The Heyran aircraft landed at the airport a Hunter's Bay, unlike any other day the airport hard standing was clear of aircraft except for two Taha strike bombers arranged either side, each of the aircraft where painted in the colours of the Royal Seleucid air force but a Maori fern emblem was under each of the Seleucid logos. A large semi circle made up of maybe 1,000 Maori, men to the right women to the left formed around the edge of where the aircraft had parked. The 125 crew men walked down the steps and stopped at the bottom. Without a word the crowd began to sway and sing with one voice, soon followed just a beat behind by the released crew men. At the end the men walked towards the massed group of locals, many pressing their noses together with those welcoming them home.
As the Heyran representatives descended the steps the semi circle in one motion took ten steps forward. The men bent at the knees standing side on each holding a wooden club or spear. The women stood tall and elegantly upright their arms held horizontal at chest height the right on top of the left. It was strange, the two groups singing the same song in completly different tones at the same tempo. The women sang sweet and soft while the men screamed as if about to enter battle, making gestures such as cutting their throats, pointing at the guests with their ceremonial weapons.
Our tribe is calling to the people
who have just set foot on this marae (land)
Bring with you the memories of all our dead
and so many tears spilling forth nation-wide.
Look at our people working across this land
spread out far and wide
Shaking is the ground, quivering is the sea.
Oh, the love and the pain within shall rebuild our home.
The ground shakes and quivers, yeah!
One of the freed NCO's had remained at the bottom of the stairs and translated for the guests as the group performed the song and dance. The last word trailed off leaving the men all with spears pointing towards the guests while the women knelt upright. Special Envoy Tane Sevasi walked out of the crowd, he was in contrast to those wearing traditional attire dressed in a light linen suit, a polished bamboo cane in his hand supporting him as he walked towards Therz, as he approached he extended a hand but rather than grasp it and shake it he took hold of the visitors elbow their forearms parallel. He leaned slightly forward and stood in silence for a moment. "Welcome to the Iwi" he said quietly, those behind him watching what actions this Therz would take now.