BameDangeon — ChaosUnity

Kaori Jo steps out of the Myeong Gai acolytes' quarters, ready for the martial arts class she'll be attending in Old Town later in the day. She pauses, seeing the throne area set up for audience.

She bows in the general direction of the Empress, as protocol requires, and then pauses at the side of the area, curious as always. She hides a small grin as she notices the Empress sitting in a decidedly non-Imperial way, with one foot on the well-padded throne. Honey's still in there, beneath the crown!

Empress Yun-Hee shifts her weight. "Regent, have you heard any more on the trouble in the trouble with those protesting the end of the Emergence Farms?"

Regent John Sholakh says, " Nothing has trickled down.. as far as I know, no new information."

"Perhaps we need to stop referring to them by that euphemism," Kaori says. "Call them something more blunt, to remind people of what's been done to generations of young men. Sperm farms. Male ####### camps. Make the protesters ashamed to be protesting...some of them, anyway."

"Yes Kaori, we will need to improve the public relations messages. Can you look into that, Regent?" The Empress shifts her position again. "I heard some of the male population are not welcoming their new freedoms. I find that a mystery."

John says, "Yes Empress, it will be investigated."

"Partly it's a matter of the options the men have for making a living and filling their time," Kaori replies. "Not everyone is cut out for the military. Ennios Vargos says he's been inundated by young men looking for work, not really sure of what readiness for work might require. Some sort of training scheme is needed, with a variety of options for a variety of personalities."

The Empress isn't finished. "Everyone one of them have been given a small ship, kind of cargo ship that is very capable to get them around the Empire. I was hoping they would easily accept going out and find like mining opportunities or trading or something. We can use some independent traders to transport rare equipment and minerals. especially now that the Nebula is open to the whole empire now"

"It all takes training, though," Kaori says. "You need skills to mine, skills to trade, skills to fly a ship. And - you need to have the sense not to sell off your ship because you think you can live on the proceeds, and then lose the money in a night of mah jongg. That's happened, too."

Upstairs, the heavy door to the outside opens. Crisha Ra stops at the top of the stairs, stands where she can see downwards into the audience chamber, and just observes for a few minutes. She sees Kaori there and quickly puts up her defenses as she was taught to do by Empress Hae Ri.

Kaori halts her lecture, feeling a mind at the top of the stairs. She probes - and finds herself stopped by a barrier that she remembers from her last visit to the sushiya. "We have a visitor," she says. She glances at the emblem of the Olenji Cycrim Empire over the throne. "One who was still travelling under the Crimsen Empire seal a week ago," she adds.

She steps to the foot of the stairs and waits for the visitor to come down.

Crisha shakes her head for a moment, then lets her defenses down so she intentionally gets Kaori to read what she is thinking now ...

Kaori blinks as the traveller's barrier drops - abruptly enough that it's clearly intentional. She reads the sentence that Crisha's placed at the front of her mind for easy observation. "She says she has nothing to say to the Empress," Kaori reports. "Shall I go upstairs and ask what her business is in the Palace, then?"

"What do you suggest, Regent?" the Empress asks.

John looks up at the figure in the atrium. "Let's see what her business is here today."

Crisha turns and walks with strong purpose out the palace, with an air of having some more important to do

Yun-Hee says, "Looks like she may have left. Must be uncomfortable around royalty. She maybe from some less advanced planet...?"

"She's from Synthgai, or so she says," Kaori says. "Very advanced, I understand, and home to your mother. And she's left - and I think it would take a lot to make her uncomfortable. The thought she let me see - and she was letting me - wasn't uncomfortable - just deliberate, and adamant."

"I wonder if we met her when we were there before the unification.." Yun Hee muses.

"I wonder what her telepathic rating is, and who trained her," Kaori says.

"Regent, do you know who this is Kaori is speaking of?"

"Whoever she is, she's planning to stay for a few weeks," Kaori adds. "She's rented a flat for a month in OldTown. I can find out the name under which she's rented it."

John is thinking. "She does seem familiar. I do believe I met her a long time ago. If it's her, she was going by the name Sunhi Kim. Now it seems she is going by a name that is socially not acceptable, but most have forgotten why. " Muses "It is a name of a legendary crime lord of the old country that is back on our original planet of Shylzan .. Crisha!! Crisha Ra."

