There's a small gathering by the lakeshore: scant few people, perhaps surprisingly, including a reassuringly solid-looking Shepherd, in his late forties or so, dog-collar and black suit. He nods to each as they arrive, with the occasional glance at his watch.

Lilah offers a small smile to the Shepherd, and her hold on Hex's arm tightens ever-so-slightly. She stays quiet, leaving the Captain to do the leading, her blue eyes looking over the assembled people without recognition.

The most notable, perhaps, among those gathered are three people in Alliance dress uniform: two in Navy dress uniform, stood close together, one of them female, darkhaired, eyes red from weeping, leaning on the shoulder of a slight, dark-eyed man. The third stands apart from the rest, blonde hair pulled back in a severe ponytail, expression and stance that would remind those who knew her of Juliet Francis, albeit somewhat shorter and in Marines full dress.

Hex's eyes go to the small group of people, looking for folk that he might recognize, and nodding to them. He limps slowly and carefully, seeming aware of the effects of soft sand on his footing, even in the big boots. He nods in return to the Preacher's greeting, and sighs once he's past. His eyes going to the calm waters and the trees across the way.

Lilah, meanwhile, is learning all about how high heels don't work well on sand, and most of her concentration is being spent on that.

Wynona makes her way along, in the midst of those proceeding to the scene, perhaps having been inclined to take her time, as they make their way to the burial spot. She doesn't seem surprised, at least, to see the naval uniforms, making her way up. She's clad in near-white, herself, whether that's from some Eastern influence, or just cause she doesn't own a stitch of black clothing, who knows.

The browncoat uniform is indeed noticed: the two Navy types glance across, the man saying something quietly to the woman, who shakes her head, leans against him. The Marine, on the other hand, gives Hex a long, hard, wary study.

Hex is used to long, hard, wary looks, but with the small number of people, likely family of the deceased, he can't help but notice this one especially. But the scarred man in the brown uniform doesn't return them. Nor does he seem to linger on the people wearing them. He knew enough of Captain Saint to expect this, but ... He takes in a deep breath, and squeezes Lilah's arm a little and looks elsewhere. Oh look, more folk coming ...

Lilah looks up at Hex at the squeeze, then glances over at the Alliance-types, making a small sound of realisation. Then she follows his gaze to new arrivals, small nods going to anybody that the small ex-doxy recognises. She stays close to the Whip's Captain, shifting a little nervously.

Aside from the three folk in Alliance uniform already here, another small knot of folks comes down the path: two more evidently ranking ALliance officers, very obviously as some kind of escort for a short woman with copper-fading-to-silver hair caught up in a bun, green eyes, looking to be in her fifties - those who knew Connie well would spot a likeness. WIth them is a tall blonde woman in a smart suit, who evidently knows the two Navy types already here.

Wynona has been keeping an eye out for relations of Connie's, vague nods, even for the Alliance types giving way to a less-guarded one to the lady with a clear family resemblance.

Remy moves into the area that has been set aside for the procession and other arangements. Taking a seat in one of the middle rows of sets that is probably set up.

Hex, for his part, takes in the new folk. Family. More uniforms. And none of them his color. Another deep breath. A glance to the blonde. While he wants to pay his respects, he doesn't want it to turn to a brawl. Especially not with ghimself as public enemy number one ...

Hex's look is met, and Lilah leans up and whispers something to the Captain, her expression slightly nervous, and her hold on his arm tighter still.

Connie's mother is escorted to a spot very obviously *apart* from everyone else, perhaps surprisingly including the other Alliance personnel. One of her escort has a definitely disapproving look about the whole business.

Darling remains far from the throng, saitisfied with watching from the treeline at the top of the strip of sand. Away from others, he his free to reflect, meditating upon the smoke drifting up from his cigar.

Remy settles in his seat, glancing about now and again to take not of who is already as well as keeping track of the new faces that join the group as the time passes.

Hex looks to the small blonde and nods. He gives a long look toward Connie's mother, then limps back to the Shepard, "Sir ... Give condolences ta th' Misses, please? House of Chi-Ling. I'm 'fraid if I were ta 'pproach 'er now, It migh' not go so well, neh?" He nods thankfully, and starts to limp back off the beach with Lilah, perhaps to the ease of those in Alliance dress.

The blonde ALliance Marine watches, eyes narrowed a touch, as Hex departs.

A small cluster of folks on the beach: there's maybe half a dozen folks in Alliance uniform, two escorting Connie's mother, another couple standing together, and a blonde woman in Marines dress uniform stood apart - *some* may recognise the latter as Major Briggs.

