Manager Mikhail Vladinens and Assistant Manager Leila Robins stood side by side at the door to the room. Behind them, a group of eight FPS National Police Agents were going over a last plan for tonights security.
In front of them, the large conference room turned dining room sprawled before them. In the center was the main table, rectangular in the middle and rounded along the ends. A group of sixteen chairs were pulled up around it. In each corner of the room was a small couch, table, and a couple of leather chairs for discussing before or after the meal, which would be totally served by the dining staff, meaning no buffet.
After confering for a couple of minutes, the two left for the corporate offices. Left behind were a few odd servants, still setting up, as well as the six agents who would be acting as the door guards for tonight. The other two had gone down to conference room 2A, which was the headquarters for the task force of a little over fourty FPS National Police and secret service officers. No military personel had been called on for security, per the hotels request, however a SWAT team was included in the task force.
Eagle Security Task Force Report
Time: 2:00 PM
Nest(OOC: Conference Room) Situation: Set up and secure.
Threats Indicatted: None
Unusual Events: None
Task Force Readiness: 100%
OOC: It is now two O’clock, four hours before the dinner is bound to start. Your charactors may enter at any time.
Matthew Terrus strolled into the conference room, and, not at all unexpectantly, found the place deserted excepting the small detail of waiters, the four guards outside and two guards standing on either side of the door on the inside. Turning to one of his waiters, Matt smiled, and ordered a milk. Most people made fun of him for drinking the stuff, but after his wife’s death, Matt had become an alchohalic for a short while, and this was the only drink besides water that didn’t remind him of the stuff.
Walking over to the corner, Matt sat down, and, taking the milk (which the waiter had gotten suprisingly quickly), opened the book he had brought with him and began reading it. It would probably be a couple of hours before anyone arrived, and Matt had really been wanting to start Jennifer Government for awhile, so he had brought it with him upon deciding to come early rather then on time.
President Pratt strolled towards the dining room with his personal guard, Longfellow.
Longfellow: ‘I’ve talked with the FPS men sir, everything seems to be in order. We can’t be careful enough right now though, so I want you to have this. It’s a remote tracking device that looks like a breathmint. Swallow it please sir.’
Pratt took the breathmint and inspected it hesitantly.
Longfellow: ‘There’s not much to see sir. It’s a small radio transmitter tuned to a specific frequency that only we kn…’
Pratt: ‘Believe it or not I’ve used this kind of thing before Buy. I was just hoping not to have to use another; they give me indigestion.’
Longfellow: ‘Very good sir.’
The two men continued towards the dining room. Outside it was Vice-President Duncan and the President’s wife. Duncan looked worried.
Duncan: ‘I can’t get in the door Cap, it won’t open!’
Elaine stood with her arms folded with a look suggesting she wanted to be somewhere else.
Longfellow: ‘It’s a pull door Mr. Vice-President.’
Duncan: ‘Ahhh. Good work Mr. Head of Special Forces!’
President Sutter: Those clams on the plane… I thought they tasted a little funny. Ow.
Agent K Jonquiere: Ow.
Agent L Leeman: Oh geez. Not you too.
Foreign Minister Moreira: Are the rooms ready?
Bellhop: No. I mean, yes.
Foreign Minister Moreira: Well, let’s get up there. If they’re going to be in agony, at least they can be in agony in the finest bathrooms in the city. Here, Phil, take the bucket of chicken to the dining room. I want Stratha in a good mood.
Agent P Leboeuf: Yes, sir. I’ll tell them we might be late.
Prime Minister Marlin: Ow.
Foreign Minister Moreira: Aw, nuts. Can you get us some Alka-Seltzer?
Bellhop: Sure thing, sir.
Agent L Gallagher: Lobby’s clear. Let’s go.
Foreign Minister Moreira: Well, they’ve got 5 hours to get better. I think I’ll hit the pool.
Unica, the High Priestess of Zepowa and ambassador from The South Pacific, walks into the conference room alone. She has donned her best clothes: an off-the shoulder, silk peasant shirt, a black and red striped skirt, a matching headwrap, a pair of very large gold hoop earrings, and, though begrudingly, a pair of sandals. For this event, she has brought her best Ju Ju Stick: a highly polished mahogany staff with a real human skull on top, hung with ornamental jewels, beads and feathers. Noticing that Matthew Terrus is reading and not wanting to disturb him, Unica goes to President Pratt, Vice-president Duncan, and First Lady Elaine. She bows to each of them
‘Allo, fine gentlemen and lady. I am Unica from the country of Zepowa in the region of The South Pacific. I am most glad to be here at your regions’ fine event.
Smiling, she holds out her hand for President Pratt to shake
Pharos, Second Reader of Codex, stepped into the large chamber and cast an approving glance over the decor before surveying the assembled persons, and moving over to the gathering.
“Bon soir, messieurs, madame, madamoiselle.” He bowed to each of them in turn, recognising the four from the intelligence files he’d reviewed on each of them before leaving the library. “It is my honour to meet with you. I am the Reader Pharos, of the Library of Codex.”
Matt stood up, putting the book in his pocket. Sure, it was a great book, but if people were here, he’d mise well interact. Walking over, he smiled. “Matthew Terrus, president of Free Pacific States. Pleasure to meet you both. Nice to see you again, President Pratt.”
As he spoke, one of the waiters rushed over. “May I get any of you something to drink?”
Agent Phillipe Lebouef walks into the dining hall, carrying a bucket of fried chicken.
