Funeral Rites

 Episode Name:  Funeral Rites

   Written By:  Shaft

         Cast:  Balin, Blair, Dakin, Havaris, Haven, Idisha, Medes, Mira and Shaft.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Shaft

     Aired On:  Sun Oct 27 17:21:05 2002

     Stardate:  52736.5

Time: Sun Oct 27 16:21:04 2002

Stardate: 52736.4

Setting The flight deck's normally utilitarian feel and design has been drastically altered to fit with the solemnity of the occasion and the severity of the recent Breen attack on Earth. A raised platform rests towards the back of the bay, draped and trimmed in white and gold to match the dress uniforms of the Starfleet Officers who have come to honor the memory of at least one of Earth's most recent fallen; Captain Samantha LeCates of the Freetrade Vessel Mertz. A podium rests at the fore of the raised platform, bearing the insignia of Starfleet. Behind this podium and to the left -- draped ceremonially from the ceiling to very near the floor -- a Flagship sized flag bearing the crest of the United Federation of Planets. Before and beneath this flag lies the final resting places of Captain LeCates, a black oblong cylinder much akin to a torpedo casing, save for its purpose and the plaque set at what would be chest level atop the casket. It rests on a rolling rack, leading to a jettison tube, through which the Captain's body shall pass as it undertakes its final voyage. The platform is manned only by members of the Senior Staff and similarly ranked visiting dignitaries. Many of the Junior Officers who have come to bear witness to the event have begun falling into rank before the platform, standing at parade rest. Lacking formal orders to the contrary, there is a subdued murmur of conversation as one Ensign or another asks the fate of another Ensign's family back home on Earth. The podium is, at present, unmanned as the hour of final muster approaches.

Setting Promptly at 16:00, Havaris paces in from the corridor, carrying actual notes handwritten on actual paper in an actual hardbound personal notebook. His dress uniform is decorated with a trio of medals, his hair has been somehow tamed, and his appearance is all the more spit polished for that fact. He paces down the aisle provided by the lines of muster, steps carefully and precisely up onto the dais, and comes before the podium, settling down his notes and examining them for a time to allow the murmur of conversation among the ranks to die away into polite silence. The assembly below the podium begin assuming parade rest fully now, as is customary. After a pregnant pause, Havaris lifts his eyes from the paper, gazes out across the faces of those present, and issues the first formal words of the proceedings. "Good afternoon."

Dakin stands with the VIPs near the platform, displaying his decorations just below his combadge, listening intently to Havaris' address. He nods silently to Balin as he arrives.

Balin slips quietly into the back of the shuttle bay. He clasps his hands together and silently regards his assembled crew on the solemn occasion.

Medes stands at her appointed place in the formation at parade rest, decorations and all. She's made some attempt at taming her hair, but this just rather makes it look like an oil-soaked porcupine more than anything else. Her eyes drift between the viewports and Havaris for the moment, seeming somewhat intentionally blank.

Mira has found a spot near the back where she stands with her obsidian eyes locked on the ceremony, a mask of unusual solemnity cast on her features as she stands a silent vigil.

Idisha turns his gaze to Havaris and perhaps makes note of the medals upon his chest. He himself bears one of those in abundance, the leafing surrounding his combat medal suggesting several occasions of almost giving life and limb to the Federation. Still, he says nothing as is expected and has said nothing since his arrival. Merely standing at parade rest and watching the scene play forth with due reverence.

. o O Mira feels apprehensive and a little guilty.

Haven steps into the shuttle bay, the doors clanging shut behind her.

Haven has arrived.

Blair's eyes are downcast as he stands at parade rest a couple rows from the front, even though his head remains held high, but as Havaris begins speaking they gradually work their way up to the podium with a bit of a pained look, leaving his jaw clenched rather tightly.

Havaris begins simply, his voice downplayed and solemn as it carries over the public address system via his compin. "Two days ago the Breen attacked one of the core worlds of the Federation. Earth. Many of you present had or have loved ones who either called Earth their home or who had, as a matter of their duty to Starfleet and the Federation, been stationed there at the time of the Breen attack. Some of you called one or more of the destroyed cities home. Every one of us studied and trained in San Francisco. And every one of us -- though we may not have lost anyone ourselves -- knows of someone who has." He allows a silence to fall at this moment, glancing once more across the faces present. "The vast majority of you will not have the opportunity to honor your friends, comrades, or loved ones in the way we now prepare to honor Captain Samantha LeCates. You are mourners with nothing over which to grieve. And in a fitting motion of fate which I choose to attribute to The Prophets, we find ourselves with the body of a Captain over whom none will mourn. For she had no family, no loved ones to do so. And although I speak in honor of her today, I was not there to see how Captain LeCates lived -- I can only tell you of how she died."

Soft steps carry Haven into the bay. Havaris' voice brings her up short and she chooses a place along the back wall, where she leans to listen to him.

