05-31-2014, 09:16 AM
Quite appropriately, the car stopped at a passageway through the domineering walls of the Kremlin. Krasivolkya sat straighter, if such were possible, as she displayed her credentials and they were allowed passage. A glance at Marcus gave her all the satisfaction she sought. He was suitably impressed.
Their first order of business faced them the moment they emerged from the vehicle. They were men in Kremlin uniforms. They were perhaps the first line of security, excluding the vast technological presence undoubtedly scanning her and her guest at the moment. There were deeper defenses, the liaison knew of some. Yet she, and others, suspected layers protected the Kremlin that they could only imagine.
Krasivolkya tugged on her suit jacket, straightening it, and waved Marcus to follow. A worker collected his luggage that he would later find undisturbed in his apartment. For now, they were led up a short flight of stairs that opened into a generous space antecedent to the Grand Palace itself.
Technology exploded around them, yet somehow was still superimposed upon antiquity. Such was the feel of the center of the CCD: a glimpse into the civilization of the future, built upon the majesty of the past.
There was a short line of individuals waiting to be screened but a wave of the Chief Liaison's hand and Krasivolkya took Marcus to the front. Everyone else bore DI pins on their lapel, if anything. She was the only one with the double crescent.
Once there, she was given as much attention as anyone attempting to enter the building. She was Chief Liaison to the Ascendancy; not the Ascendancy himself. Marcus was likely given as much scrutiny, despite his association with Krasivolkya. In fact, had security been less attentive, she would have reported them for breech of contract.
She introduced him to Varcim Tamm, a smart-looking EoA staffer with a thick, eastern European accent. Varcim's smile was pleasant but gaudy in comparison to Krasivolkya's constant hardness. "Before anything else can happen, there are a number of orientation-focused presentations you'll be attending. I will leave you in Varcim's hands for the rest of the morning. I'll be back for lunch and you'll have a chance to relax this afternoon."
KV nodded and pat Marcus on the shoulder almost warmly, before handing him off to Varcim.
Varcim, meanwhile turned to Marcus once his boss was out of earshot. "She can be intense. I hope you had a good trip."
He shook Marcus' hand again. Varcim wasn't much older than the new apprentice, but he had a weathered air of experience about him that said he knew how to work the Kremlin backstage.
"There'll be beverages and food, if you need them. And I apologize in advance if you find my presentations boring. Its not the most interesting of subjects you'll need to learn. But they are necessary to get in and out of here smoothly."
Their destination was a short walk down the Palace's main corridor. The space was unlike any government building Marcus was likely to have ever seen. In fact, it was awe-inspiring to Varcim, and he'd worked as a staffer here for six years. In fact, he started out as an intern himself, although nothing that could compare to Marcus' honored position.
The floors gleamed marble and granite. Overhead lighting sparkled from massive chandeliers. Everywhere ornamentation was gilded, carved, or painted with magnificent extravagance. Even the room they entered, set up with a few comfortable tables and a working wall-sized Immersion screen reserved for meetings and the like, was surrounded by Corinthian columns and alabaster moldings anchored by a rich rug of blues and reds.
Everything within was a prominent display of sophistication and power. Not so much as an unsightly power outlet was seen, as they were covered with hinged gold plates otherwise adding to the decor. On the opposite wall, however, was a four-foot wide medallion of the Double Crescent carved from white plaster with as much intricacy as the roses on the ceiling, and by all appearances just as ancient. A technique clearly designed to be as such. CCD symbolism was everywhere, in that regard, and integrated flawlessly into the history of the Russian Empire. As though the Custody always existed and textbooks simply forgot to mention it. However, such an omission was slowly being suggested in the newer additions in school curricula.
"This is the Rose Room,"
Varcim said, as he crossed to the Immersion Screen set up at the front of the room. At the lightest graze of his fingers, the wall flickered like wind passing over still water, and transformed into visual world of such clarity it seemed the wall itself dissolved. It would be from such a screen that Varcim would deliver the mornings presentations.
"Please help yourself to anything you see, and if you have a special request, I am sure it can be accommodated."
