Coda

The Procession had stopped, the wailing Bagpipes skirled and moaned, then died away. Fifty Honor Teams stood by open graves as the whole world seemed to stop, clutching the eerie silence inwards as Andrew Webb moved towards the podium. The group of people around the stand seemed confused, this was not on the program, but none who caught the gaze, the look of those eyes, would stand before it.

Andrew mounted the podium and stood before the microphone, his voice starting softly, “People of the Outer Worlds. Yes, you have heard me correctly. And to be clear the next person who uses the term ‘Colonies’ in my presence will beyond a doubt loose some teeth!”

“I have already heard in this last twenty-four hours people saying that the Out Worlds were Colonies of New Texas. Allow me to put that to rest.” His voice grew louder, overpowering the speaker system. “Force, Open Ranks March!”

The ranks of Uniformed personnel moved to an open formation in which each had plenty of room. Then Andy barked, “All personnel not from New Texas, twenty paces, Forward, March!”

Fully sixty percent of the Force began to move forwards and stopped in a new formation to the front of their companions as they formed ranks and snapped to Attention. Andy continued, pointing toward the new formation, “Those who are being laid to rest today number by percentage almost exactly as the split formation you see before you! This was not as some ignorant moronic mouth breathers think a New Texas victory. Without our planning and energy it could not have happened, YES! But a victory that belongs to us alone? — NO!” On that last word his voice rose for the first time! “I gave up a personal vendetta to fall in with the grand ideals of a couple of dreamers and a schemer named Hank Carling. I did not do this to create a new Federated Government nor did these people. New Texas will not be the new dictator. Colors Present!” From fifteen poles around the burial grounds flags ran up and broke into the wind. From New Masada’s Star of David to Kie’s Rising Sun the flag popping in the wind atop each stanchion had one thing in common, pure clean colors of Red, White, and Blue!

“New Texas shall not become a successor to Earth’s Federation Government! We here, today, shall not allow it! To do so would break trust with those we stand here to honor. Many ancient writers have produced tomes promulgating a Warrior Society in which a people are dominated by its Military, we do not have that, and God willing never will. Those of the Warrior Caste are your Sons, your Daughters, your Brothers, Sisters, Mothers, and yes, Fathers to us all. Do not force us to stand alone, for we shall never bend the knee. We are the Warriors and we are your family, and we are inseparable!”

General Webb then turned, moving away from the podium, his microphone still connected to the speaker system. One final time his voice rang clear over the field. “Brothers in arms! Close Ranks! March!”

The assembled troops began to move back into their original positions. Andy calmly waited until they were finished. He did not look nor did he act as if he stood alone. His voice rang without the speakers over the field in that carrying Command Voice, “Honors, by Rank; Execute!”

From the back of the graves corridor by pairs the Honor Squads came to Attention. Then came the quiet cry of the Dual Bugles, Taps, followed by the 21 Guns Salute for each was fired, and the appropriate Flag was folded. The Officer for each coffin presented the Flag for each coffin to the Family and the Detachment moved to their place in the ranks.

When the closest rank to the entrance had finished the voice of Andrew Webb rang again, “Force, Center Face. To Contact Forward March!” The two separate ranks of Uniforms moved towards the center of the field and stopped. “Force, Center Face!” The two columns faced towards the entrance to the field and stood at Attention.

Up on the podium Walt Davis leaned towards Rob William’s. “It’s on you Buddy!”

Rob walked toward the microphone with no idea what to say; halfway there he turned back and looked at the terrible two. Both were grinning their asses off. He turned to the microphone and before he knew what was happening he heard himself saying, “May we have a moment of Silence so we Civilians may join in the mourning!” As he stuck his head up craning for a glimpse and there, arrayed in rank, he saw all of the Uniformed Forces with their head bowed low. “My God, they believe!” Waiting a moment more he spoke, “Thank You all.” Then after a pause, “General Webb, I believe the command is ‘Pass in Review’.”

“Force Commanders Post!”

Warrick Gates, Christopher Webb and LTG Anthony Wilkerson stepped forward and faced the General at attention.

“Gentlemen, take Command of your Forces and Pass them in Review. I am used up!” The four salutes should have been recorded and used as a Training Tape in any Military Academy ever built!

Rob almost fainted when the first voice rang over the field, “Force, Pass In Review! March!”

As the mass of Attack Fleet Earth passed Rob heard the voice of Walt behind him, “You thought I was crazy didn’t you. I bet on them, their Heart and Soul! Not the man, not even the collection of leaders we had, them the group! I thought we could get a settlement with Earth where they would just let us go, not even my wildest dreams had I envisioned this!”

Robert Williams turned and stared him right in the eyes, “Yet that collection of leaders you called off to me that first day produced a miracle that neither of us ever anticipated. Listen well to what was said here. We have the duty to create a government that honors these men and women. Think about what Andy said, each and every one of those people believes just as he does. I know of one of the books Andy referred to; look at them and what they have done. My God they are the Dorsai! I do not choose to cross them, would you?”

Walt just stared into the distance for several long moments, “We have to live up to them don’t we?”

“That we do friend, that we do!”

Here Ends Never So Few (6-26-09)