. o O Balin's thoughts pass over her, even if his eyes do not. He's not listening to what is being said, being lost in his own world, a world filled with her.

Balin remains silent from his place at the back, staring out at the proceedings. Havaris' words do not appear to move him as he stands there, an immovable rock.

. o O Mira can feel his presence here, the texture of his mind unmistakable even in a crowd. She wants nothing more than to look at him, to hear his voice, but this isn't the right time and she shouldn't be thinking these things. Not now. Not here. She should be sad, mournful, and part of her is, but another part of her glows with vigor, a renewed joy in just being alive and for that, she feels guilty.

Medes's gaze shifts between speaker and viewports, her jaw setting before she blinks rapidly several times.

"I was seated in what was her chair. She had given control of her vessel to Starfleet, and Starfleet had entrusted it to me. She stood beside me, her hand on my arm. Her last words were words of kindness to me. In the midst of a mission in which we knew only frustration, setback, turmoil and strife, the good Captain remained -- even to her end -- an upbeat and indomitable force upon the bridge of her now ruined vessel. The explosion that cost her the Mertz, cost the Captain her life, and very nearly cost the lives of myself and the crew that accompanied me. She died on her feet. She died with her hand on the arm of the Officer before you. She died in service to Starfleet and to the Federation. She died, and her death was not asked of her. Unlike those of us who wear this Uniform, she owed no oaths to Starfleet. Unlike us, she owed no service even unto death. She knew the risks. She knew the limits of her obligations, and yet she stood. She stood at my side, and she stood no more. Which is why I am honored, now, to stand at hers. Honored, moreover, to speak these words so that there may be those in the universe who will remember so brave and so noble a sacrifice. So that one less death goes unmourned, so that we honor her -- a civilian who died for the actions of our Starfleet -- as countless millions died only two days ago on the planet of Earth. At our sides. On their feet. So noble, and so brave. And never -- not ever -- forgotten."

Havaris pauses here to gather his bearings before glancing back up and ordering of the muster, "Come to attention. There is a Captain on Deck."

Haven snaps to attention without thought. Eyes zoned out on some distant point beyond Kusto's shoulder.

Dakin also straightens.

Blair involuntarily looks behind him at the break, but through the small but thick crowd of the muster doesn't spot him, and so turns back forward with a slight raise of the eyebrows, drawing up to full attention.

Idisha snaps to, chin set, eyes forward. Honor. Duty. The words spoken of the captain almost bringing a tear to his eye.

Mira hears the call and stands at attention, her mouth, so used to smiling, is drawn into an impassive line, her gaze almost unblinking as she focuses on Lt. Havaris's eulogy.

Balin is, perhaps, the last to draw himself straight. He comes out of whatever reverie he is in and follows his crew's lead.

Medes snaps to, coming to attention with perhaps a little too much thought to her actions, focused on those and still occasionally blinking overmuch.

. o O Balin admonishes himself for his lack of attention.

. o O Mira reaches out to your mind with hers, allowing her own thoughts the comfort of mingling with yours, "I am glad you are here."

. o O Haven thinks "You're Starfleet, Kusto. Not mine. Not now, not ever."

As all hands fall to attention, Havaris follows suit, lifting his chin a touch higher than would be otherwise standard as his adam's apple moves from the top of his throat to the bottom and back again in one hard swallow. A moment later, the crystal clear notes of taps begin to fill the shuttle bay while the casket begins to slowly roll down the track towards the jetison tube, a process taking nearly the full length of the time honored bugel piece. With the last elongated note, the casket disappears into the tube and is silently expelled away from the sation on a course clear of merchant and military traffic -- on a course towards nowhere but the dark and empty reaches of deep space.

Continuing in his role as the ceremony's official, Havaris barks across the deck, "BATTERY...! FIRE!" At his order the phaser banks of Station Four-One-Nine light up and release a volley up and away, over the departing captain. That order is repeated a second time, then a third, each order answered by a stream of rippling red energy to light the Captain's way. With the last barrage, the flag of the Federation is slowly drawn towards the ceiling, bringing the ceremony to a formal conclusion. Havaris' last order is once more subdued, "The Captain has left the deck. You may stand at ease. Burial party: Dismissed." That said, Havaris collects his notes and retreats from the podium to step down from the platform into the now separating and generally subdued ranks of the muster.

. o O Balin's thoughts are grateful, accepting of her, though he still doesn't look her way. "I couldn't miss this one, too. I'm glad you're here, too."

Balin relaxes, coming to a parade rest, before giving Havaris a nod of appreciation and respect, regardless of whether Havaris sees it or not. He continues to stand there, quietly, looking out the shuttle bay thoughtfully.

Dakin gives a nod to the VIPs then steps closer to Havaris. "Nice service, Kusto. I think Capt. LeCates would approve."

