Jorin's face was a mix of conflicting emotions, his mouth wordlessly forming words. lieut--... Camouflage, would it be ok if... would it be appropriate, if I asked for a piece of Furry's armor? his voice very quiet, respectful.. Nothing big, just maybe the plates from his gloves, or bracers... the words left in a rush, as if there was some crime in asking.. I know there are some species and societies that believe that you can take possessions into the afterlife.. I... I wouldn't want to deprive him of that..

"The grove of crystal trees by the Command Centre has always been a peaceful retreat for me in the time that we've spent on this planet. It's particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. If there is a way to bury him there without disturbing the trees, then let us use that location," Mireska suggested to Camouflage. " Would that be suitable? I don't know what Fury would have liked."

She looked curiously at the armour tally in Camouflage's hand.

Camouflage nods to Jorin, remembering something his Mandalorian instructor had said. "Of course, kid. That would be fine. Remind me to tell you about Nari Tenau sometime." He looks to Mireska, considering the offer. "I think he'd like that, but are you sure it's a good idea to bury him right by the command center? There are others around and I wouldn't want to... ruffle feathers. It is against regulations." His unspoken concern is the knowledge that very few clones get a burial, and he feels it wouldn't be fair to them.

Jorin straightened, Regulations are what we say they are... We are a General and Commander.

"Agreed, Padawan," Mireska said, before becoming distracted by the sight of Jorin's remaining injuries.

"Jorin, now that I'm sure that we're not all about to bleed out or fall down into that unmentionable sludge remnant at our feet, let me take care of the rest of your wounds."

She focused on the threads in the Force, and rewove them so that Jorin's body no longer bore any sign of the recent battle.

Thank you Master... He looked down at his empty belt.. We should collect blasters from our fallen comrades until we can replace our Lightsabers....

"You don't have your Dragoon along?" Mireska asked. "Then take mine."

She began to look disturbed as the immediate concerns of escape and healing no longer overshadowed her memories of the battle. She checked her own inventory of possessions carried. "Did that madwoman take all our lightsabres? What is it with people on this planet stealing lightsabres?!?"

Again, she paused to take a deep breath as she remembered another unpleasant fact.

"That was a red lightsabre which she drove into me. Jedi don't use red lightsabres. Some believe that the red crystals in such weapons are actually bleeding in the Force. But for Sith, a red lightsabre is said to be de rigueur , a politically-inclined fashion statement. We must find out more about that woman, particularly if she's a Sith!"

Trophies, Master... Jorin replied quietly.. Proof of defeating a Jedi earns a great deal of respect in certain circles..

After travelling for a number of hours is silence disturbed only by their engines, Ker'see and her clones return to base. A slightly sullen atmosphere can be sensed even from outside of the base...

"Let's drop off our gear," orders Ker'see weakly. "You have free time for the next day..."

Mireska's lips tightened at Jorin's words, and she glared at an innocuous section of sewer wall for several seconds.

"Let's return to the garrison," she finally said.

While the garrison was jubilant to hear that the CIS shield generator had been destroyed and that there was no longer anything protecting the battledroids' advance, there was also a poignant note to the return of Camouflage's team and their accompanying Jedi. Fury was dead.

Before Jorin, Camouflage, and the rest of the clones scattered to their various quarters, Mireska gave them strict orders to not only clean but disinfect themselves, their armour, and the rest of their gear.

“You really don’t want to know what kind of microbes can latch onto you in places like that!”

After her own short but thorough shower, complete with disinfection - sewers, yuck! - Mireska spent the rest of the early afternoon overseeing Havoc's treatment in the base hospital. Before bringing him carefully back to consciousness, she and Kix worked on readying him for the installation of a cybernetic arm. Precisely what kind of arm, they were still undecided upon for the moment.

(Second/mid-afternoon section)

By mid-afternoon, when she realised that Havoc was close to waking, Mireska stepped out of the recovery ward and sent short messages to both Jorin and Camouflage. Less than ten minutes later she found - not to her surprise - Jorin, Camouflage, and the rest of the Varactyls in the waiting room.

