Children who lost their parents in this battle would be raised by the Ecclesiarchy Orphanage, and those with better physical qualities were enrolled in the Loyalist Academy as Loyalists.
The orphanage the girl with heterochromatic eyes entered was a decent one in Middle Hive, where the three meals a day might even be better than what she had at home.
The attacks on the planet had not yet ended. The Imperial Navy dispatched Naval Officers and the Adeptus Arbites to take over the subsequent riot suppression work.
This allowed Horatio to avoid being responsible for a series of tedious reports and documents that followed.
However, regarding the 'miracles' that occurred during the Battle of the Church, after such a big stir, a series of investigation procedures were unavoidable.
Louise went to the Navy Medical Supervision Zone for a physical examination at Sister Arabella's suggestion, to determine if she needed recuperation and to undergo relevant checks.
Horatio saw her off on the shuttle. After expressing his wishes for her well-being, the two waved goodbye.
After sending off the wounded Hellspawns, Horatio and some survivors remained on standby, waiting for people from above to come and investigate, and there might even be an Inquisitor.
However, he was more concerned about the unresolved threat in the void.
"Horatio, are you alright?" Farida landed on the ground from a height using a jump pack and walked up to Horatio.
Her face was filled with worry and fatigue, and her voice, due to long hours of communication, was no longer as clear as before.
Horatio shook his head: "Minor injuries, nothing serious. What about you?"
"That's good. I wasn't injured… Actually, I came for two things." The blonde girl pursed her lips, put her hands behind her back, and seemed a bit shy.
"What good stuff are you hiding behind you?" Horatio chuckled.
"First, today is St. Giles Festival, and since we're friends, I'll give you a gift! You don't have to thank me!" Her feigned solemn tone became increasingly stiff as she spoke, and her body trembled slightly as she pushed a gift box directly in front of Horatio.
The black-haired youth curved his lips and took it from her hand.
"Thank you."
He opened the gift box, and inside was a leather Naval Officer's belt, made of sturdy material, with the buckle's main body crafted from adamantium, exquisite and robust, etched with the Imperial Navy's rudder emblem.
But Horatio sensed an aggressive machine soul, as if telling him that this belt buckle was not simple.
"It has a defensive mechanism designed by Father Lati that can fire focused lasers. Maybe you'll find it useful," Farida asked, tilting her head and looking at Horatio.
"Of course, thank you, Miss Hood. I also prepared a gift for you."
Farida's eyes instantly widened.
Horatio pulled out a small gift box from his armor's ammunition pouch.
The box was a bit dented from the battle, and there was still blood on it.
"Sorry, it got a bit dirty."
Farida's eyes were wide and round. This was her first time exchanging gifts with a male other than her father.
She took it with trepidation in her heart and gently opened it.
Inside was a pair of exquisite and beautiful crystal earrings, of excellent craftsmanship and not inexpensive.
Although Horatio knew that Farida, being a young lady of noble birth, certainly wasn't lacking such things, still…
"When I went to that clothing store with you last time, I saw this pair of earrings in the display case, and I thought they suited you very well," Horatio said, expressing his thoughts.
Farida seemed very surprised.
Then, she curved her lips slightly: "Heh, I thought you were a heartless person. I didn't expect you to have some emotional intelligence, not bad, not bad, there's still hope."
"Want to try them on?"
Farida was not clean after the battle, even a bit too dirty, but she still nodded.
Horatio took out the earrings and put them on her. She took out her small mirror and looked at herself, revealing a satisfied smile.
"They do look good, your taste isn't bad."
"You flatter me."
"The second thing is very important. You need to report to the Unyielding now to participate in the pursuit operation. This battle isn't over yet, the enemy is right above us." Farida's expression became serious.
"How do you know I need to report? I haven't received this order."
"Now you have. I am now a Midshipman of the Unyielding, here to convey the Navy Department's appointment."
Farida solemnly took out the Gothic Fleet Midshipman appointment letter from her embrace, complete with the Navy Department's wax seal and Lieutenant General Hood's signature.
Horatio was not surprised that she suddenly pulled out the appointment letter.
She was the Hood Family's daughter, born for the void, and with her family's resources, obtaining a Midshipman slot was perfectly normal.
Moreover, it was time for her at her age to board a warship and, in the future, inherit her father's legacy to become an excellent Imperial Navy General.
"Of course, you are too. Based on your outstanding heroic actions this time, the Gothic Sector Navy Department has urgently granted you special approval for Midshipman qualification. This is your appointment letter, take it."
