The shuttle made one final loop around the center of the capital before its angular nose pointed into the heavens and disappeared. Those looking on ignored the boom of the shuttle's engines breaking free of the binds of gravity, their ears distracted by the roaring cannonade of a dozen heavy field pierces crying out over the land. A plume of greyish smoke shot out each barrel, painting a picture of fierceness only a war machine could create. Then the wind whisked the cloud away. Peace was heralded on the steppes of Praxima not by noise, but by silence.
" Detail - dismissed!"
The footfalls of jackboots on dirt grew softer and softer as A Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of the Life Guards marched away from a single man standing atop a mound of earth. Gone over the rise of a nearby hill, there were no other spectators to the funeral of Major-General Joachim Desaria, Viscount of Peltasta. Four weeks had passed since his death but for reasons of decorum the burial had been delayed. For reasons of propriety, the natives looked over the capital and believed their greatest enemy sat in a sealed container in the hold of a now-gone shuttlecraft; even the gunners were on the reverse slope of another hill and limbered up their guns to tracked movers without ever knowing whom they saluted.
It's better this way.
Vice-Admiral Forris Desaria, Baron of Raenoria, looked down at the freshly packed dirt under his polished boot and felt the last tear he would ever cry escape from tightened eyes. He thought it fitting that the very planet that had driven his brother mad would bring him peace.
Four weeks, you wouldn't recognize this place. Father has finally arrived with some envious Corellians in tow. Of course he is in orbit, championing the cause of his new battleships, of which the Republic has already ordered fifty. I almost had to order him away from me. Relief has also arrived; the city is being rebuilt by CEC at no cost to the natives.
You know, they think of me as their savior. They've put me on a pedastal I do not deserve. Ironic, isn't it? You lost sight of everything except ending the rebellion and it ended with your death. Cruel as well. They revere me as some sort of savior and now wish nothing short of full-fleged member status in the Republic. Our mission was a success, Joachim.
The Admiral removed a black leather glove from his left hand and then, with the deliberation only mourning can bring, removed a pink-diamond ring from his finger.
I've cleaned this up as best I could. Your Guardsmen were extricated immediately and sent into action against a Sith Fortress on Rimma. They fought bravely and almost died to a man. Now that is all people will remember when they speak of the 2nd Life Guards. The natives are to exultant at being alive to bring up what happened and say only that the battle lasted until the Fleet ended it. As for you, you've been awarded the Valorous Service Cross by the Senate. As far as the galaxy is concerned, you died in action.
Know this - I bear the truth. Our entire family will carry the shame of what has happened here until the end of time, and we will work without end at erasing the dark deeds done in glory's name. I swear it before the Gods and before you that I will live only to that end.
The Baron knelt down and placed the ring on the mound of dirt, jewel up.
Forever shall this soil be blessed with the blood of a son of our house. May only his best be remembered. Bella detesta Matribus.
The wind carried a sweet scent upon it as the sole surviving son of Reniel Desaria walked towards a waiting staff car, a kilometer distant from some hill known only to a cartopgrapher's stylus. As he drove away, he smiled. Two words crossed his mind, two words that would burn into his memory and the memories of his decendants for generations to come.
Strength and honour
" Detail - dismissed!"
The footfalls of jackboots on dirt grew softer and softer as A Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of the Life Guards marched away from a single man standing atop a mound of earth. Gone over the rise of a nearby hill, there were no other spectators to the funeral of Major-General Joachim Desaria, Viscount of Peltasta. Four weeks had passed since his death but for reasons of decorum the burial had been delayed. For reasons of propriety, the natives looked over the capital and believed their greatest enemy sat in a sealed container in the hold of a now-gone shuttlecraft; even the gunners were on the reverse slope of another hill and limbered up their guns to tracked movers without ever knowing whom they saluted.
It's better this way.
Vice-Admiral Forris Desaria, Baron of Raenoria, looked down at the freshly packed dirt under his polished boot and felt the last tear he would ever cry escape from tightened eyes. He thought it fitting that the very planet that had driven his brother mad would bring him peace.
Four weeks, you wouldn't recognize this place. Father has finally arrived with some envious Corellians in tow. Of course he is in orbit, championing the cause of his new battleships, of which the Republic has already ordered fifty. I almost had to order him away from me. Relief has also arrived; the city is being rebuilt by CEC at no cost to the natives.
You know, they think of me as their savior. They've put me on a pedastal I do not deserve. Ironic, isn't it? You lost sight of everything except ending the rebellion and it ended with your death. Cruel as well. They revere me as some sort of savior and now wish nothing short of full-fleged member status in the Republic. Our mission was a success, Joachim.
The Admiral removed a black leather glove from his left hand and then, with the deliberation only mourning can bring, removed a pink-diamond ring from his finger.
I've cleaned this up as best I could. Your Guardsmen were extricated immediately and sent into action against a Sith Fortress on Rimma. They fought bravely and almost died to a man. Now that is all people will remember when they speak of the 2nd Life Guards. The natives are to exultant at being alive to bring up what happened and say only that the battle lasted until the Fleet ended it. As for you, you've been awarded the Valorous Service Cross by the Senate. As far as the galaxy is concerned, you died in action.
Know this - I bear the truth. Our entire family will carry the shame of what has happened here until the end of time, and we will work without end at erasing the dark deeds done in glory's name. I swear it before the Gods and before you that I will live only to that end.
The Baron knelt down and placed the ring on the mound of dirt, jewel up.
Forever shall this soil be blessed with the blood of a son of our house. May only his best be remembered. Bella detesta Matribus.
The wind carried a sweet scent upon it as the sole surviving son of Reniel Desaria walked towards a waiting staff car, a kilometer distant from some hill known only to a cartopgrapher's stylus. As he drove away, he smiled. Two words crossed his mind, two words that would burn into his memory and the memories of his decendants for generations to come.
Strength and honour