At a stately pace the pollbearers move to the small shrine Shin has prepared. The six men work together to place the casket into the niche provided. They then step to one side. Shin waits patiently for things to quiet down.

Wynona doesn't seem so much concerned with the factions about this; though, if people migrate toward the familiar, she's to be found more among those who knew Connie from her shipping days. The presence of so many uniforms does seem to bring about a certain rectitude to her posture, though.

Journey slips in quietly from the sidelines, moving to stand behind the chairs for now as she scans for an empty seat, her hands clasped before her and her eyes somber. She does notice Shin and Remy, and nods to them quietly. The presence of the Alliance party draws her eyes for a moment, and she swallows once. "Odd bunch to be around here," she murmurs, wringing her clasped hands a little.

Ro releases the side of the coffin and takes a full step back, lowering his head and clasping his hands over his chest, a necklace of beads hanging from his wrists as he quietly prays.

Remy notices Journey and nods back to her, patting the empty seat next to him.

Shin Tung says, "I would like to say a few brief words. Connie Saing was Captain, Sister or Friend to many of us. She held tightly to her beliefs and values. It caused her to lose face but her beliefs and honor remained." Shin steps to one side. "Sheperd.""

That draws, from the Alliance types either side of Connie's mother, frowns of disapproval. Her mother seems much less displeased by it, as do what one assumes are her former crewmates.

Shepherd McCann adjusts his slightly too-tight shirt, and steps forward. His voice is surprisingly mellow, pitched to carry in a manner that suggests years of practice at making himself heard in such places. "As some of you know, Constance - Connie - was raised in the Christian faith, However, I want to make it clear that those of all beliefs..." He looks round, smiles a little. "And none... will be equally welcome here." He clears his throat. "We have come here today to remember before God our dear sister Constance Marie; to give thanks for her life, to leave her in the keeping of God her creator, redeemer and judge, to commit her body to be buried, and to comfort one another in our grief, in the hope that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Wynona spares a hawkish glance for the treeline, struck from a slight reverie by a thought, as things settle in, turning her attention toward shin and the Shepherd as words are said.

Journey nods to Remy and makes her way with care to his side, taking a seat. "It's good to see you again," she says, in a low voice. "I just..." she swallows, shaking her head. "I just wish the circumstances were happier," she concludes, blinking rapidly and quickly looking down at the ground.

Darling remains quiet from his vantage point along the treeline.

Shin Tung stands quietly to one side letting the Sheperd put the final blessings on the place with his words. His hands as clasped infront of him an is as calm as can be expected.

Rebekah is really dressed more appropriately. Really. She's wearing all black, and removes her hat as she walks onto the beach, ordering the dog that's with her to heel. He obeys, and falls in step with the young woman. She moves over to stand in the tree-line, with Darling.

Ro's green eyes rise slowly as he looks to Shin and for a moment, they flicker off to the treeline and then back to Shin. He looks down onto the coffin and quietly begins to chant.

The Shepherd grants Ro a moment or two, then clears his throat, quietly.

"A few words of Scripture." Words the Shepherd evidently knows by heart. "The Gospel according to John, chapter 6, verse thirty seven. 'All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.'"

He looks round again, making brief eye contact with each one here. "In such times as these, it is never easy as a man of the cloth to find words that speak to everyone. You all knew Connie, in different times and under different circumstances, as daughter, friend, captain... each of your experiences is different, each of your losses is different. I take comfort in those words: I firmly believe that Connie believed in the promise they carry, and perhaps, for some of you, that is all the comfort that I can provide at this time of loss." He adjusts his collar again, a habitual gesture. "I am sure there are those here with memories of Connie they would like to share, words that would ease us all. Now is the time for those words, if any wish to come forward and speak of her."

Darling smiles at this, doubtful his annecdotes of Connie would be appreciateed by the mother.

Remy reaches over to take Journey's hand and give it a comforting squeeze as she sits next to him. "Ids nice to see yu as well my dear, doh I agree dat I wish da circumstances were a liddle mo plesan."

Shin Tung says, "I have said what I thought important." He steps forward and lights a stick of incense from a candle and stands it upright in a narrow sand filled ledge. Just before moving to the rear of the group he adds. "Please feel free to speak.""

