Visanj walked through the corridors of twisting, turning labyrinthine offices and facilities the mammoth new headquarters housed. She wasn't surprised, watching the hum and rhythm of the place unfolding, that's exactly what it was meant to be of course, the heart of a Ministry whose vastness and efforts would be felt not only throughout the Confederacy, but across the stars. At least, that was the idea anyway.
Minister Locke had summoned a meeting of some of the Confederacy's most brilliant and influential persons, heads of corporations, innovators and inventors, scientists, explorers, you name it. Just once, Vis wished, she could get a peek into the man's contact list. But Locke kept that as secure as his name sounded, a man of secrets to be sure, but one whom she'd come to admire and respect since having fought beside him at Taanab and now, working as his Deputy Minister. Sure, they argued, mainly about his staunch quickness to veto her ideas, but then again, that was his job and he was good at it. Vis knew that, when he did sign off of one thing or another, he stood behind her all the way, and she appreciated that more than she had the words to say. She hadn't ever had a brother growing up, but she felt like she had one now, and she wouldn't let him down - even if he failed to see the important possibilities of up-armored emus or battalions of psychopathic ferrets. She chuckled, enjoying the knowledge that John's greying hair was at least in part due to her.
"Serves the old cyborg right" She mused.
As she went to her office, she greeted the officer from the Corps of Discovery, the Ministry's paramilitary wing, with the progress report of the Ministry's latest efforts. All was going ahead of schedule, and the Ministry seemed to be a well-ordered enterprise, a thousand moving parts all working for the whole. As the maroon-jacketed officer left, Vis knew it was time to get ready. Locke had reserved the whole Hearthstone restaurant, and was putting together a gala welcome to those who would form this new cooperative. It wasn't a normal day, not by a long shot.
Visanj T'shkali, Baroness of Dagata and leader of the Dagatan Free State, had made the Ministry to double as her people's embassy on Geonosis, and the vast artificial lake in which the shiny headquarters stood was a gift from her people to the Confederacy. She stared out the window, savoring the view as it stretched out before her.
From the desert came forth the sea, and with it, new life bloomed. The prophecy of her ancestor, Shalya, echoed in her mind as she went to her apartment and prepared for the gala. "With a little luck, new life will indeed bloom tonight!"
=-=-=-=-=-=
"Baroness....Minister Locke said this was a casual event, are you cert-" Aries said before she cut him off.
"The old cyborg has no plans to arrive in his overalls and slouch-clothes, and neither will I. I want our guests to see that their presence is not merely appreciated, but deeply desired, and that this Ministry is nothing short of committed to accomplishments on the very grandest of scales! Now, how do I look?"
Visanj stood there, dressed in her
Baronial Gown, and matched boots and necklace, with her hair worn up, accented by aurodium-leaf, checking herself in the mirror as she sipped her scotch. She wore
Heartbeat Faster and
Artist Rouge lipstick, with smoky eyes and contouring. It wasn't often she donned this look, preferring the comfort of more simple and casual dress but this was a special occasion.
"Every bit the Baroness. Minister Locke will appreciate that you decided to dress up for this. I don't think he was too pleased you held the tele-conference with the Navy last week from your bed. He'll be happy to see you're being more professional."
"Eh, it's good for him. The guy needs to relax and enjoy life a bit. Alright Bucket, you stay and man the fort, and I'll go meet our guests downstairs. Send a case of Whyren's up to John's suite upstairs, he's earned it having brought all of this together."
"Yes Baroness....how do you say, 'Break a leg?'"
"In these heels, I just might!" Visanj laughed as she entered her private elevator and went to meet the Ministry's guests. They'd better have an open bar, she thought.