Chapter 1: Honor
“Dammit, I hate this fucking thing.” Marcus Ralgard, the Captain of the Mastema was still trying to get his collar hooked. His wife, Debbie, who was an earth woman, came over to help him. He was supposed to already be in the Arena of his ship, the Mastema, to welcome the other Captains. To him he was running late.
“Calm down.” His wife Debbie said, “It’s 11:00 a.m., we have plenty of time, you aren’t supposed to be down there until 11:45 a.m.”
“You know I don’t like to be late.” Marcus said.
“It’s 11:00 a.m. YOU don’t need to be there UNTIL 11:45 a.m.” Debbie repeated.
“If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.” Marcus stated as he grabbed his boot rag to wipe off his boots for the fourteenth time that morning.
“Well, you wouldn’t be ‘late’,” Debbie used air quotes on the word ‘late’, “If you wouldn’t have undressed me four times this morning.” Debbie was putting on earrings.
“You know how I get when I’m nervous,” Marcus came up behind her, “and I just can’t keep my hands off of this luscious ass.” He rubbed her rear-end.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish.” She teased, “And I think you bruised my cootch the last time.”
“I would say sorry, but I’m not. Did you put some booster spray on it?” Marcus asked.
“Yes. I should be fine. You need to remember; I don’t have a symhealer.” Debbie replied. “You ready?”
“Yes.” Marcus sighed.
“Do you need this?” Debbie was holding his captain’s hat.
“Yes.” He replied, taking his hat.
The funeral service was going to start in a few hours. Seventy-nine warriors had died during the battle at New Venus in the Varneeth Nebula. Izer Pompkin, a Reptaran, had threatened to destroy their ship if they didn’t hand over Lonin Paine, who was from Earth. The Reptaran said that he had a contract stating she was his property. Coalition forces brought five ships to the battle. With the help of Lonin Paine’s weapon that she installed in the Mastema, they won the battle. As in almost all battles, lives were lost.
The Mastema was an exceptionally large warship. It carried almost one thousand Zandarans, eight hundred and thirty-eight were warriors in the Zandaran Military. The arena could hold almost twelve hundred of the huge warriors. When the Captain and Debbie got to the arena, it was dimly lit. The stairs were placed on the floor joining the bleacher seating, so anyone could access the arena floor from the bleachers. In the center of the floor was seventy-nine coffins draped in flags of their respective planets, almost all were empty, their bodies could not be recovered. Forty had the red and blue Zandaran flag, twelve from the warship Mastema. Twenty-eight from the smaller Zandaran Battleship, Aamon. Eight had the white and red flag from the Xilendrian ship Xersis. Nine had light blue and yellow flag from the Orian ship the Collamada. Thirteen had a black, red, and green flag from Sporgan ship the Wetchnaught. Nine had the green and black flag of the Brondan ship the Sandersea. The large ceremonial bell with the Zandaran old speech written on it with one word in the new language, “Mastema”. A raised podium was in the center. Black curtains covered the metal railings around the bottom row of seating and outlined the viewing monitors. Sections were roped off for senior officers from each of the ships.
“Captain Ralgard,” Kamar Tegrin, the Brondan Spiritual Advisor came up to Marcus and Debbie, “I didn’t expect anyone here so early.” Debbie gave Marcus an ‘I told you so’ look.
“I feel it is my duty to be here before anyone arrived. I guess I was too late for that.” Marcus responded.
“I’ve been here since early this morning. I like to get my bearings in a new space. It also feels like I get to know the deceased. I need to go change into the ceremonial robes of Bronda. I’ll let you have some time in peace.” Kamar Tegrin said as he left for the dressing area.
“So how is all this going to work?” Debbie asked.
“It varies, but usually the Arena will fill all the way around, the bell will sound, everyone gets quiet. Royal family members and leaders will then come in and stand in the center of their group.”
“Drakon and Senton are on board, did others arrive?” Debbie asked. Drakon and Senton where the younger brothers to the king.