"Sunhi Kim?" Kaori asks. "Now that name I've heard. Isn't she one of Captain Kay's sisters? Or is it such a common name that there's likely no connection?"

John says, "Before she disappeared, she was Empress Hae Ri's apprentice for over ten cycles, basically."

Ah," Kaori says. "So her training came from your mother, Empress, and likely your mother as well, Baronness. As a telepath, I am clearly outclassed, if we want to get through her mental block. Perhaps the High Priestess should be asked to pay her a visit. And is she connected to Captain Kay, and to Admiral Kim?"

"If it's the same woman, she is their sister," John says.

"That is what it seems to be if all this is correct." The Empress's posture changes from that of a girl seeking comfort to that of an empress seeking obedience."We need to find why she has come here. "

"Maybe you could have someone ask the Kim sisters to check her out, Empress," Kaori says. "And maybe I should go up to OldTown, and find out what she's been doing besides renting a flat."

Yun-Hee stands. "I need to get some rest. I will leave you and the Regent to look into this matter." Quickly, she walks to her suite.

"May you find Unity in the Chaos" John calls after her.

"May you find Unity in the Chaos" Ikki Touson echoes.

Kaori Jo bows. She turns, walks up the stairs and heads outside, walking towards the public shuttle stop, and smiling as she realizes John's behind her. "Hi, John." She hits the pad to call the shuttle. "Are you coming along to OldTown?"

solares >> Transport Stop [White] whispers: The shuttle will arrive momentarily.

" Hello Kao. " John smiles back. "Do you think you need my help?"

"It wouldn't hurt," she says as the shuttle lands. "You know both her sisters better than I do, and you know more about what questions to ask." She steps into the shuttle and takes a seat. "So you may be more likely to get a rise out of her that will weaken her telepathic block."

John smirks. "Perhaps."

[15:15] solares >> Shuttle [White] whispers: Preparing for takeoff...

[15:15] solares >> Shuttle [White] whispers: Departing. Next stop: Space Port Terminal

"I'll show you the flat she's taken," Kaori says as they debarks in front of the space port terminal and head for the gate into OldTown. "She's taken a ground floor flat in the building nearest the terminal entrance. She couldn't have gotten closer to the terminal if she tried. The sushiya's right behind that bit of wall." She stops at Crisha's front window, which interestingly has no curtains or blinds.

John Sholakh looks through the window at the curios on display.

"Very traditional," Kaori murmurs. "In a bushido sort of way. I'd expect to find that kind of military art in a precolonial samurai household." She moves around the corner to the other window, which gives a better view of the very traditional tatami area Crisha's installed in the flat. "The most interesting bit can be seen from here. Ancient swords on display. And an emblem - the fact that we can see it from the window may itself be a message. Shylzani Bam e'Dangeon. Whatever that means."

John peers in at the corner that's caught Kaori's attention. As he's reading the emblem, a voice cuts through his thoughts.

"May I help you ? This is a private residence, you know."

Kaori turns, unsurprised to see Crisha there, and smiles. "It is, but with a singular lack of privacy. We thought we would visit, to ask if you have any messages for your sisters." It's a leap in the twilight, if not exactly in the dark.

"I have no sisters"

"So you have not been known as Sunhi Kim?" Kaori asks. "John Sholakh, here - the Regent - thought you seemed familiar."

"What is your interest in Sunhi Kim? if she has Sisters maybe you go speak with them."

Kaori replies, "One of her sisters is someone to whom I owe a great deal. Kacela Kim. She gave me shelter and employment when I needed them badly."

John watches Crisha's reactions.

Crisha's voice sounds merely impatient. "That was very good for you. Maybe you should go find her."

Kaori continues. "The other sister is Admiral of the Olenji Cycrim Imperial Fleet, Shae Kim. Naturally anyone who might be closely connected to her is worth our respectful attention." She gives a small bow. So far, there's been no ripple in Crisha's mental barrier, or at least none that a mere Level 6 can pick up.

John says, " Long ago the Admiral's sister went missing. She was never heard from again."

Crisha replies, "If you are still interested in her whereabouts you should hire someone to look for her."

"There were many rumors circulating around about that back then." John's eyes are still intent on Crisha's face, looking for signs of the woman he'd worked with long ago.

Crisha steps back. "I must return to my shop. Good luck in your search for this Sooonie Kim." She walks away quickly as though she's lost interest in the conversation.

