It had been some time since the council had convened, gathered in this room at least.
Yet it felt good to take this seat again - Laowai had been absentee for some time, his numerous personal distractions had prevented him from being here in person and the last round of meetings he had been involved in he had conducted from distance over long range transmission.
He took his seat, and his attendant smiled, "Welcome back Elder Laowai" he said, "Would you be having the usual?"
"Oh by Crete yes" he said, handing the man his coat and taking his seat "You do still have some left don't you?"
The man took the coat and nodded, "Yes Sir, Kusari Baijiu, we still have a few of the bottles you had shipped in".
Nodding, Laowai turned, and flicking on his desktop data pad he nodded to the assembled new faces around him who greeted him in turn. He chuckled.. he remembered his first day in this place, and the sense of overwhelming responsibility that he had felt, coupled with more than a little self doubt.
"Gentlemen" he said to the room, "we're awaiting a few more individuals, please - Help yourselves to the bar and call the attendents for anything you would like to eat, the breifing will begin shortly."
