(U)p leads to Landing Pad, Imperial Embassy.

(O)ut leads to Embassy Plaza.

(N)orth leads to Corridor, Imperial Embassy.

For the retirement party many small tables have been scattered across the room, filled with drinks and snacks from different worlds of the Empire and of course with traditional Casparian food. In the background, vis-a-vis of the entrance a small podium has been set up and a local band is playing a diversity of tunes, trying to be loud enough to be heard through all the conversations. Near the podium Pantek is standing still in his black uniform, a glass with a sparkling liquid in it, watching the room getting more and more filled with guests. From time to time he smiles or nods at a well-known face.

Murleen steps in from the corridor leading from the landing pad. He is dressed in a cleanly pressed business suit, and his countenance is of one whose material needs are amply met. He looks around before identifying the group containing his acquaintances. He heads in their direction, deftly collecting a flute of champagne along the way.

Adlerson arrives not long after his old aide, his stunning wife at his side. They seem to be engaged in intimate small talk, and the smile on his face indicates he's already having a good time. A flute of champagne is picked up for his wife, then for himself, before he stops to take a look around, scanning the crowd for familiar faces. Most are people he hasn't seen before, and this quickly discarded. Another smile is pulled as he sees his brother-in-law, and he walks in that direction, together with his wife, of course.

M'lynn takes a small sip of her champagne while her eyes glide across the room. She moves by her husband's side with an unparalleled grace. Her smile broadens when she sees her brother across the room. Always proud of him but tonight she is more proud than ever as she sees in him the height and pride of their father and the smile of their mother.

Gorjin tries his hardest to remember what his mother told him -- stand tall, look proud. Don't let them know they've injured either you or your will. But it's difficult to do that as the young Gorvan and his maternal parent are ushered into the room by a dozen armed Stormtroopers. Ah, the entertainment has arrived. Given clothes that are far less than humble, then male Gorvan grunts as he's shoved forward against his will. Ears flatten as he gives Mvrrr a pleading look but is only pushed further into the room.

Mvrrr looks straight ahead and walks with as much dignity as she can possibly muster. Fortunately for her, she is much too large for the Stormtroopers to shove as easily as they do her son. But still she is held captive by the fact that if she resists they have the power to injure or even kill her cub. She allows her green eyes to travel down and sideways to lock gazes with Gorjin, silently urging him to keep his mouth shut and his head up.

Through the main entrance to the embassy appears… a ghost. For that is what the young man standing there truly is… a ghost of times past. His very name means "Ghost", and his manner and appearance both have something supernatural to them. The young ambassador, or at least, the man who WAS the ambassador, before his sickness, returns to his place of work, direct from being released from the tender mercies of the Imperial medics. He walks using a stick, slowly and painfully... and his head and face are still marred with livid surgical scars... His hair is short, but slowly growing back. Despite his marred face, however, he is dressed very smartly, his Bureau uniform shining in it's ebony blackness, boots like slices of pure midnight. He had heard of this planned event while still in hospital, and took advantage of what little convalescent leave he had to get here for it. His stick rings out loudly on the stones of the lobby floor as he moves into the room, noticing his Director with a smile.. will he be forgiven for his little... transgressions? He hopes so.. Limping into the room more fully, he takes a glass of the sparkling liquid in his hand, and silently raises it to Pantek, not caring if he is noticed or not.. just paying his respects as best he can.

A party, albeit of an Imperial. Diplomacy. How could he not be here? As Sam steps through the door, there is a small smile resting on his lips, which twitches the lower talon of the tattoo up. He pauses a few paces into the Embassy and looks slowly about himself, before nodding slowly, and moving a hand up to his face. Removing the square-framed sunglasses, he takes another look about himself, before slipping them over the front of his T-shirt. Brushing a crease off the shirt, whose buttons are undone, allowing it to swing open, he starts off again, moving further into the Embassy, and snagging one of the glasses of alcohol off a passing tray. Taking a sip as he moves further in, his other hand slides into his pocket.

Commodore Pallando follows the haunting image of Kizuka into the Embassy. He pauses at the entry point to how his side arm's power pack is absent and turns over a CDF issue knife for the sentries to place in safe keeping for the afternoon. Once passed through he nods his head to those he recognizes milling about offering small talk to those that desire it as his gaze falls upon Sam'viel there is slight frown of dissatisfaction.

Ever staying close to the side of M'lynn and Adlerson is the pale and timid form of Keianna, looking, in her grand array, even more small and out-of-place. Her eyes dart constantly about the room, partially just for the sake of releasing her feelings of tension through fidgeting with her gloved hands, and partially, deep down in her innermost heart, searching for someone, though she would not admit this even to herself. Her heart seems to flutter like a butterfly within a cage in her breast, as if anticipating some wonderful event…when it happens. Her eyes rest upon the figure of Kizuka, the former Ambassador. At first, she barely recognizes him in his pitiful state, and even when she realizes the truth, her mind barely believes it. But her heart knows. And yet, when she attempts to take even one step forward, she finds herself rooted to the marble floor like a statue. Struck with horror, realization, and a wild passion to run straight into his arms, she can barely breathe. If only he would come to her, or her body could suddenly commit some shocking action beyond her ability to decide and act upon, like faint. But of course, fainting is not something that can come naturally just because one wants it, so she only stands there, staring in an almost hypnotized manner at the form of her father.

When Pantek notices his 'family' enter the room a warm smile appears on his lips. He nods in their direction and gestures with his right arm towards the small table and the snacks, inviting them to help themselves, before he returns to his duties as a host. Between all the nodding and smiling at the guests he suddenly notices the strange shapes being pushed it by Stormtroopers. For a short moment surprise can be seen on the Director's face when he recognizes the beings. Obviously he didn't know about this entertainment and for a few seconds he looks around to discover the author of this surprise. Pantek doesn't discover the organizer of this event but his gaze finds a face he didn't see for months, the Imperial Ambassador to Caspar. It's not clear whether Pantek forgave Kizuka or whether he doesn't want to spoil the party but the Director raises his glass at once and returns the toast with a formal nod. Seeing that probably all guests have arrived, he slowly wanders in the direction of the podium, preparing himself for something he hates about such events, the speech.

Dirk steps into the building from the Embassy plaza.

Dirk has arrived.

Vincent steps into the building from the Embassy plaza.

Vincent has arrived.

General Diggs heads to the exit doors, passing the security guards and steps out the embassy to the embassy plaza.

General Diggs has left.

Llo_Benii steps into the building from the Embassy plaza.

Llo_Benii has arrived.

Murleen sees the couple from Dreven enter after him, and maneuvers his way through the crowd to meet them. As he moves, sipping from his champagne, he observes the arrivals. His eyes are drawn to Sam, who stands out in his informal dress, and he raises an eyebrow to himself. His attention is then caught by the slight commotion caused by the Horansi being escorted in by the Stormtroopers. This prompts a frown, and he pauses in his movements in order to observe the proceedings.

