"Madamoiselle Dolly, and P-21 if I recall correctly?" a familiar voice called down the dock as I plugged a double adaptered charging rig into my flight pack, hoping it would work. The Minister of Defense, Marcel Gosselin.

I froze momentarily as my second core spun up involuntarily on threat mitigation duty. I let it spin but isolated it.

Without looking at him I replied, "Minister. Lovely weather we're having no? Surprised to see you here today."

Neither thin nor stout, the ebony furred boar held a parasol aloft over his head. It was still early in the day so the temperature was not oppressive, yet, but it pays to be prepared.

"Lovely weather for a night flight, I hear, and less surprising than to learn there is an Australian destroyer in our waters. France thanks you for your report."

I turned and leaned against the workbench and tilted my head with a half smile, "And France is welcome. How much trouble am I in?"

The minister grinned widely as he replied, "We do not know the answer to that yet. Hopefully little to none, despite flying without a permit in a... seventeen million euro mobility suit... with military grade stealth technology."

Mirroring his grin I responded, "Seventeen million is for the basic exoskeleton, the flight pack and tool loadout is extra."

"You perform this dance exquisitely, madamoiselle. I am of course here in official capacity, and would ask you to visit my office this morning, there are many questions we have for you."

I curtsied with a smirk and asked, "We?"

"Myself and the commander of the the naval base."

"Under Toy Law I would be permitted to have my handler present. My operator and some others from the Resort are on a flight to Papeete right now, I ask for his and their presence?"

"Of course, we have questions for him as well."

"In which case he would insist on an advocate present."

"Would the other officials who met with you last month suffice?"

Well that was encouraging, the high court justice I'd trust to do his position honour, and I rather liked the Minister of Culture. I wound down my defensive stance, played a relieved emulation and nodded, "Immediately after lunch, then?"

"Agreed, I would ask you to remain at this coast guard base for the morning until monsieur Beaulieu arrives."

"I had already booked a conventional flight for today to meet the arriving ship, minister. And to shop for some more clothing, if I may be permitted to get something less... industrial to wear. And, it's not like there's any other country in the world for a Syxen to flee to."

The minister winced at the mention of the missing refugee ship. He chewed on his lower lip some and raised his free hand, index finger pointed to the sky for emphasis. "As a gesture of good faith then. Please remain in the city limits or at the aeroport to meet your operator."

Jean-Tane, and P-3/9/16 were in a float plane and would arrive in the harbour but that was fine. I curtsied again and expressed a more emphatic, "Yes, minister."