Ro's eyes never lift from the coffin as he speaks, clearly and with confidence in his words. "Alot has happened that no one can take away. I can feel the pressure and pain around us. We all believe in something very different, yet we all have come to pay our respects to Captain Saint. Regardless of how one feels, there is a part of her that we have all been drawn to..attracted to. It is as different for one person to the next as night and day. We are not perfect people, none of us. We all have our failings and our triumphs, and today we lose something. But if we all look within to what she meant to us, we will gain something in return. I know I have..." He gets quiet and steps back, dropping to his knees and bowing to the coffin. "Thank you," He whispers, "For everything..."

A tall, blonde woman in a civillian suit walks over to stand before the small gathering. She seems controlled, composed, bar an occasional fidgeting of her hands. "I'd like to say a few words, if I may? Connie... was my captain, and my friend, for several years during the war - and that of several other people here." The obvious two in Navy uniform look up at her, "I don't think a single one of her crew would disagree that she was a fair, honest, brave leader, who believed passionately in what she did." Her blue eyes lift to the two Alliance officers with Connie's mother, but her words are perhaps for the latter. "We all would have followed whereever she led. And the choices she made were made because she believed, in her heart, they were the right ones. Whatever the cost." She bites her lip, brushes her hand across her eyes. "I'd rather that were her epitaph," she adds, before walking slowly back to her seat.

Rebekah remains quiet. She's respectful, as is the leashed dog by her side, but she is not eloquent, and does not express sorrow if she can possibly help it. She reaches over to take Darling's hand, squeeze it, if he'll let her. That's the most she'll commit to comforting or being comforted.

Wynona makes her way up, when there's a lapse, taking the podium with perfect confidence, though a long pause when confronted with the eyes actually upon her. "Now," she begins, playing, perhaps for a couple more seconds. "There's those here who knew Connie longer and better than I ever did. Actually knew the good lady through business, first and foremost, though I like to think we was good enough friends."

She pauses. "There's more than a night we spent out in the Black she knew best, enough that I know there's many old loyalties that proved vexatious so recently. Last time we spent on such a night, ...last time I saw her, in fact, we was talking around such matters, and the losses brought to a family already past cause for grief, and by the stars she did think of you well." There's a pause. "Now, what's past is past, and there's a Verse full of ambiguities, here, about which I can offer little contention. Fact of the matter is, weren't no one out here worth the mention, that was ever sorry to see Connie Saint."

Journey stands and moves to the front. Looking down at her feet, she swallows, then speaks. "I... I met Connie Saint one night at work. A customer tried to..." she pauses, swallowing and sniffling once. "...to hurt me... and I was there alone. And she stepped in. She saved my life, and she stayed with me until I was no longer scared... I met her several times after that, and though I never knew her well, I... I never met anyone I was more proud to call my friend," she says, lifting her head more assertively. "No one was more brave, or more understanding..." She sniffles, and forces a smile, a few tears beginning to run down her cheeks. "You were the best friend I ever had, Connie... that's... that's all I can say..." Sniffling, she turns toward the casket, lowering her head and clasping her hands before her.

The blonde woman's comments don't generate smiles from the two brass escorting Marie Saint, but she herself blows her nose, and nods, gratefully to her. Wynona's words clearly give her pause for thought, and she looks between the two men. One pats her, consolingly, on the shoulder, and murmurs something. WHatever he says earns him a slight frown, as she listens to Journey, and wipes more tears away.

Shepherd McCann clears his throat again. "Thank you all." He pauses, then looks up. "Let us pray:

God of all consolation,

whose Son Jesus Christ was moved to tears

at the grave of Lazarus his friend:

Look with compassion on us your children in our loss;

give to our troubled hearts the light of hope,

and strengthen in us the gift of faith,

in Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen."

He lifts his head again. "Now, let us commit the body of our dear sister Constance Marie to the ground."

Shin Tung steps forward and gets ready to lower the body down into the vault of the shrine. He positions himself and waits to time his movemets to Ro.

Ro rises to his feet and takes the handle in his hand. He nods to Shin and waits.

The Shepherd stands back, and nods to both.

Remy puts an arm around Journey when she retakes her seat. Rubbing her arm as he pulls her close to try and comfort her.

Shin Tung begins to lower the body working carefully with Ro till it is at the bottom. The straps are removed and pulled free. As a final act Shin drops a hand full of dirt into the grave. He wipes his hand on a rag.

The Shepherd intones, soft yet carrying:

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

you have given us a sure and certain hope

of the resurrection to eternal life.

In your keeping are all those who have departed in Christ.