Adlerson lets the forms of the riff-raff be, not bothering to give them much more than a glance. He's about to catch up with Murleen as he notices that his guardian child has frozen dead in her tracks, and backtracks to see what's wrong with her. "Everything all right, Kei?" he asks, a hint of worry in his voice. She had been doing well now for a while, he was hoping that would last.

M'lynn turns in equal motion with her husband and also looks at Kei with concern. Her gaze follows Kei's line of sight and sees the form that has brought Kei to a stand still. She stands quietly next to the child waiting for her to respond to Adlerson. As she waits, her eyes move to Murleen and she gives a polite smile and nod of her head but makes it clear that they are stopped for a brief moment.

With marked lateness, three nearly matching persons step into the party. A man, dressed in a black suit, bearing a ceremonial sword at his side, with a woman in a matching black dress walking at his side, the two clasped at the shoulder. Another, dressed in black khakis and a navy blue shirt walks with the pair, and all three talk amongst themselves quietly as they go, each putting on a smile as they enter the goings-on. Immediately, Dirk begins to mingle, waving a short 'hi' to people he's never met, and basically putting on an air of importance. The three weave through the crowds, more or less heading towards the drinks and whatnot.

Following closely on the heels of Dirk, Vincent takes the opposite approach and keeps things rather low key. They're late enough as it is, but it's not his place to make a show of himself. As they make their way through the crowd, he thinks he spies more than a couple faces he knows but can't be sure yet. Perhaps when the time's right, he'll have a chance at a closer inspection.

Hanging gracefully on Dirk's arm, Llo Benii looks in her element. The entrance is perfect, the time fashionably late, daring, and she gazes about her as she proceeds. Some get gentle smiles whilst others are favored with more suggestive, more flirtatious glances from those ice-white eyes of hers. Glittering woman on the arm of a distinguished man in a room of glittering people. Yes, a fish in the sea.

Feeling his mother's encouragement more than actually seeing it on her face, Gorjin lifts his head as defiantly as he can, looking as if only yesterday he might have been the child prince of a Mutandan palace. But something is missing, as if the boy's actions are merely an act -- he's forcing himself. Trying to look as brave as his mother when inside, he really doesn't feel that way. His ears waver between hurt and alert, attempting to rise from their fallen positions, only to fall again. Perhaps the equivalent of a seven- or eight-year-old human, he mewls a series of Horansi words in Mvrrr's direction, the sound bordering between normal speech and a scared whimper.

His eyes flicker and twitch almost as rapidly as the tip of his blond-tufted tail, as if they were attempting to take in every face, every weapon, every hand that might reach out to mistreat him. Brown, Gorvan eyes linger on some faces more than others before they lower to the ground, then hop away to some other sight.

A proud glance is bestowed on the young Gorvan by his mother as Mvrrr silently praises her son's bravery. He has gone through many difficult trials for one his age and has held up remarkably well. Her coloration has a little more bronze tone swirled in with the golden tawny sheen of her pelt since she is an adult and the slight contrast between their colors is attractive. She maintains physical contact with Gorjin by occasionally touching his shoulder with the chocolate brown tuft that adorns the apex of her tail.

As the youngster speaks to her she gives his shoulder a swat with her tail and looks at him quickly to halt the words before one of their guards decides to silence him themselves. She responds very briefly with a short series of low growls and churrs before looking away and scanning the crowd with those piercing emerald eyes.

The director's toast is returned by the specter of a man that was once Kizuka. Then, lowering his glass, the young man's gaze flicks around the room and it's inhabitants.. on pretty much the same mission as his beloved daughter's was. From the scarred face the two steely blue orbs pierce the throng like a hawk's gaze, as it searches for a mouse.. And then finds it's prey. Meeting the child Kei's eyes, Kizuka lets out a soft gasp, and for him the party simply seems to melt away out of existence. The people, the.. cat-things.. the noise and bustle. He is almost as rooted as she is.. though not for long. Noticing the figures of Adlerson and M'lynn next to her, he begins to limp towards her as if in a dream, not even noticing the people he nudges against as he approaches. "Kei.." He murmurs under his breath, stick ringing on the floor as he draws nearer.. nearer.. Each step is painful both physically and mentally.. but he makes them. Finally limping to a stop in front of the little party containing her, he stands there, almost totally speechless, mouth working like a fish in the midst of his ruined young visage. He tries to address the two adults.. nothing coherent emerges, such is his emotion. Trying not to cry in public, at such an occasion, his gaze shifts down to his daughter, noting her silence and stillness. Why is it? Is he too ugly? Do his scars scare her? Or is it that she no longer needs him, or wants him as her father. All of this he tries to encapsulate into words.. but only one can emerge from the convalescent.. her name again. "Kei..." How he wants to move to her, cast aside his stick and embrace her tight to him, but he does not want to risk scaring or upsetting her if she IS frightened of him.. or upsetting Adlerson and M'lynn, if she has decided to take THEM on as her parents. He trembles pitifully, trying to speak, growing more humiliated and embarrassed by the second, but impotent to do anything about it. If only she'd move to him.. give him some sign that she still is his little girl.. his little white-haired saint....

Falling back a step and finally noticing the treatment, which the two Horansi are getting, Sam's smile fades to a more impassive expression, and then it fades further, to become a small frown. He glances towards the few Imperial Officers, which he recognizes, the first being Pantek, as he moves to the platform, and then to the Ambassador, or what's left of him anyway. An eyebrow rises up a little, as he watches him lean on the cane. Odd, he thinks, but he was gone for a while, maybe he was close to death. Probably. But he turns away, just as the sick man begins to move away from his position.

With a small shake of his head, Sam's gaze is soon drawn back to the treatment of the Horansi. "That is too much..." He intones, shaking his head slightly, as he hears the smaller cub's whimpers. "Disgusting." He says, a little more quietly. Looking away from them for just a short while, his gaze falls on Ernie, and he tilts his head just a little. Looking down to his own clothes, he offers a very slight shrug, "I was already late.." He says, to no-one in particular, before slowly drifting over, in the direction of the two Horansi, and their Stormtrooper Guards.

Pallando had left Kei's playmates at home having not thought she'd be present at such a formal occasion. The Adlerson's as always the center of some attention his own gaze notices the uncomfortable Kei, though as she seems to have tuned vision he waits not wanting to swarm the child. He smiles seeing Pantek prepare to speak and grabs a goblet ready to drink to what ever toasts will be offered while he harasses and encourages his father in law, "Speech, Speech, speech!"

Rhiannon steps into the building from the Embassy plaza.

