Posthumous

[Nodoka Hanamura]

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My dedication to this sacred duty
is total and whole-hearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me
never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance
my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise
and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence
to the best of my ability.
It is they who command the respect I protect,
their bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day,
alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soul will in honored glory rest
under my eternal vigilance.
- Hymn of the Sentinel, UMC Honor Guard

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POSTHUMOUS

CHAPTER I - RETURNAL

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Normally, the bustling terminals of Sao Jorge would be abound in foot traffic, but at this particular gate, there was an unnerving silence. The displays of starlines and shuttles to the surface were turned off, the gate a generic overflow one used during peak seasons, found itself with a certain purpose.

In dark Teal officers' uniforms - pleated skirts of women, and slacks of men, caps atop their heads,14 men of Utsunomiya's 1st Honor Guard Section stood diligently as the Kusari ship bound for the gate finally moored, attaching to the station. The two rows of seven stood at the order of their commander, MSgt. Mitena Mizushiro, a woman with a dark-haired bob-cut, of Kusari origin. Her, and her adjutant to her right, Sergeant Dale Winboro, a Libertonian who served under the Ouroboros, carry briefcases at their right side. Each of the infantry, either on their back, or in their hands, carry a unloaded 7C1/C Ceremonial Battle Rifle - similar to that of the AK-pattern rifles of yesteryear, but with miniscule 5-round magazines, affixed with bayonets, and in a pure Canarian Black Walnut furniture - the typically suppressed rifle replaced with a elongated, visually similar barrel - that lacked its' sound suppression abilities.

As the crew of the ship depart into the Terminal, they are adorned in standard issue, Miyasu Zaibatsu logistical uniforms. One by one, they line aside the entrance to the tunnel to the mooring point, as had been requested of them - standing at attention. Finally, as the 9th member, and captain's adjutant reports to Mizushiro, who steps out of formation to greet the older Kusari man who would be speaking on behalf of their captain, Ria Hirayama.

"Mizushiro-san. As Hanamura-san instructed, Hirayama-taichou has declared the bridge has been sealed for your personnel to come aboard and collect the remains. Our auxiliary staff will stay outside until you depart from the gate boarding area." He answers.

Even with the deep tension between the UMC and Kusari, a semblance of gratitude can be found from the former, to the latter, for their humility and now, respect for the deceased. Mizushiro reciprocates this with a bow.

"Thank you, adjutant. We will take it from here." She responds, before calling out.

The two groups of seven work their way into the ship, through the tunnel. As she leads them, Mizushiro, who once was a fighter pilot who saw fights against Kishiro PMCs, Kusari Naval Forces, and the forces of Liberty. She is reminded of the role the Honor Guard holds - to respect, preserve, stand vigilant for, and honor the lives of those who gave their lives, not just for Utsunomiya, not just for the most valiant and honorable of greater Zoner Society, but all souls who preserved, protected humanity and the light of freedom throughout its' millenia of existence. The stringent training under Hanamura's observance, at the direction of former KNF commander Tetsuo Ikeda, who defected to the Ouroboros a decade ago - to become a member of the Honor Guard - only on par with House Militaries' dedication to such service.

The group makes their way inside, moving to the main cabin. Inside, lay two caskets, ready for transport. The bodies inside have long since decomposed to bone, but nonetheless, they are treated with greater dignity than the fates had afforded them. The two groups of seven split, one to each casket - to Ayane's on the left, and Keitarou's on the right. The two caskets had been cleaned diligently and were in near mint condition from their internment at the Columbarium. Six of each, take position at the handles of each casket, flanking them.

Mizushiro and Winboro both open their briefcases upon the caskets gently, retrieving a pair of flags from each, before withdrawing them and firmly relieving the briefcases to a spare team member to their immediate right of the head of the casket, who relieves them as they depart the ship in prompt fashion.

In her mind, Mizushiro hears the age old hymn of the sentinel, carried down through the centuries, born originally in Liberty's predecessor, but revised to the role of their corps. She stares down Ayane's casket, fully aware of the gravity of this woman who rests before her.

As the hymn clears her mind, she barks the order curtly and brisk, flags folded in each hand. "Unfurl!" She passes one of the flags, entirely white when folded, to the soldier adjacent to her left, as does he. The flag are then taken by the center and foot-side soldiers, and unfurled. It reveals a flag not seen since terran ages, the flag of the Japanese Republic, one of the founding nations of the Western Alliance. It is draped upon the lower half of their caskets, from their feet to their waist. Another in short order on the other side, is unfurled - bearing the sigil of the Utsunomiya Commonwealth - the Snake, Roses and Star - carried forth from their days as the Ouroboros, now carrying a light pink, rather than the dark teal it once had - the Snake symbolizing the Commonwealth's acknowledgement of its' past, the past of humanity, and to continue forth into the future, with the memories, mistakes and triumphs of it and the nation it declares its' predecessor - The Roses, symbolizing a yearning for prosperity and peace, and the Star, the freedom of the heavens above Gran Canaria that it holds so dear.

As the two flags are draped over, Mizushiro barks once more. "Ready... Lift!" she says, the first half of the order being met with a lowering of the staff to assume the pallbearers' position, before lifting on her call. "Forward!" she continues, as she leads with the group through the ship, and out to the Terminal. As they exit the mooring bridge, they are met with the guardsmen from before at attention alongside the Miyasu personnel. As the caskets pass, the two UMC Guardsmen stand and salute, showing reverence and respect to the woman who gave birth to and nurtured their leader, and to the brother who she had loved so dearly. Rarely if ever were civilians anywhere afforded full military honors. But as secondary victims of the tragedy of the Shirayuki project, family of the head of state, and the chance to be reunited, repatriated and laid to rest in Gran Canaria, an exception was made.

Shortly after they pass, the guardsmen at attention follow behind, briefcases in hand. The exchange complete, they move to a nearby gate, where a shuttle awaits to take them home, and to their final resting place.

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