As he always did before landing, Warius Zero straightened his hat and the collar of his uniform.
The sunlight caught him by surprise and for a moment he stood, dazzled.
A violent slap on the back nearly had him tumbling from the gangway of the Karyu and made him choke.
- It's nice to come back home, right, Captain?
- Yes, Mr. Kaibara... - Zero coughed in an attempt to gain time and compose himself the best he could, but someone put an arm around his neck and made him lose his balance again.
- Come on, Captain! Now that we are landed, why keep on being so formal?
Zero raised an eyebrow.
- We are still in the Base, Mr. Ishikura. Actually, we have not even left the ship.
- Come on, Zero, loose a bit ! After six years on mission in the remotest reaches of the universe we all deserve a little fun, right?
- I agree with them, Captain.
- Mr. Grenadier and Mr. Eluder, remember that rules and hierarchy should be respected until...
- Enough, Captain Zero! This is a mutiny! - Marina kissed his cheek and suddenly lowered his hat over his eyes among the general laughter.
Zero decided to capitulate and smiled, amused and embarrassed at the same time at his subordinates.
He put one arm around Marina's shoulders and the other around Ishikura's neck.
- Okay, guys: I surrender and, as a sign of peace, I offer everyone a round of Heavy Red Barbour and Hyper Oil!
- That's the right spirit, Captain! - Rai beamed - What are we waiting for? Let's celebrate our return to Earth! If it's still standing, there's a pretty good spot not too far from here! - he walked with enthusiasm, followed closely by Breaker, Nohara and Dr. Machine.
In the few years they had been absent, the capital was reborn: new buildings had been built in place of those destroyed by the war against the Mazone and the air was filled with the cheerful, hopeful atmosphere that always accompanied reconstruction.
In a small but tastefully decorated and well equipped bar, Zero granted himself for the first time in six years a toast with his men... his friends, indeed.
- To the Earth, to life that goes on and to those who, with their courage, allowed us to start over.
- Cheers!
- Cheers.
He looked down on the full glass in front of him and hit it with the one in his hand, a solitary, bitter-sweet toast, full of nostalgia.
- Cheers, Harlock. Wherever you are.
As he touched the glass with his lips, a boy perhaps fourteen or fifteen years old raced over their table and stopped in front of the bar.
- It's terrible! - he gasped - The Prime Minister Daiba is dead!
A surprised murmuring rose from the other tables.
- What!
- How did it happen?
- He was shot in his studio... last night... They just said it on the Federation News' Channel!
Some women and a couple of men bursted into tears. Everyone else gathered around the boy with faces that would not have been more afflicted if the accident had happened to their best friend.
The young chief of the New Earth Federation was loved by all and admired even by his political opponents, who recognized his loyalty, his courage and his high moral values.
Although Zero and his crew had been absent for several years, the stories of his tireless efforts in the reconstruction of Earth's civilization as a scientist and a statesman had reached the Karyu to the most remote corners of the universe.
At just twenty-one years of age, Tadashi Daiba had become a symbol of hope and a model for all the good willed men, for all those who wanted to live freely and let their mark in history: it was the pride of every human, of each earthling.
- But who did it? You know something?
- Yeah, who's the bastard that killed him?
The boy's face was ashen.
- It's incredible, but it seems that the culprit is Harlock, his beloved ex-Captain!
- The pirate Harlock? But wasn't he missing?
- And why would he do such a thing? Daiba was his friend, he had him rehabilitated!
The sound of breaking glass made everyone turn his head.
It had slipped from Zero's shaking hand.

Disclaimer: fanfic based on the world and the characters of "Captain Harlock" (Uchu Kaizoku Kyaputen Hārokku "and" Cosmo Warrior Zero "(Zero Kosumo Wōriā), created by and © Leiji Matsumoto.
All rights to these characters are © Leiji Matsumoto, Toei Animation, Enoki FIMS and probably a bunch of other people. Their use in this story does not imply support, approval or permission from their part. Since this story was conceived and written by a fan for other fans, please do not plagiarize it, give me my credit as author when publishing elsewhere and do not to redistribute it for a fee. Thank you!