Rhiannon has arrived.

On his way to the podium Pantek steps to one of the guards and seems to ask something. Several times he nods in the direction of the two Horansi, a questioning frown on his face. But the guard doesn't seem to know more, just shrugging and shaking his head. With a last glance at the two large beings Pantek continues his way towards the band. Having reached the band-leader Pantek stops the music with a soft nod, sighs deeply and then steps on the small podium and turns towards his guests. After a half-hidden wink in Pallando's direction he says in a clearly audible voice, "May I have your attention please?" This will probably be his last speech in his career and this thought seems to be enough to let Pantek smile a bit brighter than before, although the smile fades away a little bit when he hears the well-known sound of Horansi through the chatter, not understanding a word, of course. Pantek has been Imperial Ambassador to Mutanda for several years but learning their language has been too much asked, even for such a long time.

Murleen continues to look on in consternation at the Horansi for a few moments, before moving on towards the Adlerson party. As he does so, he catches M'lynn's eye, and sees the situation brewing. Knowing from previous experiences that Kei has some... issues in her past, he grimaces slightly, but nods ever so slightly at M'lynn, and turns away. He begins to head back towards the main crowd in the middle of the chamber, but is distracted by Pantek's initial address. He opts to stand his place and listen out the speech for the moment. He sips his champagne as Pantek gathers the crowd's attention.

Adlerson looks up as Kizuka approaches, quickly grasping that he's the cause of Kei's severe emotional distress. He hasn't been told who the child's father is, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out the connection here. He keeps silent, sending his wife a quick glance, a frown adorning his deep set features. As Pantek starts his address he turns half way towards the podium, but he's still very much watching over what's happening right in front of him, watching and making sure that what Kei is displaying isn't fear, or at least making sure she should have no reason to feel that way.

The two dumb-stricken eyes of the child Kei, even deeper and more piercing than usual, remain locked on the form of the poor, degraded man. She wants to cry, or scream, or tell him how much she loves him, and yet her mouth is so dry with shock she can make no sound emit from it when her lips part. What seems to be all that is in the world is before her. Nothing else exists at this moment. Not Pantek. Not the Horansi. Not even M'lynn and Morlok. Only her father. Back at last. And yet, she can find no movement in her limbs to her utmost dismay. But she does love him, with a passion so great that not even her stricken mind can hold it back for no extended length of time. Suddenly, without any warning at all, she throws herself forward and clasps her arms about his waist as tightly as is possible for her frail body. Her lip quivering fitfully, she whispers in a choked, hoarse voice, "Father...I love you...no matter what...oh father...I love you so much..."

M'lynn watches the reunion of father and daughter for a brief moment. Making sure that Kei is indeed where she wants to be before turning her attention to her brother at the podium. She takes another sip from her glass and wraps her free arm around her husband's waist. It seems an eternity since the retirement of her husband but tonight's festivities bring it all back as if it were yesterday. She offers a proud smile to her brother.

Well, as Pantek decides to make himself a little speech, Dirk turns to his companions, and offers, "I've got to go get our gift ready, all proper like. Go watch the speech, and meet me after he's done, so we can present Pantek with some entertainment, mmm'kay?" He leans his head over slightly, and kisses the woman hanging by his shoulder on the cheek softly, offering a warm smile. It had been a long time since his last public appearance, and Dirk was definitely going to make it all the more special he can. With pride, he releases himself from Llo's arm, and bows to his friends, wandering off towards the pair of Horansi and the Stormtroopers, ignoring the goings on around him, but occasionally offering a hello to people who look his way. He carries himself proudly, as a gentleman, each step one closer to the mother and son. Finally, as he reaches the group, he offers to the ranking Stormtrooper, "Hey, take those two a little ways away from the podium... don't get in the way, though. Just close enough so we can present these two after the speech is over."

Vincent nods after Dirk, even though the man doesn't notice. He turns to Llo and says, "Let's get a drink." Picking up on the obvious distaste most of the crowd seems to have for the Horansi, he keeps himself from scowling. Cutting through the crowd, he makes his way to a table, and grabs the first drink he sees, downing it quickly. Grabbing another, he turns his attention back to the podium to hear the speech Pantek has prepared. Could be a long night yet, so he starts on his second drink.

Rhiannon walks into the large hall, and looks around in wonderment. She scans the crowd for anyone she might, know and finds very few. But who cares...it’sa party! She easily squeezes her way to the podium, and watches the speech that has already started. Perhaps she'll get a drink as well, and mingle some, the evening is full of possibilities.

Llo_Benii's ever-present smile deepens at her partner's departing back and she swings round to float along with Vincent. One slim arm sneaks around his waist and she pushes close to him.

Brashly, or stupidly, one of the black-and-white-armored escorts posted behind the two Gorvans reaches out with a hand to swat Mvrrr's tail away from her son. "No touching allowed!" he admonishes, his voice sounding mechanical through the helmet's filter. Having thrust the tail from its former position, the trooper turns his hand over and places it against Gorjin's shoulder, manhandling the cub roughly in order to put more distance between mother and child.

In response, Gorjin mewls sharply but is moved nonetheless. His tail lashes in snake-like response, but he really is helpless. Again there is that dancing of the ears between uncertainty and feigned courage, and he utters another keening mewl shortly after the room begins to quiet for Pantek's oration.

That, of course, earns the younger Horansi a solid thump against his right shoulder blade, one beneath which he barely manages to keep his footing. He casts a look over his shoulder before finally hushing to the best of his ability. A nearby Imperial on-looker turns briefly from the beginning of the speech to cast a glare of disgust, undoubtedly considering them as little more than inhuman slime before Dirk approaches and speaks to the squad leader. The onlooker raises an eyebrow as he watches the trooper return a silent nod, about-face and motion for his men to comply.

Fierce green eyes blaze with barely contained fury as Mvrrr turns her head to look at the approaching Dirk. Being displayed and used in this manner is almost too much for her pride to bear, yet somehow she keeps the rage contained inside herself.

Mvrrr's attention is instantly shifted away from Dirk as the Stormtrooper behind her knocks her tail away from Gorjin with enough force to sting and then begins to shove him out of her protective reach. Her eyes narrow and if looks could kill, that particular trooper would be nothing but a pile of ashes by now... yet still she says nothing as she silently clenches a fist.

Then her son is smacked and nearly knocked over... Only the gods know how the Gorvan mother manages to restrain herself from doing her best to rip these inhumane humans to miniscule shreds. She makes no move to unleash her substantial strength, but she cannot help her upper lip wrinkling and revealing an impressive array of razor sharp teeth. Fearless, Mvrrr responds to her son's cry with a reassuring rumbling before she follows suit and begins to walk in the indicated direction, tail lashing violently.