We here commit the body of our sister Constance to the ground:

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust;

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died, and was buried, and rose again for us,"

"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted." He spreads his arms wide. "Go now in peace, and take and keep your memories of her in your hearts."

Wynona makes her way back among the well-wishers. She does keep an eye to Connie's mother, though, since she did come up in the last conversation the rancher had with the dear departed.

Ro unbuttons his longcoat and slides out a single black rose. He leans forward a bit and lets it drop into the grave. He bows his head once more and mutters, "You shall be avenged." He turns and moves from the grave, slowly walking for the treeline.

"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord", quotes the Shepherd, perhaps too soft for most folks to hear." He walks, slowly, across towards Connie's mother. "But perhaps He is not averse," he muses, "to using Man as His instrument from time to time."

Shin Tung says, "Thank you all for coming." He bows respectfully to the group. "It was an honor to meet you Mrs Saint.""

If Marie Saint's two .. minders... had their way, that's all Shin would get to say. However, like mother, like daughter, Marie has other ideas, and with a toss of her head that's not at all unlike said daughter, she steps forward to press Shin's hand, eyes still somewhat bright. "Thank you, Mr. Tung. I..." She worries at her lip, choosing the right words. "I can see that this would have been what she would have wanted. I'm only sorry I couldn't have learned more about my daughter sooner."

Ro pauses and looks to Marie Saint as it dawns on him who she is. He approaches her, his hands cupped over the pommels of his swords, and stops a foot from her and Shin, not saying a word as his eyes study her.

Darling's hand finally rises and rests upon the shoulder of the young woman at his side. He gives her a gentle squeeze and begins to move back towards the path towards town.

Rebekah wordlessly turns and follows Darling. The dog bounds at their feet, dancing between the two, then trotting off down the beach to grab a stick. He doesn't understand it's a somber moment.

Journey looks up from Remy's embrace to see the unknown woman speaking to Shin Tung. "I'll... I'll be right back," she whispers to Remy, then carefully stands and moves toward Shin and the oddly familiar woman, still sniffling. The presence of the uniformed Alliance personnel gives her only slight pause as she moves quietly up a few yards away and watches for a moment, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.

Wynona does make her way back forward. Her Alliance-uniformed honour-guard get ...just so much notice as they'd be due from any officer, there being an archaic, one could only say ...gentlemanly bearing about it. "Mrs Saint, ....apart from my sincerest condolences. I think I do your daughter no wrong conveying the hope she expressed, that you could be reconciled. She never thought ill of your good person." There's a pause, and, she snaps a salute.

Remy turns his head as if to perhaps try and stop Journey, but the young woman seems to be rather determined at the moment and get away from him before he can do anything to stop her. And Ro's hands on his weapons standing in front of a few Alliance troopers doesn't fill him with any sort of warm and fuzzy feelings.

The other group of Alliance folks are talking to the blonde woman who gave the brief eulogy, evidently old friends. Marie Saint blinks with surprise at Wynona's salute, then nods. "I... thank you." She bites her lip, reaches for her handkerchief again.

Meanwhile, the blonde Marine nods, guardedly, to Journey. She murmurs, quietly, to her, "I was wrong. Too late to tell her, but..."

Journey glances at the blonde Marine. "Please... think of that the next time you meet someone," she says, softly. "You knew her, then? What's your name?"

Shin Tung says, "If you ever need us Mrs Saint just call." He looks at the two guards with Connies mother and nods once. In his best command voice he says to them "At ease gentlemen." The turns and heads to Major Briggs. "Major. I have orders concerning you. Please meet me on the Zun Yan when you have a chance."

Major Briggs nods to Journey, swallows. "M.. Kerri Briggs." She looks up at Shin. "As you wish. Later today?"

Shin Tung says, "That would be fine Major. Security will be aware of your pending visit."

Wynona puts a hand over Mrs. Saint's, then, that military manner all but gone, of a sudden. After a moment's fumble for words, "You can be proud of her. That's all I know."

A smile for Wynona, before one of her two escorts says, "Marie..." Shin's words clearly make the officers bristle. "I think perhaps you should leave before you get too upset..."

Marie Saint turns to the pair of them, still wiping at her eyes, but sniffs, straightens. "I'm very grateful to you both for accompanying me here. But these are /my/ daughter's friends. At /her/ funeral. And I am just /fine/, thank you..."

Remy stands slowly from his seat and moves just as slowly towards Journey, resting a hand on her shoulder from behind and giving her shoulder a soft squeeze.

Journey nods to Kerri Briggs. "Journey," she says, simply.