Farida, with a hint of pride, handed Horatio another parchment scroll bearing the Imperial Navy's wax seal.
"Congratulations, Subaltern Kirk, you have finally stepped into the officer class from the Voidsmen-at-Arms Officer class.
However, your merits today and the subsequent investigation will probably have to wait until the whole matter is over. The enemy is nearby, and no one wants to open champagne halfway through, our mission is not over yet."
[Is the Navy Department's efficiency this fast? Could it be Lieutenant General Hood… ] Horatio thought.
"Alright, but you must be prepared, nothing on a warship can be taken lightly. Especially since this is your first time on a ship…" Obtaining officer qualification was indeed very pleasing. But Horatio started to worry about Farida.
"None of your business, we're at the same rank. You can't order me~" Farida playfully winked at Horatio, crossed her arms, and raised her eyebrows slightly.
Horatio chuckled. Clearly, Farida didn't understand Navy rules yet.
"The Navy goes by seniority, you know," Horatio said with a half-raised eyebrow and a smile.
"Huh?" Farida didn't understand Horatio's meaning and showed a strange expression.
But Horatio didn't intend to explain further; she would understand very soon after boarding the ship.
Horatio went to the Loyalist Academy at the fastest speed, changed into the Naval Officer uniform Commodore Peru had prepared for him long ago, though this time he couldn't take his time to admire it.
Imperial Navy Officer uniforms came in two types: one was a sleeveless vest style, and the other was similar to the British Royal Navy Officer uniforms from the Napoleonic era, even the color was the same.
Horatio preferred the latter; he always felt the sleeveless style wasn't solemn enough.
In the Imperial Navy, Midshipman and Lieutenant wore the same style of uniform.
The only difference was that the Midshipman's collar had white cloth fastened on both sides. This was an ancient tradition, continuing from the age of sail to the 21st century, and then extending to the 41st millennium.
According to the Imperial Navy Officer Uniform Regulations.
Upon receiving the Star Realm Navy Department's commission, a Navy Lieutenant would remove the white cloth from their collar, symbolizing that they were now a formal commissioned officer.
A Lieutenant did not wear golden tassel shoulder boards. Upon becoming a Lieutenant, they would wear a single golden tassel shoulder board embroidered with two twelve-pointed stars only on the right shoulder.
Upon becoming a Captain, they would wear golden tassel shoulder boards with three twelve-pointed stars on both shoulders simultaneously.
As they were promoted through these three ranks, the golden patterns on their cuffs would become increasingly numerous and complex.
They could directly have the Navy Department's specially appointed tailor embroider them, without needing to change uniforms. (Because many Naval Officers' uniforms were privately custom-made)
A Lieutenant had a more ornate, exclusive uniform trimmed with two fine gold lines.
The Lieutenant Colonel's uniform was consistent with the Captain's, with bright wide gold edges on all borders, magnificent and solemn, clearly distinguishable from the Lieutenant's uniform at a glance.
The Lieutenant's uniform, in comparison, appeared simpler, with fine and narrow gold edges, lacking the luxurious dominance of the field officer's uniform.
The difference between the two was still the patterns on the cuffs, and the Lieutenant Colonel only wore a single golden tassel shoulder board embroidered with their rank on the right side.
Horatio was fully dressed. He wore black boots, and his trousers were pristine white. The Midshipman uniform, custom-tailored for him by Commodore Peru's family tailor, fit perfectly.
He wore his bicorne hat upright on his head, and a 71-centimeter long Navy Heir short sword was tucked into the sword belt at his waist.
Once he became a Navy Department commissioned officer, he would receive a single-edged guard power sword called "Cutlass."
The blade of this power sword was wider and sturdier than a power saber, and slightly shorter, making it very suitable for close-quarters combat in confined spaces like ship cabins.
Before departing after dressing, Horatio looked in the mirror. His image was already presentable, capable and dashing, and a pair of pristine white wool gloves brought an unexpected enhancement to his demeanor.
"Hey, Horatio, how do I look?" Farida, after bathing and changing, appeared before Horatio with a confident smile.
Her uniform was very ornate, bearing the Hood Family crest, and its fitted design accentuated her impressive figure.
Bright black knee-high leather boots paired with meticulously styled and elegant golden curly hair added a touch of queenly aura.
"It suits you very well. You were born to wear this uniform," Horatio praised with a smile.