Naika and Uaeso
Uaeso's eyes were locked on the figure of this new "relative", he couldn't help but postulate her origins or where she had been hiding all o this time. Was this another sibling? She certainly did have the features of his mother. Another tank-born child, like Jun and Saeojun, had been? Uaeso pulled Naika just a slight but closer, as he said in reply to her, "There is always a logical explanation, I'm sure that is what my father is counting on as well. Sometimes logic is insensitive though, as his heir I can't help but wonder about all I am left in the dark with," he said in a quieter tone. He had complete trust in the fact she would be there, and he said, "I have no doubt in that oath, as you also have mine; I will not ever leave you alone, even if we are on worlds lightyears apart." Uaeso gestured to Naika to her seat on the platform, then sat down himself beside her.
Admiral Aphelion and Ketsurui Aiko Group
Aphelion nodded, then bowed respectfully again, "Many thanks for the welcome, I wish too that it were under better circumstances - everything happens for a reason though. Please enjoy the ceremony and we can speak again at the reception," she said as she turned and walked towards the lines of MERN soldiers that made up the front rows before the coffin. She paused briefly before the platform and genuflected before she joined the rest of the serving Admiralty, save for Cheol who had sat with the crew of the Sobek.
Cheol and Sobek Crew
Cheol sat beside Leena and listened to what she had to say about the Sobek and its crew. "Before my journey up the chain of command, I was a pilot. There was always something about being at the helm of a ship that made me feel happy. I'm sure it was not expected to have a Fleet Admiral tell you they wished to join your crew. I will be patient with whoever I come across, including the one you mention," he said to her. "A neutral port though, interesting. From what I observed the local sector is rather crowded. It must be tough to run such a place," he commented, then folded his hands in his lap.
Iron Company Delegation
"Fine, for the most part, I worry about my father. He's yet to take any kind of a break," Jun said as he took a seat beside where the Sentinel stood. "I honestly don't know what will become of any of us. My mother was the glue that not only held us together as a family but my father in general," Jun said as he stared up at the platform with a deep sigh, "So how is the company?" he asked. Jun was still uncertain of what he would do, he figured he'd end up like most joining the Star Army. Having been the highest-ranking Medical Officer in the MERN, he had no idea where he would end up, or what he would be doing.
Platform
Airwin once again took the podium and all became quiet as he began to speak;
"Today is finally a day where we can breathe, a day we can rest, and a day that we grieve. Today just is not about Sinith, my wife, the mother of my children. Today is about everyone who gave their lives to get us to where we stand today. In the past four years, I've given too many speeches, at too many funerals and It has not become easier. How do we say goodbye to an Empress? An Aester who gave her life in the line of duty; fighting, and struggling, as we all have," he said to start.
A group of six soldiers came forwards and lit the tinder beneath the pile of wood that would become the pyre. Their ceremonial torches flickered against the snow and gleamed even in the daylight around them. The pyre took blaze, and its flames quickly stretched towards the sky.
"The builders in their grand architecture have granted us a new home, a haven from the evils which nearly destroyed us. It is by their grace, by the grace of Unya the mother of all, that today we offer the souls of Aester Sinith Caeyara the first, and her devoted soldiers and people who we have lost. We cleanse her body in fire, so that her soul may rise from the ashes and rise to the universe beyond. Just as Unya wove the universe from the fabric of the void, that ash will someday be a part of a star that will guide us all in our way," he said, and watched as the six soldiers ascended the platform, they then hoisted up the coffin and carried it down to the pyre.
Airwin watched as the flames took hold and rose up around the coffin, tears in his eyes he continued, "Unya, mother of all accept this great sacrifice; the sacrifice of our Empress and her beloved soldiers. May you find it enough to protect us in this new life that she fought so hard for us to have. Bless our Empress with life eternal in the beyond with you, we give her to you to cherish as we have," he said, the closest words he could find in prayer in lieu of the Priestess who had refused to do the service.
The Norian leader stood there for several moments, his eyes filled with the reflected flames of the pyre. He then took a deep breath and said, "I will never love again, as I loved you. The loss of you has broken me, and yet I still stand for you gave me the strength to. I will miss you, more than words could ever say...my sweet Sinith...." his words trailed off, and he looked out at those gathered, "Thank you all for coming, I hope to see you at the lodge," he said then stepped down from the podium and sat down in his chair beside the rest of his Ysi. His eyes locked on the flames, lost in memories of the woman who had changed his life.
The drums began to beat again, and the choir's voices sang their hymns toward the sky, following the trail of smoke from the pyre.
