Kowloon Intrasystem Aerodrome, Ia Drang...
Ducal Regent to New Syrtis, General George Hasek stepped off the shuttle in the early morning hours, to find Her Grace, Elizabeth Ngo, Duchess of Kowloon, waiting in the frigid, windy, mid-July weather.
"Sorry about the last minute deviation, sir." she said, "We've gotwhite-out conditions in the plains and Nha Tranh's getting hit hard."
"I understand. You know, with the technical miracles coming out almost daily, I would've thought you'd put some effort into weather control technologies!" George answered.
she laughed, "Remind me to bring that up with the Assembly!" they hurried out of the oncoming blast of snow into the terminal.
out of the howling midwinter, he realized how cold it must be outside at the blast of warm air that made his extremities tingle.
"I forgot, it isn't summer here." he said in a more normal tone of voice.
she shrugged, "It's too bad you had to come in mid-winter, in the summer, the view from here is spectacular." a Port officer offered him a cup of something hot.
George warmed his fingers on the cup first, then sipped it. "Spicy Chocolate?" he asked.
"Yeah, kind of a mid-winter treat, the harvest from Camranh this year was spectacular." she said, "The weather report says this blizzard will let up around nine. I can have parkas arranged if you want to start with the Flight line, but I'd advise waiting until this weather system clears. in the meantime..." She looked around and her her daughter stepped out, "There you are! come, meet the Future duke of New Syrtis honey!" she beckoned, and Amanda walked up.
"It is an...honor to meet you, sir." the girl said, doing a somewhat clumsy curtsey in her snow-boots and heavy jacket.
"It is very nice to make your acquaintance." George said with a bow. "Amanda, right?"
"Yes sir." the girl said.
"You brought your daughter out in this?" he asked Elizabeth.
"I was playin' outside, but momma said I had to come inside when the VIP's got here, VIP means 'Very Important Person'." Amanda said.
george felt a chil that had nothing to do with the weather-he'd watched their approach, the Aerodrome was right on the edge of a two kilometer drop to the lowlands, and visibility was terrible.
"this close to the edge?" he asked.
"We've actually got fencing, Lord Hasek." Liz said, "And the security detail wouldn't let her get close to the fenceline, much less the drop."