"Shop?" Kaori asks, radiating honest interest. "What sort of shop?"

Crisha ignores the question and keeps walking.

"Not much of a businessperson, if she's going to miss such an opening for advertising!" Kaori murmurs to John with a chuckle.

"It could be the questioning she was avoiding."

Kaori laughs. "Yes, that's what I was meaning," she says as John leads her to an area of open grass - an area less likely to be bugged. "Perhaps someone else should investigate the purpose of the shop since she knows we're both interested now. Though of course she wanted our active interest, or she wouldn't have come to the palace in the way she did, and invested in some window coverings.." She pauses to gather the threads of things John might want to know. "The day I met her, at the sushiya seven days ago, she was spending Crimsen Empire coin and Cyhnon Federation credit. The chef wasn't worried by that - the new currency hasn't had time to fully replaced the old. But a message was delivered to her by two people with Crimsen Empire insignia, and port staff say the shuttle that brought her had one as well."

John says, "We do need to be careful here. I have noticed some security cameras."

Kaori nods. "A few, yes. The meditation garden is free of them, though, and prettier than this brown grass."

"If she is who I think she is....we did some missions together when she was being trained by Empress Hae Ri." John muses. "Her skills would be vastly improved by now.... and Shylzani Bam e'Dangeon means Black Dagger of Shylzani."

Kaori raises an eyebrow. "Black dagger. I think I've learned enough of Shylzani and Cyhnon history to know that image screams 'assassin.' "

John says again, for emphasis, "We do need to be very discreet around here."

"Yes." Kaori smiles. "A pity I'm not taller. We could walk arm in arm and whisper into each other's ears all we wanted, with no-one seeing anything odd."

"She mentioned having a shop around here."

"We can ask the sushi chef about that," Kaori says. "He'll have heard, and it's a natural question."

"We do need to not raise too much suspicion," John agrees.

"Well, let's go to the sushiya, and see how innocent we can sound," Kaori says. "I'm hungry, anyway."

John smiles. "Lead the way."

Ennios Vargos has spent part of this very quiet afternoon pounding hot radish to make into the traditional green wasabi seasoning for sushi. A bit of conversation carries from the almost-empty tarmac in front of the terminal to his ears.

Jenai Sung debarks from the Palace Quarter shuttle. She stands for a couple of minutes outside of the sushiya, ostensibly reading the menu, but it's a good spot from which to hear the conversation on the tarmac as a couple of key words have caught her attention as they have Ennios'.

A tall, uniformed man with ridged brows, elegantly pointed ears, and two companions is saying, "Perhaps not. But the gift that I'm bringing to the Empress tomorrow must be guarded. I want to make sure that everything is secure before that happens. We will check various areas of the city. After that we will proceed to the palace."

The woman who accompanies him says, "Yes, I suppose I could see your point, Commander. If the Romulan delegation were being robbed on its way to visiting the Empress. I mean, that would be extremely embarrassing. What do our records show about this society so far?"

Kaori is unsurprised to see the high priestess as she and John arrive at the counter. She bows. "Myeong Mai be with you, Seonsaengnim. Hello, Ennios."

High Priestess Sung takes a seat at the counter. "Ennios, could you get me a red wine and your best sushi with hot sauce?"

Ennios blinks. "Hot sauce rather than wasabi? In that case, I recommend the shrimp."

High Priestess Sung looks over at Kaori, catching her eye to eye. This is a signal they have worked out

Kaori clears her mind, awaiting silent conversation. She's spied the posted special, though, and says, "The sake ikuradon for me, and tea."

In her mind, Jenai Sung speaks.

<<I had a note from the Empress that we had a guest of interest.>>

Kaori: <<We did. John identifies her as Sunhi Kim, known as Crisha Ra, but she denies that she was ever Sunhi.>>

Jenai: <<Was there anything special about this visitor?>>

Kaori: <<She says she has come from Synthgai - has mentioned but will not talk about someone called the Archivist - and has a sigil displayed in her flat naming Shylzani Bam e'Dangeon. And she can block my telepathy, with no problem at all. Not even emotion gets through it. What I've heard her say in her mind has been because she deliberately - very briefly - dropped the block. Her control is excellent.>>

