By: Staff Reporter
What began as a solemn tribute to fallen Senior Officer Rhett Senizen quickly spiralled into a scene of emotional turmoil, bitter truths, and a gunshot that left attendees stunned.
Held in Hathian’s eerily quiet cemetery, the funeral drew dozens of police officers, brass, and mourners; many dressed in crisp uniforms, others in this reporter’s views, cloaked in the shadows of trauma and tension. Afterall, this newspaper has reported many funerals for the HPD in the past and it must be terribly sad to repeat the same salute against the uncaring sky time after time.
Black uniforms, gold piping and bagpipes marked the scene, but underneath the formalities, it was clear: the funeral for Officer Senizen wasn’t just about loss. It was also about division.
What was the cause of that division, it wasn’t entirely clear to us, but a few hints indicated that certain officers were upset at the losses they were taking and the focus or not of the HPD’s resources on their comrades. We hear whispers, not yet proven, that the Dark Web has recently hosted some kind display of an ex-cop, one Charlie Hughes… But these threads are illusive. Still, it’s fair to say there’s tension and here it was on display:
Blank Badges and Icy Stares
“Let’s not pretend it’s like this for everyone,” we heard Officer Angelique de Vaucluse say, delivering the most cutting comments (if not actions) of the day in Hathian and drawing the icy stare of a certain blue eyed Gothic officer “Some officers die and get forgotten. That’s not loyalty. That is politics.” That cut deep and this reporter felt a little shocked that such discord was bubbling to the surface.
The icy stare of one of our reliable senior officers was, as our editor would comment later after she saw the photos the look of someone who seemed seconds away from burying officer Angelique alongside Rhett. While de Vaucluse placed a blank badge onto the casket in a dramatic act of remembrance, we watched Blackheart gripping her cane like a blade. (That’s an idea… sword cane… – Ed)
One Man’s Funeral Is Another Man’s ‘Fun’
Of course the Observer has in the past stated very clearly that death, is not something trivial. That it is serious and despite the flaws (or not) of those who pass we shouldn’t as a society attempt to bury social decency; a funeral by definition has enough burial often.
This message was clearly missed. Just as the ceremony reached a moment of silence, chaos arrived in the form of local disruptor and known Reject gang affiliate Bryce Canden, who it appeared mocked the proceedings from the street. Officer Lizette Calhern reacted and this reporter was for a moment thinking that perhaps a double funeral was going to be needed as she fired what appeared to be a live round towards Bryce. She missed, perhaps deliberately off-target, but maybe the shot was meant to send a message. A warning shot, or a declaration of rage? Either way, the crowd of officers tensed, hands on holsters. This reporter gripped his camera more tightly, sadly we at the Observer are only approved to take different kinds of shots.
When there’s a threat cops, react together and one of the Observer’s most featured also got into the action as Sgt. Ellis followed up with a heated warning.
“Canden. Get out of here. I won’t repeat!” At this point it was fair to say that no Molotovs flew, but tempers were definitely lit. Perhaps HPD should do cremations instead!?
Words From Krystal – A Real Roll Call
Inspector Krystal O’Neil delivered a measured eulogy, highlighting Officer Senizen’s sacrifice and subtly jabbing at the city’s silence in the face of police deathsz
“No one is out there protesting for fallen officers. We forgive them, but we won’t forget.”
Her final radio call to Rhett’s assigned ID, ‘Adam-603,’ went unanswered. A haunting ritual repeated thrice then followed the words every cop dreads:
“All units, standby. Code 10-3 for this channel, for final call. This is the last call for Senior Officer Rhett Senizen, shield 1206, call sign Adam-603. Charles-20132 calling Adam-603.”
“Charles-20132 calling Adam-603.”
“No response from Adam-603 Call sign Adam-603 is out of service. End of watch: August 1st, 2025. one, but not forgotten – May you rest in peace. Code 10-3 lifted, Charles-20132 clear.”
Despite earlier drama, the gun salute proceeded. Vanora, taking charge, barked orders with military precision. Officers Angelique, Morozov, and others raised rifles and fired volleys in the officer’s honour. The echo of blank rounds rolled across the cemetery, final thunder for the fallen and as the Observer has said, often repeated.
Our Verdict
The funeral of Officer Senizen was as much a reflection of his apparent sacrifice to Hathian as it was a spotlight on the fractures within Hathian’s thin (very) blue line. This is one story of burial, but how many stories remain buried still in the HPD and how many are ready to explode? As we left the scene, this newspaper thought that Rhett was resting in peace, but the HPD? Peace? That’s something they might not find for a long time, if ever.