Conscious at some basic level of the start of Pantek's speech, and thus keeping his voice low and most immense emotions in check, Kizuka leans down to embrace his daughter against his weakened form, legs wobbling pitifully as the support of his cane is removed. But he doesn't care. The rest of the world is set aside as truth and reason fall. She was all he wanted, but this he was denied.. all through his sickness, the pain, the surgery, he only begged for the presence of his little Kei. In his delirious fits, in his lonely, pain-filled nights- it was only his little girl that kept him alive. The thought of this moment.. when once again he would be able to take her in his arms, and show her how much he loves her. But his cruel body seems determined to play tricks upon him.. he is struck almost speechless. Silent tears run down his face.. quite inappropriate for a member of the Bureau at a public occasion, he is sure.. but it's not something he can control. Just murmuring her name softly, so as not to disrupt Pantek's speech, the young man holds Kei to him, stroking at her hair, his fingers tracing the outlines of her face. "K..Kei.. I'm sorry.." He murmurs, audible only to him and the girl. "Sorry for scaring my special little girl..." His tears roll over scars, still fresh and somewhat livid, to drip upon her head… his heart racing and mind spinning with simple adoration for his daughter. Past caring what any of the people nearby might think, he holds her tight against him still, shoulders silently quaking. His head lifts a little, to look on at Adlerson, feeling his attention upon him. No words are spoken, but the scarred young man hopes that somehow his look will convey across his wish for a little less attention here. His heart pounds in his chest, probably audible to the girl as well, so tightly to him does he hold her.. Almost to the point of constricting her.. though it's unlikely that either would complain at this point in time. To the tortured soul who is Kizuka, it seems as if he's found salvation at last, after the long months of trial and tribulation during his treatment. Ah, the joys of a family reunion, no matter what the circumstances it falls under.

Ambassador Dises enters the massive chamber, his white robes shifting as he does. He removes his sunglasses, placing them in a pocket while glancing across the large crowd of those assembled.

Shaking his head slightly, Sam's pace pauses as this new group of people approach the two Horansi, but the frown on his lips seems close to perpetual, as he watches the treatment given to them. He glares towards the troopers, who perform the acts, not that it does much good, but he does so anyway. Tapping his fingers at his side, he slowly continues his pace after the Horansi and their new keepers, staying far enough behind so it just looks as if he is meandering through the crowd. Occasionally, he glances up towards Pantek as he speaks, and on one occasion he looks towards the Ambassador and the small gathering about him. He peers, just a little closer, and catches sight of the girl. This lightens the expression on his face, and his eyes widen as he looks back to Kizuka and actually catches sight of -tears- running down his cheeks. He glances towards one of the windows of the lobby, to look for some kind of farm animal flying through the air. Nothing. Odd.

Glancing to his glass, he raises an eyebrow seeing there is no liquid left within it. And looking back the way he came, he sees a small trail of liquid. Wincing a little, he places the old glass down and picks up a new one, this time drinking it down, before he can make another slime trail along the floor. Allowing the glass to hang loosely between his fingers, in its emptied state, he continues to make his way after the Horansi, occasionally looking to the reunion.

Kei feels her body tremble uncontrollably as she squeezes the form of her father even tighter with a great burst of strength born out of pure love and adoration; the kind that knows no bounds or limits of the physical world. Hearing his apology, she feels an intense desire to whisper back that he has nothing to apologize for, but not only does her powdery mouth not allow it, but after speculation, she realizes that this is no occasion for words. She only stands upon her toes, stretches up, a clammy, alabaster forefinger extended, and places it ever-so-gently on his lips, signaling for silence. A smile born of heavenly bliss slowly creeps across her features. At last, exhausted from the emotional strain, but, more than this, happy beyond the capacity of her imagination, the tears at last begin to well up in the shrunken, red-rimmed hollows about her eyes, and she cries openly, but softly. And at the very same time, through the hot tears trickling down her face, red-speckled as the blood flows up to it, she lets out a tiny laugh; a mere burst and but a true exclamation of the full joy she feels. She can find nothing to say or do, except lift her eyes up to the man's face and gaze deep into his blue eyes, blue as a summer sky, now to her the most beautiful thing that could ever exist in the universe and beyond.

Pantek lets his gaze wander from one face to the next, a still a friendly smile on his lips. Then he cleans his throat and begins his short speech, "Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am happy that so many of you could come today and so few of you left when they realized that there won't be any warm buffet tonight. I don't want to hold you for long with this but I would like to thank everybody who accompanied me throughout my career in the Empire. Some of you know me since I joined the Imperial Navy almost twenty standard years ago ..." Pantek makes short eye contact with his brother-in-law before continuing , "..., a lot happened since then and not everything was how I wanted it to be. But nevertheless I am proud to say that I was an Imperial Officer and that I am an Imperial Citizen. Today my career in the service of the Empire ends and I make room for younger officers to do their best. As my last official act, I want to raise my glass to thank everybody who made this possible and I want to raise it to drink with you to a peaceful galaxy!" He raises his glass in an enthusiastic gesture, probably more because he just finished his last speech, then empties it with one big gulp and finally finishes with a loud, "Enjoy the evening!" After this very short speech he steps down from the podium and the bands begins to play again.

Now that he has fulfilled this unpleasant duty Pantek begins to make his way towards the small group of Stormtroopers and the two Horansi to finally know why they are here and who sent them, thinking that they will make a good entertainment. Apparently this is more important to him than going over to his friends for a pleasant chat.

Adlerson takes a half step back and turns more away as he sees the interaction between father and child, leaving them their due privacy. He doesn't ignore them altogether, but the feeling of intrusion should be gone now. More of his attention is on the speech now, and at the mentioning of old days in the Navy he gives Pantek a wink, raising his glass willingly to meet the toast from the man on the stage. "For a peaceful galaxy!" he chimes in, although it drowns somewhat in the other sounds from the room. He gives M'lynn a hug with the arm that's around her waist, letting her know he's very proud of her brother and what he's achieved, and he's very happy the two of them could be here tonight.

Murleen listens attentively to Pantek's speech, and a brief smirk crosses his face as he mentions his time in the Navy. As the speech finishes, Murleen looks back over to where Kizuka and Kei are enjoying their tearful reunion. He sees the surrounding crowd beginning to pay attention to the scene developing, and also Adlerson's efforts to give them privacy. He follows in the toast "And to a prosperous future!" Deciding to assist an old friend, he appropriates a discarded fork from a nearby table, and taps it against his still-raised glass, in an effort to gain attention.

M'lynn also lifts her glass in toast to her brother. Her happiness for him emanates from her smile. As he walks away from the podium, she turns to her husband and says something in quiet tones. As Murleen requests further attention, her eyes scan back to his direction.

