Government Center

Kawandi stood at the end of the table with his hands folded in front of him, the Terrans’ demeanor betrayed a prior service, though it was hard to imagine the smaller man carrying a rifle and wearing a uniform. He noticed that those sitting across from him weren’t taking notes, or scrawling away at their tablets - all except for one of course. “Ah, I’d requested paper copies as well but the Colonel had … concerns about this research being compromised from a leak.” Kawandi started, then leaning forward as he continued to explain more.

“We believe there has been some sort of fungal contaminant that originated from another planet, possibly somewhere in the Garden or out here. I’ve not been able to determine an original genetic profile, only a post-mutation gene map. I do have one developing theory,” Kawandi said, quickly bringing up a display of background radiation commonly observed in the space around the Shore Planets.

“We’ve heard of genetic deteriorations brought about by background exposure through space travel, but this normally takes place through a much larger time frame, and often upon deliberate exposure to radiation. These crops were degraded from, we assume, one passing shipment through space … “ Kawandi stopped for a moment, before then looking back over to Irina. The woman quietly fished the device out of her ballistic vest, prying the strap loose to reveal the long cylindrical piece of equipment.

“Here is a digital copy of my data on both the compromised crop genes and the blight, as well as a physical specimen. What you’ll discover is that, I believe, the blight was native to a planet with a closely related crop species and formed a symbiosis with it before an infected yield was transported through space to be planted elsewhere - here in the Local Region, that is.”

"Tennoheika, I don't understand why you insisted on coming, you should focus on your own recovery." Shuichi protested as their staff car eased to a stop in front of Government Center.

The man cracked his knuckles, and stretched his arms for a moment, feeling the muscles as they flexed under his skin, he was impressed with what Seno had done. "I'm going to sort this mess out with Keiko, and then I'm going to personally cave Shimizu's face in for what he did to me." He replied, turning his hands over, and looking at them closely before he looked at his face in the mirror.

"Seno's going to get a promotion for this." He added, as the Adjutant stepped out of the car, and opened their door.

The Adjutant offered a soft bow, as Shuichi got out with the younger man, and the two of them took in the visage of Government Center before them for a moment.

"Alright Minamino." Nobuo interjected. "Let's do this." He said as they started to walk towards the front lobby of Government Center, Minamino opened the door, and offered the man a bow, before he followed in behind, and the two of them approached the front desk, Minamino still in his suit from Itpravamar, and the new figure, seemingly in his late twenties, was wearing a simple white hakama worn under a black Kataginu with the Imperial emblem sewn into it, distinctly showing his rank, and station within the Taiyou Empire.

Crossing the threshold, they approached the Receptionist, and Minamino offered a soft smile, and a deep bow. The man next to Shuichi bowed, but not as deeply.

"Hello, I am Minamino Shuichi, I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Taiyou Empire. I've arranged an appointment with the Justice Ministry regarding an urgent matter from Her Majesty the Princess."

Lance Corporal Yiavannis and Corporal Walker had decided on a simple meal, buying some microwave noodles from a vending machine. Left to their own devices while their Sergeant escorted Irina and Kawandi, they returned to the lobby of the government center and were seated in the waiting centers quietly talking amongst themselves and eating.

“So what do you think the whole shit show with the Doc’s about anyway?” Yiavannis inquired, settling into his seat beside Walker as he pulled out a pair of hashi. A staple of the Apparatus field mess kit, the two little sticks weren’t necessarily meant to be used in the way the Taiyou or Tokaigan hashi were, but often found use as chopsticks. He stirred at his steaming cup for a moment, watching the water swirl as Walker produced a set of his own.

“I don’t fuckin’ know man, probably some biology shit we wouldn’t understand.” Walker replied dryly, pulling up a clump of noodles from his own cup before bringing it to his mouth. “We’re just the taxi drivers bud, welcome to the Tauronese Cavalry.” He finished through a mouthful of food.

“Hey, check out these guys.” Yiavannis said, swirling his hashi about in his cup while nodding over to a pair of Taiyou entering the lobby. Walker looked away from a television set briefly as Yiavannis indicated to the two men. “That one guy, in the dress.”

Walker grit his teeth through another mouthful of food, wiping at his mouth with the back of his sleeve before he promptly, but quietly, corrected Yiavannis. “That’s a hakama, Yia.Taiyou clothing … y’know, like the Tokaigans.”

“Yeah yeah sure - I swear he looks familiar though.” Yiavannis replied, shaking off Walker’s correction while the marine put his elbows on his knees and proceeded to study the two men. “What-the-fuck-ever, there’s like trillions of Taiyou anyway.”