“I’m member of the Kelssek Presidential security detail, and I’m sent to tell you that President Sutter and Prime Minister Marlin are both suffering from food poisoning and might be late for dinner… and where should I put the chicken?”
Kreft had seen the cybernet enter the room but decided to wait a moment. One last moment to regain his diplomatic composure perhaps, thought the young man at his right shoulder.
Kreft and the aide were dressed in their formal black military uniforms, holdovers from the Black Legion that Kreft lead during the civil war. They held some similarity to the http://www.crownpointantiques.com/Military%20Pics/tunUSMCww2.JPG
but they lacked any of the striking accents, medals or colored seams. Even the buttons seemed of a dull luster.
It’s time.
acknowledging the subtle command quickly the aide opened the door and stood at attention allowing Kreft entrance. the aide pondered it all for a moment. who was he more loyal to? Kreft of the coalition. he supposed that for the moment it didn’t matter.
“Hmm…why don’t you set it down right over there on the main table?” Matt smiled. Fried chicken definitly was a must have at any event. Seeing the Packilvanian cybernet walk in, Matt turned towards him…but suddenly found himself at a loss for words. How did you greet a cybernet? And what would he want to be called? If he’s part of a hive mind, would it seem stupid to ask his name?
“Matthew Terrus, President of Free Pacific States, and I can assure you, this will be better then our last event.” Matt hoped the cybernet would introduce himself…otherwise tonight could become very difficult, name-wise.
President Pratt returns High Priestess Unica’s bow.
Pratt: ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you High Priestess, and nice to see you again President Terrus. This is my wife Elaine - I don’t believe you’ve been introduced, and this here is the Vice-President Duncan. Don’t touch the High Priestess Duncan.’
Duncan: ‘Sorry Cap.’
Elaine: ‘It’s very nice to meet you both.’
Pratt: ‘Is that Commander Kreft of the Wachovian Coalition? He doesn’t look comfortable in that uniform.’
Elaine: ‘I suppose you’d know honey, you were in the Air Force… Oh my HoopHoopgod, what’s that thing?’
Duncan: ‘S’a Packilvanian Miss Elaine.’
Elaine: ‘What’s it packing?’
Pratt: ‘Packilvania Elaine… it’s a country. We almost got invaded by them remember?’
Elaine: ‘You know I don’t pay much attention to politics.’
Pratt: ‘…Yeah.’
Elaine: ‘C’mon, let’s mingle. Straighten your tie. Duncan straighten your pants.’
Duncan: ‘Where was that belt thing supposed to go again?’
Pratt: 'Well hold ‘em up Dunc, I’m not gonna do it for you.’ (Pratt loosens his tie)
Pharos raised an eyebrow discretely at the vice president and first lady of hoophoopland. Ah well… who am I to question the ruling of other lands?
Turning around, he noticed Matthew Terrus and the Packilvanian… representative. He smiled. An entity representing millions of linked minds should be capable of an interesting conversation at least, he considered. He nodded to the High Priestess and the representatives from hoophoopland, and walked over to Terrus and the cybernet.
“President Terrus, it is a pleasure to meet you. And the Hive… I must admit, your interlink technology fascinates me. Might I ask… do I address the entire hive at the moment, or is individuality retained for specific purposes?”
with the commander’s nod, the aide thanks the waiter and the two step to the windows facing the arcade.
Forgive me sir but I think you should make more of an effort to greet the other representatives.
Kreft strokes his chin
You may well be right. Perhaps after the coffee. I am here because duty requires it. To be in the same room as it, him, them, whatever the blasted thing is…
I understand but you have taught me that the duty of a diplomat is to put away such things at times such as this.
the Tucker octo carrying “Bob” and the Shiplord pulls up outside, its Hydrogen engine purring so quietly that it sounds as if off.
both exit the auto,
“Nice Hotel” comments Stratha,
“Yes it is architechurally sound,” adds Bob
they enter the lobby and approach the desk
Stratha addresses the host
“I greet you, we are here for the meeting with the President of Free Pacific States.”
“of course , , Sir? top floor, room 1A”
the two approacth the elevator.
“he could not discern your gender, obviously not a Citizen of Infinite Loop.”
“Hush.”
as the elevator opens on the top floor, Stratha looks at the baskets he and Bob carry,
“I do hope no one else brought Mashed PAX FRUITS and Gravy, or Cornbread.”
“or Roast Beast”
“it isnt a beast, it is a native creature of Home, called a turska”
As Bob knocked, the one of the four FPS National Police Agents couldn’t help but smile. Grabbing the door, he opened it for the people, whom he immediatly recognized as those attending from 1 Infinite Loop. “No need to knock. You can go right in.”
As the door opened, Matt looked over to see who was entering. He would go over to greet them, but he really wanted to hear the Packilvanian’s answer…their cybernetic system had always fascinated him, and learning more about it would be his pleasure.
I thought I’d use my lastest drawings/paintings to show what the Packilvanians actually look like. The attendant is from a recent conquest. Arlenian to be exact.
“Well… Call me Father. It seems it would be easier. As for what I am, I am the modified remains of the original founder of Packilvania. When he died, his conscience was uploaded into a computer. It was not a very good upload at the time, because of conouter restrictions. When the Hive was created…<I’m going to post a background to this soon, so be patient> one of the first things done, was to try and reincarnate Father… It did not work. Only the logical side of the once great leader remained. What happened next was truly amazing. It began to learn, and spread to all linked members, creating a unique mind in the universe. I am not centered on one being, but I am not a conglameration of minds… I simply am.”
