Snippet #2816217

"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.