With the article of letting the Stormtroopers know his intentions, Dirk sets his pace back a little, following behind the group of fourteen; twelve Stormtroopers, and two Horansi. He makes his way with them, slowly taking his paces to peer about, always keeping a solitary ear on Pantek. Not much effort is made to keep an eye on the Stormtroopers; they should be able to take care of themselves and the Horansi adequately. The only reason he's following them is to make sure that he can grab Pantek and offer the two Horansi to him as his going-away present after he's done speaking. Who knows, maybe even soon enough so that the man can introduce Dirk and his friends... business is as business does. But, in any case, his eyes wander, occasionally slowing on faces he's seen in the news, or whatnot. When Pantek makes his way upon his little group, the speech ended, Dirk grins to himself, and speeds his pace up to catch the man, and he offers, "Hello, sir. My name is Dirk Wilderson the Third, CEO and owner of DW merchants... we've been running food routes between some of your smaller planets for years." He motions over towards the pair of Horansi, and continues, "Those two are gifts, from my private estate. They've always been great entertainment, and I've always been a loyal supporter of your work... I've heard a great many things of you. Please, accept them with my compliments on many fine years of work. You can have them entertain your guests however you see fit, sir." His greeting was short, alright, but he's a business man. Formality is not his game as usual, and he's just interested in offering that which he brought for that very purpose alone.

A laugh.. the sound so free.. so beautiful. Indeed, the ambassador hears in that sweet sound more than just the release of his beloved daughter's emotions.. but also the saving of his soul. He knows now, no matter what he might do, how he might struggle, suffer or fall… he has something pure in his life. One single light that will burn, beacon-like, for all his days. This moment seems to stretch on into eternity as he gazes upon the tiny face, the tears trickling around the girl's visage, seeming so fragile as to be made of porcelain.. As he muses upon her sweet little image, he comes to think of himself. Once, oh so recently, he thought himself as somewhat handsome, dashing. Cutting quite a figure in his splendid black uniform, and proud of it. Filled with the vanity of youth. But now that has been killed. One hand strokes against Kei's cheek, wiping away her tears tenderly, as he lowers his head down to plant a single gentle kiss on her smooth, cool brow.. The noise of Pantek's speech, the mewling of the Horansi… all of it is as the buzzing of an insignificant gnat to him as he tremulously kisses her head once more. Taking her hand in his, he lifts it to his down-turned face, sliding it over the scarred tissue where once the skin was clean, noble and unblemished. So what does it matter if he is some nightmarish phantom now? He has his daughter, and that is all that matters. All that should ever matter. In the depths of his mind, the child for the first time even takes significance over the "Endless glory of the Empire", the belief he was indoctrinated into by his father, his family, and by Pantek himself ... that which he would willingly give his life for in a second. Such adoration cannot be borne with ease.. it is a weighty mantle upon his young shoulders.. yet one he carries with honor. If he was to be kicked out of the Bureau tomorrow, left to wander the streets, he would still be a happy man, if he could keep his daughter with him. Letting out a soft sigh, and just holding her to him in these magical moments they share, Kizuka slowly becomes more aware of the rest of the room... slowly. Sighing at the return to the real world, he kisses Kei once more, relaxing. The rest of them can go hang for now.

'Well that was surprisingly short,' Vincent thinks to himself. He was expecting something long, stuffy and drawn out. He smiles at Llo beside him, wrapping an arm around her. "Shall we go mingle?" He hopes to find those faces he thought he recognized, but with the way the crowd has broken up, he doubts that will be possible. He spots Dirk with Pantek and nods in that direction. "Perhaps we should go join our friend," he says, wishing that he could enjoy this moment, having such a beautiful young woman on his arm. The looks he's felt have made him feel good. Sighing to himself, he starts to lead them through the crowd.

Llo_Benii leans up to whisper in Vincent's ear. Her breath caresses her neck and perfume envelopes him, coyly curling round promising forbidden kisses and stolen love. She follows Vincent perfectly, every step in time with his, until they reach Pantek when his waist is abruptly dropped and Pantek becomes the next target.

The younger Horansi is only allowed to stop moving when the Stormtroopers have finished jostling him and his mother into position. The cub looks over at Dirk, flattening his ears as his eyes narrow with hatred at the man and his words. In fact, his disdain for the kimach is one of the only things Gorjin really -is- certain of. The male Gorvan sniffs a few times in a mixture of frustration and anger at his unrightfully low station in life. Now positioned over a meter from his mother, Gorjin wraps his arms across his chest and curls his tail around his left leg before seeming to again remember how he should act. The tail loosens, and his arms fall to his sides as he lifts his head. Afraid. Courageous. Frightened. Brave. Childish. Strong. One way and then the other.

Gorjin clenches his fists as a sign of helplessness, but he seems beaten into thinking he isn't powerful enough to do anything about his situation. Perhaps a lifetime of slavery will do that to a child.

Rhiannon takes a glass off of a passing tray and raises it up, she was about to mirror the toast, but her attention is turned away from the stage. Curious she looks over, and keeps her glass filled. Perhaps another toast? Ah well, this night was the night for many such things. But then again she catches in the crowd- finally some faces she recognizes. She would talk to them later, she muses, and turns back to where her attention first lay.

The piercing emerald gaze of the elder Horansi female is no longer directed at Dirk. He was not the one pushing her precious cub around as though he were merely a junky piece of furniture. No... Mvrrr's furious eyes continue to rest on the Stormtroopers who have had the audacity to touch her son. Every once in a while her attention shifts alertly from the troopers to the crowds around the room. She may be guarded and unable to go anywhere, but she will never be caught unawares.

Mvrrr finally turns her head to observe her son, her heart going out to the brave child as she alone and able to accurately interpret all the body language that he is showing unconsciously. Mentally offering up a prayer for his safety and honor, she again turns an angry gaze toward everyone else in the room. One massive, long-fingered paw clenches into a fist as her tail whips to and fro behind her.

Sighing with relief and happiness, Kei slowly brings up a black-sleeved arm to wipe the tears from her eyes. Once again, a tiny laugh emits from her, and then a second, this time more drawn-out and free, no longer a burst escaping from an emotion-strangled throat. She takes a deep, sighing breath, the very air seeming sweet to her lungs which, unknown to her in her bliss, have been quite strangled for air. For the first time since their meeting, she at last turns from her father, though her head, eyes closed in an innocent peace, leans gently against his mangled, weak body, still reliant on its physical warmth and strength, even though this has been greatly diminished. For a long time, she stays there beside him, silent and still, until it might even seem as if she has at last drifted into a blissful slumber. But at length, the pale, soft eyelashes flutter briefly, and the lids draw upward revealing the twin eyes of warm pink once more. They look out across the scene unfolded before them, taking it all in fully for the first time that night. Suddenly, their tranquility seems to be interrupted. The roving gaze stops, and the eyes begin to narrow slightly, leaving only glowing slits in the round, alabaster face of the child. The very eyes themselves, apart from the set jaw and head tilted in curiosity, are enough to herald a strange change and disturbance in her countenance. Without averting her gaze from the Horansi, for they are indeed what have gathered the girl’s near-full attention, she feels blindly for the sleeve of her father's uniform, then gives it a little tug. Turning her head only slightly, and mostly manipulating her lips to address Kizuka fully, she whispers, her voice still tremulous from her recent emotional ordeal, "Wh….what are they doing here, Father?"