He gestured at the aforementioned beverages and foods, but the smile that accompanied the offer was hesitant. The type of people the EoA office typically handled had a tendency to request extreme obscurities.
Their first order of business faced them the moment they emerged from the vehicle. They were men in Kremlin uniforms. They were perhaps the first line of security, excluding the vast technological presence undoubtedly scanning her and her guest at the moment. There were deeper defenses, the liaison knew of some. Yet she, and others, suspected layers protected the Kremlin that they could only imagine.
Krasivolkya tugged on her suit jacket, straightening it, and waved Marcus to follow. A worker collected his luggage that he would later find undisturbed in his apartment. For now, they were led up a short flight of stairs that opened into a generous space antecedent to the Grand Palace itself.
Technology exploded around them, yet somehow was still superimposed upon antiquity. Such was the feel of the center of the CCD: a glimpse into the civilization of the future, built upon the majesty of the past.
There was a short line of individuals waiting to be screened but a wave of the Chief Liaison's hand and Krasivolkya took Marcus to the front. Everyone else bore DI pins on their lapel, if anything. She was the only one with the double crescent.
Once there, she was given as much attention as anyone attempting to enter the building. She was Chief Liaison to the Ascendancy; not the Ascendancy himself. Marcus was likely given as much scrutiny, despite his association with Krasivolkya. In fact, had security been less attentive, she would have reported them for breech of contract.
She introduced him to Varcim Tamm, a smart-looking EoA staffer with a thick, eastern European accent. Varcim's smile was pleasant but gaudy in comparison to Krasivolkya's constant hardness. "Before anything else can happen, there are a number of orientation-focused presentations you'll be attending. I will leave you in Varcim's hands for the rest of the morning. I'll be back for lunch and you'll have a chance to relax this afternoon."
KV nodded and pat Marcus on the shoulder almost warmly, before handing him off to Varcim.
Varcim, meanwhile turned to Marcus once his boss was out of earshot. "She can be intense. I hope you had a good trip."
He shook Marcus' hand again. Varcim wasn't much older than the new apprentice, but he had a weathered air of experience about him that said he knew how to work the Kremlin backstage.
"There'll be beverages and food, if you need them. And I apologize in advance if you find my presentations boring. Its not the most interesting of subjects you'll need to learn. But they are necessary to get in and out of here smoothly."
Their destination was a short walk down the Palace's main corridor. The space was unlike any government building Marcus was likely to have ever seen. In fact, it was awe-inspiring to Varcim, and he'd worked as a staffer here for six years. In fact, he started out as an intern himself, although nothing that could compare to Marcus' honored position.
The floors gleamed marble and granite. Overhead lighting sparkled from massive chandeliers. Everywhere ornamentation was gilded, carved, or painted with magnificent extravagance. Even the room they entered, set up with a few comfortable tables and a working wall-sized Immersion screen reserved for meetings and the like, was surrounded by Corinthian columns and alabaster moldings anchored by a rich rug of blues and reds.
Everything within was a prominent display of sophistication and power. Not so much as an unsightly power outlet was seen, as they were covered with hinged gold plates otherwise adding to the decor. On the opposite wall, however, was a four-foot wide medallion of the Double Crescent carved from white plaster with as much intricacy as the roses on the ceiling, and by all appearances just as ancient. A technique clearly designed to be as such. CCD symbolism was everywhere, in that regard, and integrated flawlessly into the history of the Russian Empire. As though the Custody always existed and textbooks simply forgot to mention it. However, such an omission was slowly being suggested in the newer additions in school curricula.
"This is the Rose Room,"
Varcim said, as he crossed to the Immersion Screen set up at the front of the room. At the lightest graze of his fingers, the wall flickered like wind passing over still water, and transformed into visual world of such clarity it seemed the wall itself dissolved. It would be from such a screen that Varcim would deliver the mornings presentations.
"Please help yourself to anything you see, and if you have a special request, I am sure it can be accommodated."
He gestured at the aforementioned beverages and foods, but the smile that accompanied the offer was hesitant. The type of people the EoA office typically handled had a tendency to request extreme obscurities.