“Havoc will be waking up soon, men,” she told them. “But he still needs to rest a lot, so I’m limiting him to only two guests this afternoon, and no more than an hour.” She paused, thinking. "If he wants, I'll let him attend the funeral in a hoverchair - well wrapped up and with someone accompanying him."

Jorin helped members of Varactyls clean Fury's body and gear, before carefully removing the bracers and gloves and setting them aside and returning to his quarters to clean himself off. Once he was dressed in his cleaned armor he stopped by to see Spanner to let him know that he would need to go through whatever salvage he could, so he could rebuild his lightsabers.. Jorin realized they might have to build a set of training emitters until he could find time to make a trip to Ilum or another world that had a supply of Kyber. Spanner promised to have his crew gather the best peices they could salvage from the wreckage for the Jedi to inspect after the burial. Jorin Thanked him and made his way to the infirmary where Camouflage and the others were already waiting.

Jorin self consciously touched the bracer on his arm. I hope it's ok that I'm wearing some of Fury's kit...

When they got back to base, Camouflage went straight to the command center to take Mireska's authorization to Commander Cody. Cody is a by-the-book commander, and was not trained by Mandalorians, and so was surprised by the request. But he understood on a personal level and decided to help it go as smoothly as possible. When Camouflage proposes burying the rest of the clone trooper dead along with Fury, Cody agrees.

From there, Camouflage went to his quarters to clean and disinfect himself and his kit before heading straight to the infirmary, arriving with the rest of Varactyl squad a few minutes ahead of Jorin.

Camouflage puts his left hand on Jorin's shoulder, giving what he hopes is a reassuring squeeze. "Normally, yes , but Havoc doesn't know yet. I think it would be best to leave them here for now, okay kid?"

The ARC leaves his helmet tucked under his right arm, allowing Jorin to see his face. Shadow looks up, having been conscientiously studying his hands. "Tell him we did our best, Lieutenant. Tell him we did all we could. Tell him..." Camouflage nods, "I know, Shadow. He'll know too. These things happen, and there's nothing you can do about it." Turning back to Jorin, he says, "Are you ready, Commander?"

Jorin slid off the bracers and handed them to Shadow. He nodded to Camouflage, Ready.

Shadow holds the bracers, turning them over in his hands. Mireska nods to the pair and opens the door, allowing them in. Havoc is propped up in bed, a bandage wrapped around his torso and right shoulder and a med-droid hovering nearby.

When the pair enter the ward, Havoc cranes his neck to look out into the waiting room at the other clones. He's propped up in bed and has a bandage wrapped around his torso and the stump of his right shoulder. He laughs weakly, "You got any cigarras to spare for a wounded war hero? Tinny here's got something against them."

The med droid makes an indignant sound, then starts shuffling away, and Havoc relaxes back on the bed, "Thanks for coming to visit me, Lieutenant, Commander. I bet Fury's mad you're limited to two visitors. He's a good vod. I owe him a few drinks for dragging me out of that. How'd the mission go? Make out alright without me? Wait... what's wrong?" He furrows his brow, becoming concerned by the expressions on his visitors' faces.

"We succeeded in the the mission, but Fury... he didn't make it. I'm sorry Havoc."

Havoc is stunned, shocked by the news and struggling to take it in. "F-Fury? Gone? He can't be. Not my vod. No. How? How'd it happen?" Havoc swallows hard, then blinks back tears as they start to spring to his eyes.

Camouflage puts his free hand on Havoc's left shoulder, squeezing reassuringly in the way his instructor used to. "Not gone, merely marching away."

Havoc nods weakly, his chest shuddering as he fights back tears.

Ker'see quietly slinks through the base avoiding eye contact where possible and heading straight to her bunk. As soon as the door begins to swish The Duchess stands and pads over to her partner. The two embrace and curl up on the bed together. Despite not losing as much as the others today Ker'see could still sense the worry from the others.

Havoc, Fury did what he could to ensure the safety of his Brothers. He succeeded. Jorin said, approaching his bed. I also intended to honor is actions and to live up to his example. If you all will allow me, I would like to wear some of his armor... Jorin paused, a small tremor in Force whispered to him. Infact... may I suggest that we, as a unit, all wear a piece of his armor. That way he will always be with us, and we can all donate a piece of our own so we will be with him.