A peaceful Galaxy! Odd. An attack about Pride-1 just a few days ago, and a Death Star still hanging about, albeit doing nothing, in space. Sam shrugs just a little, not raising his voice, as a lot of other people do. "To Peace in the Future," he says, more quietly, raising his empty glass in a toast, before shaking his head slightly. Having tagged onto the Horansi, very soon after they came in, it does not take him very long to catch up the few paces needed to hear what the man says to Pantek.

Somehow, he thinks, they don't seem like paid employees. In fact, the term 'unwilling slaves' comes to mind, before anything else. And so he moves ever so close, waiting to hear Pantek's response to this, a small frown waiting on his face, ready to explode into more. No. No. He can't wait. He steps forward, and looks from Dirk to Pantek, and asks quite pleasantly, motioning to the Horansi, "Can I ask something?" He doesn't pause to wait for a response, "Wait... Wait, sorry. It isn't a question, my mistake. It's a..." He clicks his fingers, "Statement, that's the one. I'm afraid that well... Holding life, against their will, and hitting them, whenever they do something wrong is..." He tilts his head a little, "Well, I think you could call it slavery... Yes! That's the one. Which, oddly enough, is against the law on Caspar." He crosses his arms across his chest, glass hanging between two fingers, "I'm afraid, that I'm going to need to take you..." He motions to the ones who were giving the present, "Into custody." He looks towards the two Horansi, "And them, for the moment, as well..." And finally, he looks towards Pantek, "But of course, you weren't going to accept this gift, were you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Pantek was about to go past the unknown man with a friendly smile and maybe a nod but then he suddenly stops as if he would have crashed against a wall. He turns around and only moments after that his business smile appears on his lips. He offers the unknown man a polite half-bow and says, "I am honored and surprised that my reputation has reached out that far and I gladly accept your present. However ..." He turns to face the two Horansi, but still speaks to Dirk, "... I do not think that I want them to entertain me with their art. I have been on Mutanda too long to see these proud beings treated like animals." With another friendly smile in Dirk's direction he steps to the CO of the small group of Stormtroopers and says, suddenly using the stiffer, colder commanding voice of an Imperial officer, "Captain, your presence no longer necessary. Dismissed." He emphasizes his words with a fluid gesture of his right hand towards the exit. Then he turns to the man addressing him and says with the same cold voice, "I don't know if you aware of the fact that you are on Imperial soil, Sir, but you won't take anybody in custody here. If you will not calm down and will keep disturbing my guest, I will have you removed." Completely ignoring the Stormtroopers and Sam'viel, he turns towards the two Horansi now. He bows formally and says slowly, not sure how good they understand Basic, "You are welcome to be my guests tonight. I apologize for the circumstances of your arrival here." To underline his words he tries to imitate a gesture he has seen on Mutanda many times when one Horansi has been apologizing to another. He steps back half a step and lifts his chin to expose his throat, but somehow it looks clumsy and lacks the elegance of a Horansi.

Having attracted the attention of much of the crowd present, and not yet having noticed the commotion by the Horansi, Murleen begins to speak, in the tones of one accustomed to addressing the public. He speaks with something of a wistful note, remembering a time in his life now passed. He says, "I remember a time back when I was just a lowly admiral's aide stationed at Naval HQ... a young ensign by the name of Hul Pantek came to my attention. At that time he was a gunnery coordination officer aboard a cruiser, but even then he showed promise, receiving consistently outstanding evaluation reports. As is the way with such officers, he soon found himself working his way up the ranks. He found his own way into Naval HQ, given command of the Academy. I suppose it was there that he received the calling to move on from the Navy into other pursuits, namely the Bureau. I must say that our loss was definitely their gain. Now however, the Bureau, and indeed Imperial service, must say good bye to this man. It makes an interesting reflection for those of us who were once his superiors; if Lord Pantek sees fit to retire, are we ourselves approaching obsolescence?" At this he chuckles, and then proffers a further toast, "To Lord Pantek; may your future be as fulfilling as your past has been successful." With that he steps down, and returns to the crowd, obtaining a new glass of champagne in replacement for his previous, empty, glass.

Ambassador Dises listens to Murleen's short speech, before taking a glass from a passing waiter. He pauses a moment as a waiter moves straight in his path, before approaching Murleen. He smiles slightly, holding his glass in his right hand. He begins to speak in a formal manner, "Greetings sir.". Not at all a tone like that of the military, but more like that of business with an added hint of respect. He again offers a smile, "Quiet a party, I apologize for appearing late."

Adlerson listens to the speech by his former Aide, lifting his own glass in unison to hail the Director. "Here here!" he calls in agreement. A slight frown is displayed though as he watches the rather clumsy appearance of this.. 'Sam' fellow. A person with enough authority to make an arrest should certainly know the technicalities with regards to embassies and their soveiregnity. But then again, this says more about the shape of the Casparian forces than about Sam.

M'lynn lifts her glass in toast to Murleen's speech as well. The bustle of the room causes her to scan over to Kei, just checking to make sure that the reunion is everything she dreamed it would be. She also scans over to the situation with the Horansi but knows that things are well in the hands of her brother and turns her attentions elsewhere in the room.

"I understand completely, sir." Dirk offers softly towards the man who has been his 'idol' for so very long... maybe it's the way Sam speaks to him, or the way it presents himself that makes Dirk laugh out loud, but whatever it is, he does so, before turning towards the pair of Horansi, his eyebrows waggling at them shortly. Finishing that, his eyes gaze about the room slowly, his smile ever present on his stylish head, before they come to rest upon his two former companions, and a smile and wave are offered. Nevertheless, he turns back to Pantek, and smiles slightly, observing the actions with cool indifference. His hands casually lift up to rest at his waist, his jacket pulling up slightly over the blaster and sword that have marked his presence the entire time here.

Falling into place near Pantek, Vincent takes a slow, casual look around the room. Most of the guests are either tied up with Murleen's speech, or too busy mingling amongst themselves to pay much attention to what's going on here. His hand drops to his side, Llo having departed his side. Watching Dirk closely, his eyes narrow and scan the room with a little more urgency.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Give a little flirty smile at that dashing officer near you so he looks away, embarrased. Move a step away from Vincent and blow a kiss at someone behind Pantek.