“Man, Yia.” Walker tried his best to stifle the laugh, not to indulge the Lance Corporal’s remarks. “Fuckin’ Christ, dude.”

In the West Wing, Monica reached for the proffered cylinder from Irina. "Thank you, Dr. Kawandi," she said with a nod. "I'll make sure it gets to our lab right away," she said, neglecting to mention that the twenty-some odd staff in the Development Ministry's agricultural lab were currently hard at work attempting to develop a set of new rice hybrids for use in Caldonia, Losenji, and Ebouma, a pet project of the deputy minister that she doubted he'd be too eager to sacrifice even if Minister Tesfaye sent the orders himself. She frowned then. "Wait, I'm sorry. You're saying that someone intended to plant the infected specimen here on Terra? But ... why?" She glanced at Tesfaye, who raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Do you have reason to believe this is corporate sabotage?" Tesfaye asked.

"Or - or biological warfare," Monica said, looking back toward their guests. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"No, not biological warfare," said Tesfaye, with a dismissive wave of the hand. "Crops like these would take too long to propagate in sufficient numbers. Too many seasons." He looked to Kawandi with a darkening eye. "Who do you suspect is responsible, and why?"

***

In the main entry hall, Shiya Calusdian had noticed the arrival of the Taiyou immediately. She'd always been able to spot them - especially the ones with imperial pedigrees or connections, even if they came without a full entourage. They always wore something with the imperial crest or one of another half-dozen symbols representing the throne. She busied herself with a stack of mostly outdated message forms behind the desk until they approached. The Justice Ministry. "Of course," responded Calusdian, with a polite, respectful bow. They all had to know protocol, of course. "Weapons in the lockers there, then pass through security. I'll need ID's here, and I'll just call upstairs for you."

This was a formality of course, but had to be done. After all, despite Shiya's well honed eye for Taiyou imperials, anyone could be an impostor. You never knew. She called up, and after a few moments of harried shouting on the other end, forced a smile. "Up on the third floor, Ministers Vilhjálmsdóttir and Dvořák will receive you. Would you like to head upstairs on your own?" Two ministers spelled trouble. All Shiya knew was she wanted nothing to do with it.

Both Taiyou offered another deep bow, the younger of the two offering Shiya a slight smile, or was it a smirk, either way, the man did not resemble any known Imperials, at least on the surface, perhaps a relative? Or perhaps someone with Imperial pedigree one way or another. Shuichi paused for a moment to look over to younger Imperial, who looked back to Shuichi. The man grimaced, and sighed his resignation, before reaching into the Hakama, and rifling through it, he produced a small Tantō, an ornate looking dagger with carefully, hand embroidered gold hilt, imbued with gemstones, and gold leaf. The weapon appeared antique, but honed to a razor's edge. Engraved on the blade itself were Kana symbols inlaid with gold, but this was hidden by the blade's scabbard, which was inlaid with the same gold inlaid kana. It depicted some elaborate artwork of some kind, and tied on the hilt was a brilliant red and gold ribbon, which ended with a tassel on the end.

"This is a family heirloom, guard it with your life." The man insisted as he passed the weapon over to Shiya, which, to anyone with any familiarity with the Taiyou custom, would recognize this antique dagger as the "Tengoku no tantō" A generational family heirloom passed down from an Emperor to his successor, a device of the Emperor himself, along with Tenchi-Ken symbolized the office of the Emperor.

Both of them offered another respectful bow. "Please, if someone could show us up there." Neither one of them seemed to notice the two gardenites, or rather Garden-Aschen standing in the room, but they were noticed, the younger man simply opted not to say anything.

"Yes, of course," Shiya said, receiving the ornate dagger with both hands. It was a gorgeous specimen, clearly aged with time. "I'll make sure that it will be here ready and waiting for your return." She set it carefully under the desk, where it would remain beside her, and then caught sight of one of the junior officers stationed at Government Center. She met his eye, and he made his way to the desk, following suit and bowing politely to the Taiyou. "Lieutenant, can you please escort Minister Shuichi and - " Shiya broke off. "I'm sorry, your highness, sir, I don't believe I caught your name? Do you have your royal passport with you, or with one of your aides?" Shiya glanced toward Lieutenant Wouters. "They have a meeting set with Minister Dvořák upstairs."

Karal Wouters waited respectfully by the desk, hands clasped firmly behind his back, wearing undress grays for the day. Few of the personnel stationed here actually wore their dress whites unless escorting the Prime Minister, but they never wore combat blacks. The idea was simple. Government Center represented the bastion of civilian government, a haven for democracy or at least civil rule, while Fort Veritas represented the TNG's military center.

