April 14, 3051
The Triad, Tharkad
Ghost Bear Occupation Zone
(Lyran Commonwealth, Federated Commonwealth)
“By yon bonnie banks, and by yon bonnie braes, where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,†the brilliant tenor voice of Ghost Bear Warrior sang out as eight more Warriors in full ceremonial regalia slow-marched the litter holding the remains of Khan Jorgensson into the packed square. Serried ranks of Ghost Bears stood silent at attention, each slowly lowering their heads as the litter passed by them.
“Where me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.â€
Sandra Tseng wait on the raised dais in the center of the square, surrounded by her Galaxy Commanders, and all of the Jorgensson Blood-named on Tharkad.
“O, ye’ll take the high road, an I’ll take the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye; for me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.â€
A single sibkin—no more than twelve years old stood before the dais, slowly beating a staccato rhythm on his drum in time with the steps of the pall-bearers.
“T’was there that we parted in yon shady glen, on the steep, steep sides of Ben Lomond; where in soft purple hue, the highland hills we view, and the moon coming out in the gloaming.â€
Five Visigoths streaked by above, one of the mighty fighters peeling away and up, leaving the open slot in their formation.
“O, ye’ll take the high road, an I’ll take the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye; for me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.â€
One by one, the ranks of Warriors in the courtyard slowly sank to the knees as their dead Khan passed by, with their heads bowing long in honor.
“The wee birdies sing and the wild flowers spring; and in sunshine, the waters are sleeping; but the broken heart it keens, no second spring again, tho’ the world knows not how we are grieving.â€
The Warriors honored to carry their Khan slowly lifted his litter and placed his mortal remains atop a tall bier of stacked wood. And each then stepped back and knelt, bowing their own heads low.
“O, ye’ll take the high road, an I’ll take the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye; for me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.â€
As the final notes echoed throughout the Triad—and were conveyed across Tharkad by the discreet cameras along the walls—Sandra Tseng stepped forward to the podium.
“Our Khan has fallen, Ghost Bears, and never again will we see him in this world. We grieve for our Khan, killed not in battle, but by a dishonorable trap set by those who are little more than bandits. Who fight not in the open, but instead hide themselves among the civilian castes and shield their own lives with that of innocents.â€
The saKhan lifted her head high, and removed her mask, revealing a face marred by streaks of tears running down her cheeks. “Our family has suffered a loss that cannot be replaced; but we are Ghost Bear. We shall overcome this, and in time accept the passing of our Khan whose blood has now anointed this world—our world.â€
“I hear the laments of my Warriors, who cry out for vengeance against those who struck down our Khan like cowards. I hear them. I know their pain, for it is my pain.â€
“But we are Ghost Bear. We shall not forsake who we are because of a dezgra few; were we Smoke Jaguar, then this city would burn to add our Khan’s pyre—those who dwell here forming his escort into the next life. But we are not Jaguars.â€
“Were we Jade Falcon, we would select hostages among the civilian castes and put their lives as ransom for the bandits that slew our Khan. But we are not Falcons.â€
“We are one family, we are Ghost Bear. We will put an end to this killing, and we will do so while remaining who our Founders intended us to be. There will be no reprisals against civilians who have committed no crime. There will be destruction of cities to slake our thirst for vengeance—that my brethren, is the path of the corrupt vulture Lords of this Inner Sphere. We will root these bandits from the midst of our new people, and they will pay for their crimes—but Clan Ghost Bear will not answer dishonor with dishonor. We will not mourn for the blood of a Khan by shedding ourselves the blood of those who had no part in his death.â€
“That is our way; that is the way of the Ghost Bear. And we are Ghost Bear. Seyla.â€
“SEYLA!†thundered the chorus from a thousand throats packed into the Triad.
“SEYLA!†yelled Sandra Tseng again as she stepped back from the podium and pulled off a leather glove, drew a knife, and sliced her palm deep, the blood dripping unto the pristine snow.
“SEYLA!†answered her Warriors.
She walked to the bier, and drizzled the blood from the cut upon the fallen Khan, and then she stepped back. “Sleep well, my Khan,†she said, “for your Clan remains—and it always shall!â€
The Clan Loremaster handed her a lit torch, and Sandra placed it within the bier of wood, and within seconds the fuel within caught, rapidly consuming the litter and upon it, the body of Khan Jerome Jorgensson.