A thousand things are going on in the room all at once. Enough to thoroughly confused any frightened child, but especially one of feline ancestry. Imperial bureaucrats are making their own personal speeches and commendations. The Stormtroopers are shoving at the cub and his mother. Some seriously underdressed human is speaking in a language the cub doesn't seem to understand, only to be chastised by Pantek and glared at by others. Dirk is chided, as well, before the man turns and looks at the two Gorvans. . .

. . . and then everything seems to explode at once. Chaos. If all this is enough to drive a Horansi to insanity, it must surely seem now as if the younger one has snapped. A high, keening, Horansi whine rises in pitch to an inhuman yell as the youngster suddenly and inexplicably throws himself at the nearest Stormtrooper -- one that has looked less than alert this entire time.

And then, a blaster appears. A Kylan-3 heavy pistol abruptly comes into view from one-knows-not-where and is jabbed roughly against the armor protecting the trooper's stomach. A bright flash, the smell of smoke and burned skin, and the thunderous sound of weaponry, and the trooper slumps -- dead. Immediately.

Wedge has disconnected.

The shrieking of her son seems to startle Mvrrr for only a thousandth of a second before she too goes absolutely wild. Rearing up to her full impressive height of nine feet, the Gorvan female opens her maw wide and releases an absolutely earsplitting roar of rage, effectively displaying that array of sharp teeth to anyone looking in her direction.

It takes the enraged Horansi an amazingly short amount of time to decide on her target... the one who has been in the spotlight. This must be all HIS fault. And then all of a sudden all heck breaks loose as she flies into action.

*THUMP* -- One of the Stormtroopers is sent hurtling through the air by a powerful roundhouse kick from Mvrrr. She whirls around and knocks two more senseless with a savage backhanded swing that connects with their helmeted heads only seconds later. Then her target is open and the huge feliniod pounces! Letting loose with another furious roar, she grabs Pantek and effortlessly lifts him bodily from the floor.

"I… I don't know, sweetie..." Kizuka murmurs to Kei, holding her head lightly against him. "I really don't.." He of course missed the little exchange a couple of moments ago.. though as Sam'viel steps forwards, he can somehow feel the bad vibes there. Now that's one face he would rather have forgotten. And is the ignorant farm boy trying to do now? But then, he sees and briefly catches Pantek's response.. that's more like it. "I think someone's bought them here as.." He hesitates to use the word "slaves", for fear of upsetting her.. "As.. a show. But I don't think Lord Pantek likes that.." He adds, his blue eyes gazing upon the developing scene with the cats. He himself never got to know any Horansi, and the one time he met one, he was very young, and had to be stopped from offering it pieces of fish over and over again... He only got away with that by virtue of being very small and cute at the time. Stroking Kei's head, he is bought back to the present, and sighs. "Just try not to think about it.." He adds gently. "I'm sure Lord Pantek knows what to do." As Murleen presents the toast to his superior, the young man reaches out a trembling arm to take another glass of the champagne, and, after wiping away the last vestiges of his tears, echoes the toast.. with heartfelt emotion in his words. For it was Pantek who got him where he was at his peak.. before the illness struck.. "To Lord Pantek.." The young man echoes, before turning his attention back to Kei, and offering her his wine glass.. "Do you want to drink his health too? I'll let you have a VERY little sip of this if you do..." he pauses, and adds.. "It was he who let us be together, remember...?" But then all hell seems to break loose. "Kei... behind me!" The sick man yells, weakly pushing the girl behind his body, while his free hand draws a large, shiny and charged IR-5 blaster pistol.. As the sound of the first shot echoes around the room, his own pistol is lifted, trying to get a clear line of fire to the cats. "Kei... HIDE!" He demands of her, pushing her towards the table now, clearly telling her to get under it. Struggling with his cane, he limps as fast as he can towards cover, moving closer to the felinoids, blaster's power pack whirring. Kill an imperial? In HIS Embassy? I don't think SO! The man curses he doesn't have his full agility back.. but at least his blaster hand is still steady.. Sliding off the safety catch, he mutters a prayer to whosoever might be listening, listening to the whine of the power pack as it prepares to unleash it's stream of superheated energy to his target. A clear shot.. that's all he needs.. and as the female grabs at Pantek, he gets what is needed.. His reactions are sharp, even if his body may be weak. With a piercing crack the pistol spits a thin jet of light at the beast. "DROP HIM!" The phantom-man screams across the room, still limping closer.

"I am perfectly aware, and neither am I aggravated." Is Sam's answer to this, delivered with a small smile. "But, they came across Caspian soil, to offer you two slaves, as a present." He tilts his head a little, "I am not certain of the agreement between Caspar and the Empire, Lord Pantek, but I remember that when one of the staff here was killed outside the embassy, on Caspian soil, a few Imperials were involved in investigations into the actions, as well as Caspian Forces." He pauses. "Due to the fact, that Imperial laws were broken--"

He blinks, taking a few seconds to react to the Horansi's actions. "Crap," is the first word that comes to mind. He, of course, gets out of the way. He isn't suicidal, after all... Well, not when he only has a Vibro-Knife. He looks about himself, quickly, and just shrugs helplessly. And, all he can do is watch, as Pantek is lifted off the floor, and he suddenly finds himself thinking something quite unfriendly. He really doesn't care. If he could do something, he would. But he can't, and so he just stays where he is.

When Pantek hears Murleen's voice on the podest he turns his head to listen to his words, when he suddenly hears the typical sound of a blaster bolt. He whirls around at once, his right hand already reaching inside his uniform for the hidden blaster, when he feels himself being raised off the floor. Caught by total surprise and with great force he drops his blaster and for a moment hangs helplessly almost a meter off the floor. Then he reaction begin to come back as he tries to bring the huge fingers apart that are holding him in this most unusual position. However his success is minimal.

If things aren't crazy enough, they may just get crazier. As the whole situation breaks down into complete tohu-bohu, red shots of hot laser fire streak across the room. Surprisingly, they are the trademark thickness and length of BlasTech E-11s -- the weapons known throughout the galaxy for being used by Imperial Stormtroopers. In fact, it's the troopers that are firing, but not all of them are aiming for the Horansi. Fully a half dozen of the white-armored guards turn their weapons outward as if forming a hedge around Pantek and the Gorvans while one of them aims and fires a deadly lance that explodes against the marble column behind which Kizuka has hidden.

Murleen, taken by surprise, has his back to the commotion. His head snaps round to face the sound of the blaster shot. For him, time slows. He freezes, his conscious mind hitting a block. However, some other part of his brain acts quicker, reflexively. He sees Pantek grabbed and lofted. He sees Kizuka's mad dash. He see the off-guard Stormtroopers belatedly bringing their weapons to bear. He shouts "BLASTER! Everybody GET DOWN!". He turns for Adlerson and yells "Morlok! The girl!" pointing for Kei, closer to Adlerson than himself. He then dives for M'lynn, in an attempt to protect her.