“Yes, they all came in last night. King Bathezar Balazon will arrive at 12:30 today. He won’t be staying, he and some of the other coalition leaders are working on treaties with the Kelosian Grand Duchess. They will leave right after the ceremony.” Marcus answered, “Then the senior officers from each of the ships will march in and stand to the rear of their deceased. An honor guard for each planet will march in standing in the front of each group. Mr. Tegrin will start the proceedings with a Brondan ritual that cleanses the space. Don’t ask, I don’t know. Then he will say a few words, not sure about that either. Then is the ‘Naming of the Dead’. Each man will have a short anecdote that was supplied by family, friends, or crewmates. Their flag will be folded, placed in an airtight container, and brought to a crate. The ship’s bell will ring. They will go to the next warrior until the naming is over. Each of us, the captains, will give a short speech. Mr. Tegrin will then close out the ceremony. The crew members will come down and pay their respects. When no one else is left, the honor guard leaves, the planet’s leaders leave, and we leave. Then it’s over.”
“It sounds like you will be on your feet a long time today.” Debbie said concerned.
“Yes. Let me show you your seat for today’s proceedings.” Marcus took Debbie over to a seat that had her name on it. She was on the end of the row. Barbara Jean was to be seated next to her. Debbie’s best friend, also from earth, and was married to the Mastema’s crew chief, Senton Balazon, the younger brother of the King. Debbie sat down and brought out her data pad to read for a while.
Mastema’s honor guard and security guards were the next to come in. They were dressed in black shirts and pants. The pants were tucked into white boots. They had white gloves tucked in their white belts and wore white hats with a black band around the edges. A red and blue swirled ascot was around each of their necks denoting the Zandaran colors. The Captain pointing to where each of the men were assigned. A large box was brought out and each guard was given a ceremonial rifle, even though every man had a blaster pistol on their hip. The men attached a bayonet to the end of the rifle. They spread out. Two men went to each doorway, aisle, and entrance. One man standing on each side. They put on their white gloves and helped each other to straighten their uniforms. They were in place when the senior officers from the other ships arrived.
The senior officers milled around and talked softly to one another. The next to arrive was the senior staff from the Mastema. Debbie was impressed how these men cleaned up. Barbara Jean and Jeseray came in and sat next to Debbie. “The boys clean up well.” Jeseray said. Jeseray was recently married to Teran Vinson. He was from Bronda, and good friend to Marcus Ralgard. Jeseray was the only woman on board who wasn’t from earth. She was from a planet called Imarida.
“I was just thinking that before you came in. Where’s Senton and Teran?” Debbie asked.
“Teran is hiding out, he has to be with the delegation leaders of Bronda. It took almost all night to get his unform smelling okay. It stank! I’m not sure he slept at all.” Jeseray said.
“Senton and Drakon are waiting for their brother to arrive. Senton’s been griping all morning.” Barbara Jean answered.
“So was Marcus when he wasn’t getting frisky.” Debbie smirked.
“That was Senton last night, but when he gets nervous, instead of getting ‘frisky’, he paces and mumbles. I think he’s afraid of doing something wrong. He stumbled the last time they had a formal function. Drakon is still pestering him about that.” Barbara Jean commented.
The next to arrive were the leaders of the planets, except for Zandara’s King. All were men except for the female leader of Xilendria. Kamar Tegrin came back into the arena. He wore a black robe, with a bright green border around the collar, down the center, around the bottom, and around the wrist cuffs. “Gentlemen and Lady, I wish to practice your entrance.” Tegrin announced. He told them all were to stand and how they were to enter. They practiced, and by the third time, the Balazon brothers arrived to jump into the line.
“It’s about time.” Debbie whispered to Barbara Jean.
When crewmembers started to arrive, the arena floor was cleared. “I hope Senton remembers to go to the bathroom before the service starts. He gets a bit of a nervous bladder.” Barbara Jean whispered to Debbie.
“I just hope Teran doesn’t faint.” Jeseray whispered.
The place was getting full when Doctor Zondran, and the rest of the medical staff came in and sat behind Barbara Jean. “How are you feeling today?” Doctor Zondran asked the pregnant Barbara Jean.
“We’re fine.” Barbara Jean blushed. Doctor Zondran produced a scanner. “Really, at a funeral?” she asked.
“Sure. You haven’t been down to see me in a while, and I want to make sure everything is all right. I also brought an injector spray. Neither of you have been down in a while. He scanned and injected them both with his concoction. “Everything looks good.” He finished.
Jarek sat down behind Debbie. “Where’s Lonin?” Barbara Jean asked.
“She’s here, somewhere. It’s been a little rough the past few hours.” Jarek answered.