Jenai: <<Well if she is Sunhi Kim that be understandable. Empress Hae Ri trained her, and Hae Ri was the only non-telepath we know of that could block her mind from being read.>>

Kaori: <<The one thing she let me hear is that she has no interest in talking to the Empress, although she made sure she was noticed by entering the palace during audience time and watching over the balcony rail. She was very emphatic.>>

Jenai: <<Very much interesting. This is what I know of Sunhi Kim. She was masterful with Artificial Intelligence and breaking into highly guarded networks. She was also a able to take on different persona so she was like an undercover agent for the Crimsen Empire. She also did a few missions with the Regent in her earlier days.>>

Kaori: <<If Hae Ri can block telepaths, could Yun-Hee be taught to do the same? She's too easy to read, sometimes. It may not be safe for her." She pauses. "Did you know Suhni? Or could we bring the Admiral to see her? As sisters - maybe seeing Shae Kim will jar something loose.>>

Jenai: <<I will fill you in more later. You should do some of your own research but be careful.>>

Kaori: <<Oh, yes. This woman is not safe. And neither are many other things right now. Our new combined Empire has many opponents, with a lot of skills. Oh, and Crisha/Sunhi has apparently opened a shop in OldTown. So far we don't know anything else about it.>>

As they speak, Ennios pours the High Priestess a glass of wine from the Lee Vineyards bottle he keeps on hand for special customers, and starts deveining shrimp.

On the tarmac, the conversation continues. The tall man says, "There was an old government and an old guard. After that, there was a change of government. The current government, of course. And apparently there is a change of guard. It's a feudal society. The high command wants this to make friends with it."

The woman nods. The synth that accompanies them stays silent but attentive.

The man says, "I think we will split up. You go to the local bars and see what you can pick up. As far as information is concerned, of course. The Subcommander and I will have a look around and make sure the area is secure. Or at least we'll make sure that there are places that we shouldn't travel through as a delegation."

"Yes, Commander." The woman salutes and turns towards the sushiya.

As he prepares the shrimp, Ennios glances from his cutting board to the small group on the tarmac, hoping that some of them are hungry. One does come his way, finally. "Welcome!" he says to the woman. "Our special today is sake ikuradon - an excellent bowl of fresh salmon roe over egg and rice."

Centurion Vaxa Xonn answers, "Thank you, landlord. I will have your specialty please. May I sit?"

"Please do." Ennios finishes arranging the shrimp on their little balls of rice, puts the plate, one small bowl of hot sauce and another of pickled ginger on a tray, and carries it to the High Priestess.

Vaxa Xonn keeps a curiously smileless face - not mean or angry, just curiously expressionless. She sits down. Ennios notices this as he turns his attention back to her. "And for drink - we have sake, soju, beer, some select wine, green tea and a very good dark roast coffee."

"That sounds delightful," she says, despite her apparent absence of delight.

Commander Ra-Con looks around, always trying to keep within earshot of conversations at the bar.

Kaori pats the stool beside her. "John, do sit. Are you hungry?"

He shakes his head "no," and orders a beer. His security instincts have him paying more attention to the strangers on the tarmac than to her, or food, at the moment.

Jenai Sung asks, "Ennios do you have any old town rumors you like to share? I know you must hear the resident chatter around here."

The sushi chef laughs as he arranges orange roe and bits of salmon on two bowls, Kaori's and the stranger's. "Always. I was telling Kaori yesterday the hottest item of the week - Jaehong Su's been targetting sperm farm boys at her gambling den - she's won three of their ships, I've heard. It's a good year for gamblers, but only if they know what they're doing. Hm - A couple of new shops have opened - Kaori, one of them belongs to that woman with the book who was here last week - "

Kaori takes the bowl Ennios is offering her. "Oh, yes? What sorts of shops?"

Ennios says, "One of them's - well, it's a brothel, as well as I can describe it. Two of those boys who lost their ships are giving the business a try. The other shop, I'm really not sure. All I know is that she does business by appointment only."

Kaori pushes at the mind of the stranger at the bar, so see how she reacts to Ennios's blunt report of post-Emergence Farm doings.

Ennios finishes arranging the stranger's bowl and sets it on the counter. "And what can I get you to drink?" he asks her, and repeats his list. "Dark roast coffee, green tea, sake, soju, beer - or a very fine wine. The wine is the expensive choice, the tea's the budget-minded choice."