Mira remains still as each beam is fired, the radiant light from each phaser beam reflecting on the ebony pools of her eyes, betraying the barely constrained emotion underneath her disciplined posture. Even as the order to relax is given her eyes watch the capsule float off until it drifts off into the endless veil of space.

Blair turns to look at the tube once the at ease order is given, head tilted just slightly, and then with his lips pressed in a grim line he brings two fingers to his forehead and snaps off a short salute of sorts, hand then falling limply to his side.

"Safe journeys, Captain" Haven murmurs softly then falls to parade rest before she edges toward the doors. She casts a look Kusto's way and sighs, "Good bye, my friend" she says softly, her eyes on him. Honor is a word she just can't swallow. A tactical withdrawal is all that's left. Her gaze sweeps the deck again before her thoughts turn dark and she's headed for the door.

. o O Haven thinks "From old unfeeling bastards to friends it kills you to love... well, no more. Fare thee well, Bela.. Kusto.. Ty.. with hope I'll see you on the other side."

Haven heads out of the cargo bay, the doors sliding shut behind her with a clang.

Haven has left.

. o O Mira lingers within your thoughts, "I'm not sure how to feel right now. I should be sad, devastated like the rest of the crew. Not just for the Captain, but for so many others we've lost. Part of me is, but part of me feels warm, alive, safe. I almost feel guilty for that."

A single tear shimmering as ice upon his cheek falls from Idisha's eye. Walking towards the ejection portal, he stands a few feet away in silence. His back turned to the crowd though his mood is plain.

Havaris turns to answer Dakin's address, offering him a halting sort of nod as he releases a steady sigh. "Thank you, Sir. I had it all written two days before the Breen attack. I sort of had to rewrite. It... didn't really fit anymore." Having caught the Commander's nod, Kusto offers his own in return, though his eyes don't remain on the commander for long.

. o O Medes thinks "God, I want a drink. No. I don't. I don't want a drink. I want... I want to get out of here. Can't cry. Not gonna. Nope. Sorry. Not doing it. Way too tough for that. Not in public."

Medes slumps out of attention, running a hand through her hair and sending said hair spikily off in even more bizarre directions; the top of her head now appears to have been attacked by a /spastic/ oil-soaked porcupine. A few moments thereafter, she turns and moves slowly in Havaris' direction, focusing on her hands as she walks.

The vacuum outside of the station is illuminated by a sudden volley of Phaser fire, aimed up and away from all military and civilian traffic. This volley is repeated two more times at even intervals.

Dakin nods. "I was up with Morgan all that night. She... well, it's understandable how she took it. Even with her parents on their way here..." He looks over towards the approaching Medes and nods. "Ensign."

. o O Idisha thinks "Too many innocents. And yet given so willingly. You will be remembered Captain. You are Andorian. And shall be remembered as such."

. o O Idisha feels Sadness. Grief. Loss. Perhaps the depths the war has sunk finally driving itself home to him.

Balin swallows audibly. "Life goes on," he says quietly, but loud enough to be heard. He stands there, his hands clasped before him, regarding the remaining assembly.

. o O Balin thinks "You have nothing to feel guilty about, Charlize, please don't be. Despite the horrors of the war, life continues to go on. Revel in your life, and don't look back."

Idisha eventually straightens and inhales as if clearing himself of his momentary malaise. Turning, he strides from the shuttle bay. Not touching his tear streaked face.

"Understandable, Sir. I--" Havaris cuts off as Medes steps up to him, turning about to offer her a prolonged inspection followed by a simple nod of the head. "Thank you for coming. I wasn't certain that you would." Anything else he might have said dies in a half-opened mouth and a glance to his commanding officer in Lt. Dakin. "Thank you," he suffices a second time.

Dakin nods. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to check on the arrivals. Be seeing you." He turns to head back out of the bay, nodding in farewell to whomever he happens to pass.

Dakin heads out of the cargo bay, the doors sliding shut behind him with a clang.

Dakin has left.

Idisha goes home.

Idisha has left.

Medes was about to respond to Dakin's acknowledgement of her, but never seems to get that far, as she ends up nodding at the back of his retreating head. Her eyes flicker toward the floor, and she offers Havaris an expression that's scriptedly blank. "I had to. Thank you. It was... extremely appropriate." She folds her hands behind her back and shifts her weight silently.

Mira lowers her head, still standing in place as the crowds begin to move into their social attachments, her presence as a newcomer to this station becoming more obvious with each passing moment. So, it is, perhaps, only natural that she gravitates towards the man standing alone in the back, "Sir," she says softly to Balin, "I am glad you came. I'm sure many in the crew appreciate your presence in a time like this."

Blair turns, stepping through the dispersing crowd and towards the doors quietly. His face seems to register slight surprise at seeing Balin near the back of the room, but he gives the Commander a short, soft nod and quietly slips out.

Blair heads out of the cargo bay, the doors sliding shut behind him with a clang.

Blair has left.