“Yeah, for both of you.” Debbie jested. She remembered that it was yesterday when Jarek had a meltdown and got thrown in the brig. That she was the one who convinced Lonin to stay aboard the Mastema and rescue Jarek from the brig.
A guard that was standing behind the bell, turned to his left, slowly walked heel to toe four paces, stopped, turned to his right. The crowd was settling down. He slowly walked four paces, stopped, turned to his right, slowly walked four paces and stopped. He saluted the bell. Slowly he lowered his hand to the pull string and rang the bell. He stopped the bell so it would only ring once. He slowly lowered his arms to his sides. The senior staff members marched in. The oldest of the captains was Rix Tarden of the Wetchnaught. He called out commands so they would all be exactly alike. When they reached their honored dead, they stopped but continued to march in place. Another command and they all turned left in four counts and stopped. They stood at attention. The arena was silent. Next came in the leaders of the planets. They did not march in but walked. Teran walked in with the delegation from Bronda. Ezar, Drakon, and Senton were last. Each stopped in the middle of their honored dead. The color guard came in and everyone in the Arena stood. The Wetchnaught’s color guard captain called commands to all the color guards. They came in stopping in front of their honored dead and with a command, they all turned four counts to their left facing the crowd. With another command all the planets’ flags were lowered to an angle and the ships flags were curled into the color guard’s shoulder. Another command all the color guards, honor guards, senior staff and captains went into a stance with their hand (if they were holding a rifle) or hands behind their back, feet shoulder width apart. The audience sat.
Kamar Tegrin came in from the left dancing. The Sandersea crew members stomped their feet and clapped rhythmically while he danced around the draped caskets. He stopped there was silence again. He went to the podium. “A cloud of sadness has descended upon all our peoples. We may have felt that we have lost great men, but they have passed into the next realm. Their passing reminds us that our time here, can be short. It reminds us that we need to spend our time wisely and with courage to live our lives with real meaning. Today we honor them and wish them safe journeys.” The crewmen stomped in the stands. “Lieutenant Mavon Grangan, Fighter Pilot, Second Class, The Wetchnaught. Mavon was a father of three girls. His wife wanted you to know that he loved the Service, his planet of Sporgan, but he mostly loved being a dad. Safe journey Lieutenant Grangan.” The bell rang. Their honor guard members lifted and folded their flag. They carefully placed it in a mourning box. One of the honor guard took the box and placed it in a crate. The service procedures continued throughout the seventy-nine men. After the naming of the dead, it was the captains’ turn to do their speeches.
Rix Tarden was first, “We honor the thirteen men from our ship, the Wetchnaught. You will be missed. May your feats never be forgotten.” He went back to where he stood before.
Bellan Marflare came up “The men of the Collamada and myself, wish you a safe crossing into the next world.” He went back to where he stood.
Yorgman Reteray stepped on the podium, “The ship Xersis will miss our eight pilots. You fought well and died a warrior’s death. You are our inspiration.” He stepped down.
Millan Horban stepped up. “Our rich heritage has lost nine of its children. We send them home to be honored and to add their names to the weave of life. May their journey be sweet.”
Debbie looked at Barbara Jean confused. Barbara Jean shrugged her shoulders.
Mige Tenerson was next, he looked nervous. “Our small battleship lost twenty-eight men. They were alive and in the blink of an eye, they were gone. They will be missed. With heavy hearts my crew says good-bye today. Safe journeys, men, safe journeys.”
Marcus Ralgard was the last captain. He walked to the podium with dignity. Debbie shuddered at her magnificent man. He spoke, “Today we honor those who have fallen in battle. To your planets, family, friends, and crewmates, you gave your best as provider and protector. You will not be forgotten. Because we are not just Zandarans, Brondans, Sporgan, Xilendrian, or Orianians, we are brothers. We will continue to honor you through our laughter and our tears. We miss you already and we will never be the same. We will be proud every time we hear your name. Your bravery, your conviction, your courage, and integrity will be a beacon for the rest of us remaining in this realm of the living. Ready us for battle, my brothers, not in this life, but for our next life, until we meet again. It has been our honor to serve with you. Thank you.” He turned and walked off the podium.
