"If you're looking to understand Democracy as a system Magnan-san," Jame Retief explained to the figure standing beside him, "The key is an old saying, 'God made men, Guns made men equal.'"
Magnan nodded his head thoughtfully. "Yes, I can see. . ." His musings were cut off as a siren began to sound in the complex.
"Ah, it seems the other delegates are arriving." Retief calmly walked to the window looking down at the Gate. "Have you seen the Gate in action before?" he asked his companion.
"This will be the first time." Magnan responded as he walked to the window and looked down through it.
The windows looked down on the Gate. One after the other the inward pointing triangles surounding it lit up, with the one at the top being last. Suddenly there was a ripple of energy pouring out of the inner edge of the ring, filling the circle. As the ripple vanished in the center it suddenly burst outward with a great Whoosh that suddenly seemed to change it's mind and fall back into the shimmering surface inside the ring. Then there was a hollow boom and ripples undulated across the silvery surface. A second boom sounded and the surface suddenly seemed to collapse backward, becoming more like a cone than a circle. Shadowy forms seemed to appear along the sides of the cone, then suddenly the first walked out of the gate, the distortion fading as he passed out of the gate.
"That's the lead US ambassador. Has to show all the other delegates by walking through the gate first," Retief explained. As a figure in a military uniform followed he added, "And there's the Russian delegate, can't lose face by not coming right after his US counterpart."
The small parade of diplomats and their staff continued through the gateway, with Retief identifying each to his companion. Then as the gate shut down, Retief turned toward the stairway. "Well, going by the schedule, it's time for introductions and meaningless small talk while we're all waiting for the Jaffa to gate in their representatives. Then a little more introductions and small talk before we all head through the gate to Atlantis."
"I have heard those of your world speak of this Atlantis with great wonder."
Retief shrugged. "Heard the same thing myself, this'll be my first visit too."
The US ambassador looked over toward where Magnan was chatting with the French and Chinese ambassadors. He turned back to Retief. "I read your briefing on the diplomatic customs of this world."
"I'm so glad my work wasn't wasted." Retief responded.
Ignoring the familiar slight barb in his colleague's voice, the Ambassador quietly continued. "Just because I've read it doesn't mean I understand it as well as I could. Ok, there's a philosophical division in the dynamics of negotiation. Magnan is the overall top representative of the Daimyo, but since tradition makes it inappropriate for him to show too much interest in money, we'll have to discuss all financial matters with his clerk."
Retief raised a finger. "Well, it's considered very bad form for him to publicly show interest in the details of things money related. Of course, whenever he and his staff has private time together, you can expect him get fully briefed by the clerk you've talked details with."
The Ambassador nodded quickly. "Of course, that's only natural. Unlike that military bit," he concluded with a shake of his head.
Retief took a sip of the Sake that the Fire nation had provided the group. "Well, that's just the way these things turned out. Don't forget, Hidden Leaf is technically independent of the Fire Nation's government. They have an obligation to defend the country free of charge, but for anything beyond direct and immediate defense the Fire Nation has to pay for their services just like any other customer. Well, a customer with a guaranteed discount on all services. It's just a natural development that results from the fact that Shinobi are the number one military resource in this world."
"Yes, the Shinobi." The ambassador looked over to where the two figures stood. "General O'Neill did complain about how young they could be," he commented as he looked at the smaller of the two.
Suddenly he heard a rumbling sound rising over the sound of diplomats talking. Turning his head, he looked at the Stargate, it's lights coming to life. "I guess the Jaffa have arrived."
"Yep," Retief commented as he watched the gate activate. As the half dozen robed warriors walked down the ramp from the gate he added, "Which means we'll be heading to Atlantis in a few minutes.
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(Posted Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:28)
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