantly knew who the people inside it were. He turned from his commanders chair to Jake and said,

"Hey Jake. Looks like our wives are coming." Jake laughed and said,

"I haven't married her yet Nicholas." The shuttle began to move slowly as the towing tractor towed them from their resting place to the disembarkation point. The shuttle then stopped and the crew finished their landing checks and powered down the shuttle. Nicholas then undid his straps and gathered his things before turning to the hatch where Jake was standing.

"Permission to open the hatch and disembark sir?" asked Jake. Nicholas laughed at the formality and said.

"Permission granted." Jake smiled and pulled the red leaver that broke the airtight seal and opened the hatch. The cabin flooded with sunlight and the 7 astronauts disembarked from the shuttle. Nicholas, as the commander was the last down the stairs from the shuttle. He was happy to see that as well as the usual welcoming committee, his wife and one of his best friends was there. AS soon as he was at the base of the stairs he ran over to Miho and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Honey I'm home." Said Nicholas in a joking fashion. He then proceeded to kiss her before one of his crew yelled.

"Jesus, at least get a bloody room first!" Nicholas broke away from Miho to scold the crew member when he realized it wasn't himself and Miho he was yelling at. Rather it was at Jake and Mako for engaging in a full blown make out session right in front of everyone. Miho and Nicholas were just stunned that 15 seconds later they were still going at it... without seeming to stop to breathe. Nicholas reluctantly said,

"Alright guys, and Jake, Lets hit the showers and get our stuff in. I've got a party to get too." HE then reluctantly turned to Miho and let go of her for the time being. Kissing just before he dragged Jake away from Mako by the ear much to the amusement of everyone present.

2 hours later

Nicholas finally exited the Space program's building at the otherwise Military airbase and finally linked up with his wife. The sun was beginning to set over the island base as the 2 walked out to the hanger that contained their ride home. It was the aircraft that Nicholas' grandfather had left for him when he died. A Mk 3 DeHavilland Mosquito. The wooden wonder had been Nicholas' and Miho's plane for getting from ship to shore and other places. They climbed in and the twin Merlin engine's roared into life, set to carry the loving couple away from the airfield to the international Sensha-dō arena.

Nicholas and Miho stepped out of the taxi that had bought them to the Ball room of the Sensha-dō arena. The 2 stepped inside the ball room ad were immediately absorbed into the crowd. As well as the girls and boy who had competed in the tournament but also those who had competed in tournaments past It didn't take long before Miho and Nicholas met up with some of their old friends.

"Hey Nishizumi dono!" yelled a voice. Nicholas and Miho turned toward the voice and spotted one of their best friends. Yukarai in her dress military uniform from the JGSDF tank force.

"Yukarai!" cried Miho happily. "It's good to see you again!"

"How have you been?" asked Nicholas.

"Good." Said Yukari, "I've been promoted to captain and have my own company of Type 10 MBT's now. How about you 2?"

"Good, I've been made joint head teacher at the Nishizumi Tankery School with my sister." Said Miho.

"And I've just retired from the space agency." Said Nicholas. "I've been offered a job as a pilot instructor at the Nishizumi School."

"Hey Mipori! Nicholas!" shouted a bubbly voice. The trio turned to see Hana and Saori moving towards them. Nicholas and Miho were surprised at Saori, not because she was there, but because she was about 8 months pregnant.

"Hey Saori!" said Nicholas, "Did you swallow a planet or something?" While Nicholas laughed, Miho hit him over the head with her handbag. "Point taken."

"It's great to see you all again!" shouted Saori. It seemed that even pregnancy had failed to dull the bubbly girl's happy personality.

"How have you all been?" asked Hana.

"And has anyone seen Mako?" asked Saori. Miho and Nicholas looked at each other sheepishly then Nicholas said,

"She said she'll be coming tonight. I asked her during re-entry." Hana and Saori looked puzzled at Nicholas.

"Nicholas works for the Space agency." Said a voice. The group turned and standing there were Orange and Darjeeling. Nicholas then moved and hugged his sisters.

"It's good to see you both." Said Nicholas. "But you're wrong. I retired from the agency today. My return trip from my 1 week stay on the international space station was my last flight." Elizabeth looked at her younger brother suppressed for a moment. But ten figured out why he would retire at the height of his career.

The party went on through the night. Several awards had been given out including one to Erwin's 15 year old daughter who had been a member of the championship team this year. While he was getting a drink from the bar. Jake came up to Nicholas with a request.

"Hey Nicholas, I need to ask you something." He said. He produced a velvet box with a diamond engagement ring inside it. Nicholas then said,

"I'm flattered man but I think Miho and Mako would be pretty annoyed. " Jake smiled then gave Nicholas the middle finger.

"I want to ask her tonight but I don't know how." Said Jake. Nicholas understood his predicament then came up with an idea.

"Alright follow my lead." Said Nicholas. He explained his plan to Jake and he agreed. Jake went to find Mako while Nicholas grabbed a pair of microphones linked to the sound system from the stage. Nicholas then handed one to Jake and they set their plan into action. Jake went up to Mako and said,

"Excuse me Mako." Nicholas the stepped in-between them and said to Mako,

"Hey don't worry Mako, I'll take care of this." Jake and Nicholas then ducked down and high fived and Jake started to sing.

"You never close your eyes, anymore when I kiss your lips." Nicholas then took over.

"There's no tenderness like before in your finger tips." They then started singing together.

"You're trying hard not to show it.

But baby!

BUT BABY! Believe me I know!

You've lost that Lovin feelin!

Whoa that lovin feeling!

You've lost that lovin feeling! Now it's gone!

Gone! Gone

Whoa Whoa Whoa!

Baboom, baboom, Baboom boom boom!" Jake then got on his knees then bought the box out of his pocket and simply said to Mako.

"Mako, I love you, will you marry me?" He opened the box revealing the diamond ring.

"Yes!" shouted Mako. The newly engaged couple the kissed and the whole ballroom erupted in a round of applaud. Nicholas then backed off in search of his own wife. He found her but before he could reach her Darjeeling intercepted him and asked a question that he really didn't see coming.

"Nicholas, is Miho Pregnant?" This question was awkward enough, let alone the fact that Nicholas was still holding a Mic that was switching on and the whole hall just heard them. The whole room then went silent, all eyes on Nicholas and Miho. Nicholas then let the showman in him out and raised the Mic and said,

"Yup." The whole room then, once again, erupted in applaud. The crowd then parting for Nicholas to run up to Miho and kissed her. The whole room went back to their business while all the past Ōarai students came to congratulate the couple. Nicholas then asked his sister.

"Ok, how did you guess it?" Darjeeling smiled and said,

"You once told me the reason you would leave the forces was if your wife wanted to start a family so there wouldn't be a chance your child wouldn't have to grow up without a father." The group sighed in affection. While Miho, Nicholas and their closest friends and family, content that they would have the best friends to raise their child.

Dear readers:

That the conclusion to New friends, New horizons. Thank you for reading it all the way through. As this is my first major story and I appreciate any advice and suggestions. I'm considering writing a sequel to New friends, new horizons and would appreciate any ideas or suggestions.

Also If anyone wants a beta reader send me a PM with your idea and I'll let you know if I'm interested.

Take care and follow my profile for more Girls und panzer fanfic's

Jangocommando27