Vaxa Xonn takes the food with a curt nod. "Do you have Romulan ale?"

Ennios shakes his head. "Sorry. However, our Kirin beer has a good strong body to it."

"And I shall take that. It is always good to sample the local cuisine anyway."

"Yes," Jenai says. She turns her attention to eating her food and drinking her wine

Ennios bows slightly and goes to the cooler for a bottle and a chilled glass to go with it.

Kaori turns to say something to John, but is distracted by the sight of Crisha Ra out of the corner of her left eye. Crisha's changed from the worker's overalls she was wearing earlier into combat-ready black.

Crisha walks quietly towards the shuttle, then turns to the unknown visitors. She motions to them to approach, trying to get the Commander's attention by motioning him to come here.

Kaori turns her overt attention back to her fish roe, but meets Jenai's eyes.

Jenai Sung: <<Kaori ...>>

Kaori: <<Seonsaengnim - there is the woman who may be Suhni Kim, over by the city shuttle. You may have better luck examining her barrier than I did.>> She adds Crisha's image to the words.

Jenai: <<I would not try that. She may have the implant Empress Hae Ri had. if you try too hard the headache it can produce may be around for days.>>

Kaori takes a bit of rice. <<So far she hasn't given me a headache. Just a surprise. The tech may have improved with time.>>

Jenai: <<Yes I am sure she worked with Baroness Ling. They both had very advanced Cybernetic AI skills. Sunhi Kim was the top of her class. I believe she staged her own kidnapping so she could defect to the Crimsen Empire. I understand she pledged loyalty to Empress Hae Ri so she would be trained.>>

Kaori: <<Loyalty to Hae Ri - but maybe not to Yun-Hee? Even though Hai Ri wanted the change?>>

Jenai: <<Yes that sure is possible. Ask the Regent what was the code name that Sunhi Kim went by when she was working for Empress Hae Ri.>>

Kaori: <<He's already said it was Crisha. And that's the name under which her flat's been rented. Crisha Ra.>>

Jenai: "No, that cannot be the old code name. it was another name. I believe it started with a 'Z'>>

Kaori: <<I'll ask him when we're not so public. There must be a file on her, too.>>

Jenai: <<That is good.>>

Ennios carries the teapot to Kaori and refills her cup. He notices that John's poured his beer into its glass, but hasn't touched it. He looks at John who's still standing. "Come on, Regent, a Roadie boy should make quicker work of a glass than that." He grins. "Even if he has gotten all high-falutin."

Vaxa Xonn listens to the conversation as she eats

Crisha walks over to Vaxa Xonn's Commander, since he hasn't walked over to her, and examines his android companion closely. Then she whispers, "if you need someone who can be very discreet to move things see me." She places a data crystal in the Commander's hand.

Commander Ra-Con whispers, "I appreciate that, but who exactly are you?"

Crisha says, "Examine what I just gave you, then destroy it. You will find it interesting."

From the sushiya, Vaxa Xonn casually watches Crisha as she talks to her Commander. - ever watchful and suspicious, like a Centurion should be. Her mind shows the slightest emotion, maybe Jealousy, as she watches the female speaking to her commander. She thinks there herself that that female is standing close. Too close.

Kaori has been poking around the edges of Vaxa Xonn's thoughts, interested in what seems to be her habit of suspicion. She catches the hint of jealousy but isn't sure if it's professional or personal. She manages to catch a brief image, though - clearly Crisha's posture is intended to stimulate the personal at least as much as the professional. Despite the warrior's clothing, her pose is decidedly sexy.

She rides the Centurion's attention over to her Commander, who generates a strong authority response in the Centurion's mind - and it's interesting to Kaori that the woman thinks of herself more as Centurion than as Vaxa.

The Commander's mind is highly disciplined, also suspicious but now feeling greed and intense curiosity about Crisha - and what seems to have the shape of a data crystal in his hand.

Commander Ra-Con whispers, "I will do so. However, be advised that I intend to be friendly with the local government. If it turns out that you are not so friendly, well, let us say that we cannot be allies and enemies at the same time."

"It is just a sample to get you interested," Crisha murmurs back. "I have a shop in the old town; you can find me there."

"Indeed? I will inspect this immediately. I'm always eager to make new friends."

"If not interested, that is fine. The crystal does have a short life span. It will shatter in a few days, just in case you forget to destroy it."