Shuichi offered a slight smile. "Oh, Shuichi is my given name, Minamino is my family name." Minamino corrected, forgetting that the Terrans didn't follow the custom of using the family name first.

"You may call me Tatsu." The younger man said with a smile. "At least, that seems to be what people have been calling me as of late." He said, turning to Shuichi. "I'm sorry, I seem to have foolishly left my royal passport back with the rest of my personal effects, you see; I've been away for a very long time."

He turned back to Shuichi, and offered a slight bow, to the paling Minister. There was something amiss about those two, though Minamino's ID checked out, and everything was legitimate, the eccentricities of the Taiyou royal family were something to behold.

"Right." Minimano said with a disarming smile. "Shall we? Tenchi." Minamino corrected.

"Sir." Wouters nodded in deference to Minamino, and turned sharply to lead them to the elevator. Sunlight streamed through the windows at once grand and gentle on the marbled floor below. Over the years, Parliament had ordered one or another trinket - a magnificent mural of haloed mountains or arching jungle vines, a battle carved in relief, a freedom fighter rendered in marble. Wouters had noted their accumulation with a bit of disdain, but knew better than to voice such feelings aloud. Symbolism made for great postcards, but what did it mean for Terrans who couldn't make rent, who ran out of credits to pay the tax collector, the doctor, the boss, the landlord? Even enlistment in the Armed Forces was no guarantee. Not anymore.

For now, though, Wouters had a simple assignment, and no distracting, inconvenient thoughts of unpaid rent would keep him from fulfilling this very basic duty. Escort the Taiyou dignitaries to Minister Vilhjálmsdóttir and Minister Dvořák, who had chosen the grand reception hall, of all places, to host this meeting. For all that pomp and grandeur, usually reserved for official state visits, you might have been forgiven for thinking these two were the Taiyou Emperor and Crown Prince.

Shiya winked, but Wouters and the Taiyou had already left.

"If you're here for the Trial of Zosimos," bellowed a TNG agent above the growing crowd, "Please make your way in a patient and orderly manner to the Wing City High Court, located northwest on the fourth floor!"

This was the eighth time they'd shouted that exact line in the past ten minutes. A new record. They moved out of the way as a small group of legal representatives, a couple of which were women, made their way up the stairs. They wondered which of those schmucks got to represent the vampire. Hopefully they weren't too good at their job.

"If you are a witness, please proceed to the marked rows at the front in the Wing City High Court, again located northwest on the fourth floor!

This was quickly turning into a nightmare. More people arrived, getting out of different vehicles and clogging up the street. They watched the traffic slow to a crawl as the entire city seemingly congregated here. Zosimos hadn't even arrived yet- which was almost a good thing. They heard about the chaos at the police station. People thankfully had a bit more decorum and weren't throwing piss bottles. Yet.

"WCPD IU1" appears from nothing, through a wrinkle in spacetime.

Zosimos exits "WCPD IU1".

Zosimos was brought out of the vehicle to a flashbulb circus and a raging crowd. He held his head high, moving slower than his escorts preferred. They kicked him along. He didn't drop composure.

This was a trial, not a meat market.

Zosimos was escorted into the building and towards the fourth floor.

Zosimos has left the area, heading up towards Government Center Second Floor.

Lewis Stockton has arrived, coming from Main Street.

Lewis Stockton has left the area, heading up towards Government Center Second Floor.

"DarkProwl FV-Alpha" appears from nothing, through a wrinkle in spacetime.

Ulrich Paternosta exits "DarkProwl FV-Alpha".

Ulrich Paternosta straightened his uniform. He had smoothed his hair into a low ponytail, curling it up again into a respectable bun. For the most part his powder blonde flyaways were under control. Yeah. As he rose up the steps of the Government Center he realized he wasn't the most late. Still.

Ulrich Paternosta has left the area, heading up towards Government Center Second Floor.

Vanessa Berentes has left the area, heading up towards Government Center Second Floor.

Eurydice Reverencia has arrived, coming from Main Street.

As Eurydice crossed the threshold, an unusual quietness enveloped her. She couldn't help but acknowledge her tardiness, and it was far from the fashionable kind. Speaking of fashion. In response, small shadowy hands crept up her back, skillfully tying her long hair into a practical ponytail with a fluid motion. Her outfit subtly transformed into something more appropriate for the occasion, albeit a bit stuffy for her tastes – a sleek black suit and pants. Remarkably, all these adjustments took place seamlessly while she continued to move forward without missing a beat.

Eurydice Reverencia has left the area, heading up towards Government Center Second Floor.