Havoc releases a shuddering sigh, trying to compose himself. "Y-yes, Commander. I... I think he'd like that."

Camouflage says, "We're burying Fury and some of our other brothers later today-"

"I'm coming, Lieutenant. I don't care what the doctors say, I want to be there."

Camouflage puts his hands up in a calming gesture, "Of course, udesii. I'd carry you out over my shoulder and shoot any shabla med droids that tried to stop me if that was what it'd take, but fortunately for the tinnies, the General signed off on it."

After a few more minutes, Jorin and Camouflage take their leave from Havoc and rejoin Varactyl squad, going to begin funeral preparations.

While Jorin and Camouflage were speaking with Havoc, Mireska had a long discussion with CMO Kix and the affable Spanner about cybernetic options for Havoc. Then Kix went to do his rounds and Spanner to check some design schematics.

Mireska made sure that no one disturbed Havoc for an hour after Camouflage’s and Jorin’s visit. When the hour was up, she commed Spanner to return and went back to Havoc’s room.

“Hello, Havoc,” she greeted him with a smile. “I’ve come to distract with you with some options that you should consider. Spanner will be back soon to explain his part. The basics are that we’ve cleaned up and prepared the remnant of your arm for a cybernetic replacement, so you'll be back in business soon.”

At this point Spanner knocked and entered the room. He grimaced briefly at the sight of the capped arm stump, and ran a hand through his hair.

“It's a right shame, what happened to ya fellas,” he said. “I can't fix flesh and bone like General Mireska here, but I can fix up a plain cyber arm real special. I know it won't make up fur losin’ the origernal but it'll help ya compensate, someways bettah.”

“Apparently the easiest option is a CIS battledroid arm,” said Mireska, and then added hastily when she saw Havoc setting his jaw mutinously, “But I quite understand if that’s not to your taste.

“The next option is a locally-sourced non-CIS droid arm, or something based on that. A protocol droid, or maybe a police droid. Jorin has kindly volunteered to work with Spanner on finding and altering the schematics if necessary. Even if it’s a stop-gap measure, it will get you used to using a prosthetic until we can requisition what I’d really prefer to get for you.”

Havoc quirked an inquiring eyebrow at Mireska, and made a ‘go on’ gesture with his remaining hand.

“Ultimately, I want you upgraded to a top of the line cybernetic arm which is indistinguishable from the original under normal circumstances and - more importantly - which is ion-shielded so that you can still drop an EMP grenade without your new arm suddenly becoming a useless hunk of metal,” she continued, then added, “Hmmm. Only non-ferrous materials too. Otherwise industrial-strength magnets could become problematic.”

There was a brief, appalled-yet-amused silence as all three contemplated having one’s arm trapped against a super-magnet like a character out of a children’s holonet entertainment program.

“Anyway,” said Mireska briskly, “You have a decision to make there, but it can wait until the morning. In the mean time, I’ll make sure that you get to attend the funeral later this afternoon. If you don’t mind the no-doubt numerous questions, I’ll ask Jorin to help you with the hoverchair and the rest of it. You’ll have to keep well-wrapped, and I’m only giving you an hour of freedom. Above all, you must not strain yourself. In fact, you’ll need to rest - and preferably sleep - until then.”

With that, Mireska and Spanner took their leave and went their separate ways.

Mireska commed Jorin, explaining how she'd just volunteered his help to Havoc for the funeral, before starting her own hospital rounds.

Ker'see carefully moves from the Nexu and finds a clam place in the garrison to sit and think. After a moment she senses The Duchess follow and allows it opening their bond and seeing herself from the creature's eyes.

They pad around the base carefully avoiding others until finally finding a quiet out of the way spot. The Devaronian gets herself into a sitting position and the Nexu coils around her. Still linked they match breathing and begin to empty their minds, allowing the force to breath through her.