Ra-Con whispers, "Rest assured, I will examine it, and I never forget to destroy them. I thank you in advance."

Kaori tries to hear through the Commander's ears, but that's an advanced skill that she hasn't yet mastered, and he seems to have some innate shielding of his own, as the Centurion does.

Using the innate telepathy he has as a Romulan, which is not as advanced as that of Vulcan, Ra-Con senses an intruder mind. But he cannot pin point the source.

Crisha softly taps the android who accompanies Ra-Con on the shoulder. She smiles as she makes her way back to her shop.

Kaori bespeaks Jenai. <<She has given something to the man. It's still in his hand. It feels like a data crystal. Cool. Corners, more than four, and some length to it.

Jenai: <<I am feeling exhausted I will need to leave this up to the Regent to handle.>>

Kaori gives the Centurion a friendly smile. "So where are you from, friend?"

Vaxa Xonn (looks at Kaori for a few seconds before speaking, as if sizing Kaori up. Kaori digs a bit more rice out from beneath her roe as she waits for a response.

Finally, the Centurion says, "I should have thought that the uniform would be obvious. I am Romulan. As are my comrades over there. My name is Vaxa Xonn. You may call me Centurion for that is my role at all times."

Kaori radiates friendly interest. "Centurion? So you're military? So's John, here." She nudges him - he's just close enough. "So what brings you to Cyhnon? Or is that a military secret?"

Ra-Con, whose attention has shifted back to the sushiya, frowns at Vaxa's coldness to these locals. 'We are here to make friends not enemies,' he thinks to himself as he listens.

John Sholakh continues to listen closely.

"Have you ever known a Romulan to not be involved in military secrets?" Vaxa asks. "And who are you, might I ask?" She's trying to be friendly, in accordance with orders, but totally failing at it.

Kaori smiles. "I'm being rude. I'm Jo Kaori. Kaori to my friends. I'm from Genji and I'm studying here."

"Kaori...Kaori. It is a difficult name to pronounce."

Kaori says more slowly, "Ka-o-ri. Yes, the Genjese 'r' sound is tough for those who don't grow up speaking it. And I'm sorry if I seem ignorant - I've heard of Romulans, but I've never met one. We don't deal much with galactic politics or warfare on my world, and your people don't use any of our terraforming services."

"Then perhaps it is I who should apologize. I am not used to being friendly."

"Not at all," Kaori says though her mind's on John, who has stepped aside with the departing priestess.

John bows to Jenai Sung. "May you find Unity in the Chaos." Kaori bows, but doesn't add the farewell.

"May you find Unity in the Chaos." Sedately, the High Priestess walks back to the shuttle pad.

Vaxa turns in her seat and bows, since that seems to be what people do.

"That's our high priestess," Kaori says. "I study under her, mostly. Comparative religion and meditation techniques. I'm a Buddhist."

Ra-Con (takes one last look at Vaxa before moving on, further into the city.

Kaori looks at John as he steps back, hoping he's not put off by her pose of wide-eyed ingenuousness.

No-one seems to want refills, so Ennios returns to his radish-pounding.

"Your friend seems very quiet," Vaxa says, pointing at John.

Kaori smiles at John. "John thinks I prattle more than a student of religions should. And I am still being rude. May I present John Sholakh, formerly of the Cyhnon Federation military, now in service to the Empress of the new Olenji Cycrim Empire?" It's notable that Kaori has the same trouble with the Cyhnon 'L' that Vaxa Xonn's had with the Genjese "R". The trouble's real, though she exaggerates it a little.

John bows. "Myeong Mai be with you. A pleasure to meet you."

Vaxa Xonn raises an eyebrow. "He is in service to the Empress. In what way?"

Kaori glances at John. The question of what to say about himself is in his court, so to speak.

"I am the Regent to the court. Might say a little nepotism too since I am father to the Empress."

Kaori finishes her lunch and sets the bowl and chopsticks on the counter.

"Better drink the beer, Regent," Ennios says again. "It's losing all its fizz." John's hardly touched it, aside from pouring it from bottle to glass. John nods, but doesn't pick it up.

Vaxa Xonn says, "It is a pleasure to meet you, John. As I am responsible for security for our delegation to the court, perhaps I can discuss security for tomorrow's meeting if you have a moment."