Fraedon
12-04-2008, 12:56
"That plane ride was most disagreeable."
"Yes sir. Turbulence does have that effect."
Franklin Johnson shuffled in the limousine's leather seat and looked at his secretary, Hwi Freia. Although his appointment as Ambassador to Lamoni was his first official role, he instinctively felt that maybe she shouldn't have said that...But then again, Hwi was infinently more experienced at this than him. He smiled.
"A valid point. Still, we must present a calm, controlled outward experience. After all, it would not help our position to appear...weak in front of our new friends. Although I'm sure there was something in that chicken."
"That's why I'm a vegetarian, sir."
The limousine pulled up. The driver intercom buzzed.
"We've arrived, Ambassador, sir."
A security man dressed in a solid black uniform opened the door. He turned to Hwi, "Coming?"
She smiled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
-
The two guards at the entrance stood to attention. The taller of the two executed a crisp salute.
"Sir!"
The guards made him nervous. Particularly because he could see them - it made even more obvious the ones concealed. Hasn't it always been said "never judge a book by it's cover"? That was particularly true of the embassy garden - to all extent it looked perfectly peaceful. He recalled his time in the Fraedon Ground Forces. Military service was compulsuary back home. If anything, though, the experience had left him all the stronger. With all the muster of an Officer on Parade, he spoke to them both:
"At ease!"
They hadn't expected the command. It took them by suprise that the small, nervous man with glasses had just barked out a command in a tone that took them back to their days as a recruit. Here, clearly, was a man not to be messed with.
Hwi held back a smile. He was enjoying himself all ready!
"Captain, you will provide me with a briefing of all security details in my office at 0900. I will also require you to send a man to work with the local police forces. The security of this embassy is paramount - I am holding you personally responsible. I hope you understand?"
"Sir!"
"Good. Hwi! We cannot stay here all day chating, we have work to do."
Hwi, between barely contained laughs managed to snort what sounded like "yes sir!" and followed him through the embassy's double doors.
-
The embassy was quite modestly furnished. The walls were decorated with paintings by artists he could not recognise-
"Hwi, remind me to get some one in to get me up to scratch on local culture."
-the floors covered by a sensible red carpet. In the center of the foyer stood a desk, behind which a young woman sat, working on a computer. She turned to him with a start.
"I'm sorry sir, but the Ambassador is- oh. W-welcome, S-sir."
He smiled.
"Just call me Frank, I like to keep things informal. But I do like the sound of 'sir'...maybe we could work our way up to 'master' or 'lord', what do you think?"
"I think I'll stick with Frank, sir."
"Right. My office?"
"Straight through this door here, sir."
"Coffee?"
"Something wrong with your legs, sir?"
He laughed.
"I think I'm going to like it here...I'll be in my office. Hwi, you're with me."
-
His office really was something. Perfect for instilling fear and awe. The ornate oak desk was particularly impressive, and what a view from that window! He sank into his new Ambassadorial Chair - an increbible piece of furniture. Here, truely, was a seat of power. From a seat like this, worlds could be changed. He whistled.
"This must have cost a fortune!"
"Worth every penny in my eyes, sir."
"And mine."
He sagged into the chair. He was exhausted. He let out a sigh. Hwi picked up on it immediately.
"For the next twenty minutes, you're in a meeting. And please relax, Frank, the job can only get easier. You've done the training, you know your stuff. You'll do fine."
He smiled at her.
"Thank you, Hwi. Please notify the Lamonians that we have arrived, and are open for business. But...take your time."
"Understood, sir."
"Yes sir. Turbulence does have that effect."
Franklin Johnson shuffled in the limousine's leather seat and looked at his secretary, Hwi Freia. Although his appointment as Ambassador to Lamoni was his first official role, he instinctively felt that maybe she shouldn't have said that...But then again, Hwi was infinently more experienced at this than him. He smiled.
"A valid point. Still, we must present a calm, controlled outward experience. After all, it would not help our position to appear...weak in front of our new friends. Although I'm sure there was something in that chicken."
"That's why I'm a vegetarian, sir."
The limousine pulled up. The driver intercom buzzed.
"We've arrived, Ambassador, sir."
A security man dressed in a solid black uniform opened the door. He turned to Hwi, "Coming?"
She smiled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
-
The two guards at the entrance stood to attention. The taller of the two executed a crisp salute.
"Sir!"
The guards made him nervous. Particularly because he could see them - it made even more obvious the ones concealed. Hasn't it always been said "never judge a book by it's cover"? That was particularly true of the embassy garden - to all extent it looked perfectly peaceful. He recalled his time in the Fraedon Ground Forces. Military service was compulsuary back home. If anything, though, the experience had left him all the stronger. With all the muster of an Officer on Parade, he spoke to them both:
"At ease!"
They hadn't expected the command. It took them by suprise that the small, nervous man with glasses had just barked out a command in a tone that took them back to their days as a recruit. Here, clearly, was a man not to be messed with.
Hwi held back a smile. He was enjoying himself all ready!
"Captain, you will provide me with a briefing of all security details in my office at 0900. I will also require you to send a man to work with the local police forces. The security of this embassy is paramount - I am holding you personally responsible. I hope you understand?"
"Sir!"
"Good. Hwi! We cannot stay here all day chating, we have work to do."
Hwi, between barely contained laughs managed to snort what sounded like "yes sir!" and followed him through the embassy's double doors.
-
The embassy was quite modestly furnished. The walls were decorated with paintings by artists he could not recognise-
"Hwi, remind me to get some one in to get me up to scratch on local culture."
-the floors covered by a sensible red carpet. In the center of the foyer stood a desk, behind which a young woman sat, working on a computer. She turned to him with a start.
"I'm sorry sir, but the Ambassador is- oh. W-welcome, S-sir."
He smiled.
"Just call me Frank, I like to keep things informal. But I do like the sound of 'sir'...maybe we could work our way up to 'master' or 'lord', what do you think?"
"I think I'll stick with Frank, sir."
"Right. My office?"
"Straight through this door here, sir."
"Coffee?"
"Something wrong with your legs, sir?"
He laughed.
"I think I'm going to like it here...I'll be in my office. Hwi, you're with me."
-
His office really was something. Perfect for instilling fear and awe. The ornate oak desk was particularly impressive, and what a view from that window! He sank into his new Ambassadorial Chair - an increbible piece of furniture. Here, truely, was a seat of power. From a seat like this, worlds could be changed. He whistled.
"This must have cost a fortune!"
"Worth every penny in my eyes, sir."
"And mine."
He sagged into the chair. He was exhausted. He let out a sigh. Hwi picked up on it immediately.
"For the next twenty minutes, you're in a meeting. And please relax, Frank, the job can only get easier. You've done the training, you know your stuff. You'll do fine."
He smiled at her.
"Thank you, Hwi. Please notify the Lamonians that we have arrived, and are open for business. But...take your time."
"Understood, sir."