Jorin, Camouflage and the members of Varactyl squad walked back to where the casualties were being kept and sorted through Fury's armor and replacing a section with their own. Jorin took a stylus and wrote "Fury CT-5821" on his bracer, passing the stylus to Camouflage.

Camouflage sets aside Fury's right gauntlet, saving it for Havoc, then takes Fury's right shoulder plate. He hands the stylus back to Jorin, he has his own plans for the plate.

While they are there, Camouflage goes around and collects the armor tallies of each of the clones, recording their names and numbers on his datapad.

Soon, the six of them go to the crystal grove to begin digging the grave. Shortly after they've begun the process, a large group of clone troopers approach them and one particular 212th trooper steps forward, saluting "Lieutenant, CT-..." he relaxes at a look from Camouflage, dropping his arm back to his side. "I'm Boil. We heard what you're doing, and we'd like to help. We look after our brothers." Camouflage reaches out, grasping Boil's arm just below the elbow in the Mandalorian greeting. Boil returns the gesture somewhat hesitantly, only somewhat familiar with it. "Thank you, brother. We can use the help."

Digging the mass grave takes multiple hours, and when they have finished they begin bringing the bodies to bury them.

Jorin separates off from the group and goes back to the hospital to retrieve Havoc and notify Mireska. Havoc puts up some resistance to the hoverchair, insisting that he can and will walk, but Mireska won't hear of it and he gives up, knowing he won't gain anything by continuing the discussion. As the pair leave, Mireska comms Ker'see. By now, a much larger crowd has gathered around the gravesite.

The rest of Varactyl squad form a protective cordon around Jorin and Havoc, escorting them up to the front. Once the last body has been laid in, Camouflage, facing the grave, says the simple Mandalorian tribute to fallen comrades: "Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la. Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum." He begins reciting the names of each of the thirty-eight clones being laid to rest, finishing with CT-5821, Fury. Wordlessly, the clones move to the grave and begin filling it in to conclude the burial.

Standing beside Ker'see in the shadow of the crystal trees and watching the funeral service, Mireska murmured softly the final line of one of the more ancient Jedi Codes, followed by the last lines of the Sunset Prayer of the Guardians of the Whills.

"Death, yet the Force. In life there is the Force. In the Force there is life. And the Force is eternal."

Noticing the approaching sunset and accompanying chimes from the crystal trees, Mireska sent a discreet text message to Jorin's comlink. When you've returned Havoc to the hospital, meet me back at the grove for some meditation. We all need some calm after the last few days.

Looking over at Ker'see, Mireska quietly extended the suggestion to her too. "I suggest that we take the time for a sunset meditation here, now that the funeral is finishing. We have all encountered various sources of frustration and worse over the past few days, and a joint meditation would be a good remedy for that. Jorin will be joining us here soon."

Camouflage and Jorin presented the Bracer to Havoc along with the stylus. In case you would like to inscribe a message, Jorin said, showing him the one on his own bracer.

After the brief ceremony, and the grave was filled, the Jedi and clones milled in the area, for while talking about their comrades. But as time passed, those gathered began to disperse. Awkwardly at first, many not sure when an appropreate time to go back to their duties. Camouflage gave the group a subtle nod as he and the squad escorted Jorin and Havoc back to the recovery section of medical, some troopers stayed longer, looking at the grave while many wandered back to their duty stations.

Jorin glanced at his comlink, noticing the message from Master Mireska. Lieutenant, you and the men can spend the remainder of the evening as you see appropriate.. Jorin said softly as the squad helped Havoc back in bed. I will be with Masters Mireska and Ker'see.. Jedi require certain... calibration you might say, with the Force.. Comm me if you require anything.

"Copy, Commander, thank you. Don't worry about us, you take your time. The Seppies will likely reevaluate and attack tomorrow, so we need to be in top form."

Hawk offers to stay with Havoc, but the med droid objects and Havoc sighs resignedly, telling his brothers, "It's fine, don't make a scene. I'll be okay."

Varactyl squad disperses between the barracks the mess, and the gym, and Camouflage heads back to officer country. When he gets back to his quarters, he starts sketching out the pattern he wants stenciled on Fury's shoulder plate.