Adlerson sends the father/daughter reunion one last look, making sure that everything is indeed alright. His protector instinct is indeed very strong. Turning to join the Director then, he freezes as he hears the sound of the blaster bolt. It takes a moment or two to react, his reflexes aren't what they once where, but then he moves, his grip around his wife's waist strong as he pulls her away from the action, placing himself between her and the fighting. He's not satisfied yet though, and turns a table over rather abruptly, glass and snacks spilling all over the floor, adding to the noise already prevailing in the room. He pushes M'lynn behind it then, turning to see what more can be done.

Ambassador Dises ducks quickly, almost dropping his wine glass though sitting it on the floor only to get spillt by someone in panic nearby. He speaks into a commlink in his collar quickly, and gasps slightly as the entire room seems to rip into commotion. He appears to remain calm, and steady though. He says it seems without thinking to Murleen, "Sir! Get down!" He himself remains low, moving under a nearby table.

M'lynn's eyes take in the confusion, in spite of being lifted off of the ground by her husband, she makes herself useful once replaced and sets about helping him turn the table. Her eyes desperately seek out Kei and hearing Murleen's outburst, she reaches for the child in unison with her husband eagerly trying to pull her to what minimal safety they can provide.

"Stage two!" Screams the man known as Dirk to those he talked to today, and he himself whips out a Kylan, firing off several shots at a few of the normal Stormtroopers, instantly running low towards his own people. Several other Kylans pop out amongst the crowd, most of which seems to be ducking down instinctively from the fire, whilst others pull their own weapons. However, in this case, most of the Kylan-carriers seem to be targeting the Stormtroopers which guard the room, some of the Kylan-ers getting taken down too, as their bodies slump to the ground after a short sizzle of blaster fire. Hopefully, just hopefully, everything will turn out, Dirk thinks to himself... a blaster bolt sizzling past him, singing at his clothing softly. "Too close for comfort!" the man mutters, growling softly.

Llo_Benii screams like a spoilt little rich girl thrown in a bear pit and throws herself on the ground. But that's where Llo Benii ends and Llo Ben takes over! One hand zips to her leg and pulls a Kylan-3 from a leg holster. Keeping it near her body she too runs towards the rest of the "Kylens" and hides behind the rubble blown off a column to pick off stormtroopers.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!" Watching as a burst of laserfire hurtles directly toward Mvrrr, the male Gorvan shrieks with rage that seems impossible from what only minutes before was a sniveling, scared baby. He brings his Kylan-3 about and fires off a series of angry shots in Kizuka's direction, all of which miss, drawn astray by the Horansi's wild ire.

Meanwhile, the protective corral of Stormtroopers closes in around the Horansi and their captive, and outside, something else begins to happen. The air vibrates with the heavy roar of high powered ion engines -- a star craft is approaching. It could only have arrived after getting permission to descend from CDU Space Control, but it obviously took a detour and never made it to Union Starport. Dust stirs from the street as the repulsors of an immense Lambda-class shuttle sandblasts the permacrete pavement.

To Kei, the whole world suddenly seems to turn into a black void filled with bright-colored streaks, screaming, and unearthly noises fit to terrify. Her head seems to spin, and though she hears her father’s order to get down under the table, it makes no register in her mind, and she merely trips and falls to the ground from the force with which he has pushed her. Seconds later, she feels the hand of M'lynn clasp about her arm, and makes no resistance. But suddenly, something seems to click in her mind. A strange, unexplainable, inner intelligence seems to kick in, bursting in upon her consciousness like a summer breeze bursting into a land cloaked in winter. Her eyes shut tightly in a desperate attempt to shut out the horrible scene of carnage and, at the same time, aide her racing brain. For a few seconds, she sits completely still, refusing to be moved, as deep in thought as humanly possible. At last, her eyes snap open. Without a moment's further delay, she wildly rips her arm from M'lynn's grasp, and makes for the nearest table as her father previously instructed. Once there, she crouches down into a tiny black ball and clasps her hands tightly over her bowed neck in accordance to some suddenly-remembered technique drawn out from the dusty back areas of her thought.

Deep green eyes flick toward the source of the first shot fired in this fiasco and realizes that it is coming toward her with unexpectedly good aim. She cannot dodge out of the way as effectively while holding Pantek aloft, but she does her best. Despite her agile body and quick reflexes, she's not fast enough and a deafening shriek is heard as the blaster bolt strikes her in the upper arm. For whatever reason, the Horansi did not make use of the obvious Human shield held in her paws. It almost looks like she intentionally kept him from taking any of the fire as she turns her body away and staggers slightly from the shock and pain of being hit.

Pain is reflected in her eyes as she snarls in Pantek's face, still holding him well off of the floor. Somehow, though, her claws remain sheathed and she does not actually make any move to harm him. As the rumbling sound grows louder outside, the bleeding Horansi wheels around and starts shoving her way through the chaos toward the exit with Pantek tucked securely under her good arm.

A few quick words are exchanged between Adlerson and his wife, before the course of action is decided upon. He grabs dives from their cover to the table where Kei is curled up, quickly grabbing her and sweeping her up in his arms. As planned, his wife keeps a lookup and is by his side all the time. A last quick glance to check the state of the chaos before he runs for the nearest exit, sending his wife first, using his back to cover the child in his arms

As the firing builds up, blasts singing against his hiding place, Kizuka screams in rage.. "TREACHERY!!!" The ambassador thunders, leaning out of his cover to fire off a searing volley of energy at the traitor Stormtroopers.. For he can tell that there is little his pistol can do to slay one of the huge cat things.. Ducking back into cover briefly, he glances back to check upon his daughter.. "KEI! STAY DOWN!" He yells back to her, before clumsily moving himself across to the next closer piece of cover.. snapping off covering shots with each step, his blaster running hot in his hand.. He curses his weapon.. it may be accurate, but right now he wishes he had his EKX-10 rifle on him more than ever before... The young Horansi's shots sear the air around him, as he screams in shock.. chips of marble spring from the ground as explosions sound around him. Seeing their intention to leave, and feeling the ship's vibration, a volley of shots is snapped off at some of the "main players".. the man who seems behind this whole thing.. his female accomplice.. The young man seems to be verging on the edge of insanity from simple righteous indignation.. Pain from his overexerted body blasts into him as he draws another shot against the man.. it's his fault.. Aligning the sights on Dirk with a gaze of pure, cold smoldering fury, the man hisses out "Die, scum.." as he squeezes the trigger.. The pistol jolts once more, spitting red death at him.