Men lined up to say their good-byes to their friends. They came down the stairs and went to their shipmates. The arena was almost empty when Lonin walked in from the floor’s aft entrance. She was wearing a black corset shirt with matching pants, and black boots. Debbie started to stand. Jarek placed a hand on her shoulder, “Let her be, she needs to do this.” Debbie sat back down.
Lonin went to the first Sporgan coffin of Wetchnaught. She knelt placing the back of her hands on her forehead, she bent down. Her hands touched the floor. She said “Frenda a samondey”.
The Wetchnaught’s senior staff were surprised and responded, “Samondey diy aye.” Lonin continue the same for each of the thirteen caskets of the Wetchnaught.
“What are they saying, it’s not translating.” Barbara Jean said.
Doctor Zondran said, “It’s a Sporgan ancient tongue. Lonin said, ‘Fly in peace’ and they respond, ‘Peace be with you’.”
Next, she went to the Orian men from the Collamada. She looked at the casket then placed both hands over her heart. Then both hands to her forehead, and finally cupping her hands as if she was giving the casket water. The senior officers joined in the death salute for each of their nine dead. Senior officers from all the ships were now watching her intently.
Next, she went to the Xilendrian ship. The Captain, Yorgman Reteray offered his arm. She took it and he led her to the first casket. She put her hands on the casket, Yorgman Reteray went to the opposite side and put his hands on the casket. They made a motion as if they were lifting the soul to heaven and then bowed to the coffin. He stood up, walked to Lonin, and offered his arm as she stood up. They continued the ritual for the other seven men.
She then went to the men from Bronda. She took out one of her knives. Teran flinched to see it was his dagger. She raised Teran’s dagger in the air. The senior officers and Kamar Tegrin started stomping rhythmically and grunting every fourth beat. Lonin slashed her hand and blood fell on the casket. One of the senior officers yelled a “YIYIYIYI” sound. Every one of the Sandersea dead received the slash on her hand and blood from her wound dripped at the foot of each warrior’s casket. Once it was done, the men dropped their heads and yelled a guttural “HO!”. She replaced the blade and went to the Zandaran caskets. All eyes except for the color guard were on her.
She went to the first casket, placed the back of her hands against where the head would be and said, “Ets Matrak”. She raised her hands up and clapped them. Blood splattered from the cuts in her hand. She did this through thirty-nine of Zandarans, skipping Pons Hagins. When she was done, she sank to her knees. The color guard leader called for motion and they marched out of the service. Guards came from their positions around the arena and moved the caskets to the corresponding ships. The Mastema would take all the Zandaran caskets. The Medtechs moved the caskets with bodies back to the morgue.
Jarek went to Lonin. She raised her pale face up to him. “Do you need me to carry you?” Doctor Zondran was behind her scanning.
“No, I’ll be alright.” Lonin said.
“Do you want any booster spray?” Doctor Zondran asked.
“No, it needs to heal on its own, that’s part of the way.” Lonin said. The captains and senior staff members marched out next, but the leaders came over to Lonin.
“Thank you for the traditional send off. How did you know?” Borgan Forstard, the ruler of Sporgan asked.
“I’ve been around a lot of death. Jarek, help me please.” Lonin said, Jarek lifted her to her feet and supported her, as she clutched his shoulder. Debbie, Barbara Jean, Jeseray, and Carrie came to the group.
“It was beautiful. Thank you.” Queen Xandrina the fourth, ruler of Xilendria said as she raised her hands.
“You’re welcome, it was my privilege.” Lonin said with a slight bow, Jarek had to help her back to her feet.
“Thank you for honoring our tradition.” Head of State Corin Welchan, the Orian leader said.
“It was my honor, sir.” Lonin said.
“I don’t think I have seen the blood ritual since I was a boy, and never nine times.” President Tarbin Renhar, ruler of Bronda said, “Simply amazing. Thank you.”
Lonin bowed slightly. The Balazon brothers were coming to greet them. Drakon asked, “What does Ets Matrak mean?”
Ezar, short for Bathezar, said, “You never studied, it means ‘Go to God’ in the ancient tongue. You don’t even know your own language.”
Lonin whispered to Jarek to take her back to their quarters. “Actually, King Bathezar Balazon, it means ‘fly to the heavens’.” Lonin corrected as Jarek bowed to his king and helped Lonin walk towards the lift.
“Hey Lonin,” Teran yelled, “Can I get my knife back?”
“What knife?” Lonin answered.