A Stately Dinner at The Marble Manor

[Odinson]

After handling handling their diplomatic responsibilities, the Lieutenant Grand Master and the Grand Chancellor returned back to their residencies in Malta. The Office of The Grand Master informed the Secretary General's office that Arthur and Silas would arrive to Comino tomorrow evening for the state dinner, if that was an appropriate time and date for the Secretary General. The visit to the island was not publicized and was private.

Now that they were back in Malta, Arthur and Silas both dressed in their official uniforms, which included their ceremonial swords. Silas were more decorated than Arthur, but Arthur held more military awards and looked slightly more dapper in his uniform due to his age. The two leaders took a small yacht to Comino island. A small crew for the yacht and ten members of the Sovereign Guard - dressed for a black-tie dinner and carrying only their sidearms - accompanied them. The Sovereign Navy kept a watchful eye over the yacht and its occupants as they took the scenic route to the island. Without a hitch, the yacht docked at Comino's port. The Sovereign Guard first disembarked, followed by Arthur, and then Silas onto the dock. That night there was a full moon and a cool, Mediterranean breeze.

@Dutchy

 

[Dutchy]

Being informed of the arrival of the Maltese delegation this evening by his Chief of Staff, the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General prepared for their arrival. Security on the island would be heightened, with the officers from the Maltese contingent of volunteers expanding their security perimeters.

Standing at the end of the pier the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, both dressed in formal black suits, stood patiently as they awaiting the arrival of the Maltese delegation. Several members of the GA Police would assist with mooring and securing the yacht to the pier before standing to attention as the Grand Officers disembarked.

Both members of the Secretariat extended their hands, with the Secretary General voicing their greeting, "Grand Master, Grand Chancellor, on behalf of the Global Assembly I wish to welcome you to the GA Campus."

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@Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"Your Excellency," said Arthur as he shook the Secretary General's hand, and then moved over to the Deputy Secretary General.
"Your Excellency," Silas said, following suit.

The Sovereign Guard who accompanied the grand officers disembarked. They were now wielding black flashlights. Some of them recognized their comrades from the Civil Guard, and offered a slight nod of the head or hand shake.

"Thank you for inviting us," Arthur said. His face was only partially lit by the off-white lights hanging by wire above their heads. "The last time I was on this island it was nothing more than a place for tourists to dock and enjoy a remote beach. Now... now it's quite grand," he said. Silas had sacrificed his ownership of a small condo on the island, but he decided not to mention that.

The Sovereign delegation awaited the direction of the international leaders.
"How is Malta's climate suiting you, Your Excellency? I imagine it's much warmer here than Canada," Silas noted as they - presumably - began to walk.

@Dutchy

 

[Odinson]

@Dutchy

 

[Dutchy]

The Secretary General gestured the Maltese to follow him as he turned away from the pier. "Our meeting is long overdue, I believe that it is essential we meet in order to create a solid foundation for a flourishing relationship."

As they started their walk towards 'Assembly Hall' the Secretary General turned to say, "Yes, the climate is much friendlier and I thought that due to the lovely weather tonight we could take a nice stroll to the Marble Grounds." They group proceeded along the path towards the building in which the Assembly was housed. Both the security detail provided by the Global Assembly and the Sovereign Order stayed alert as they protected the delegation.

Arriving at the Assembly Hall the Secretary General pointed towards the architecture, "I must admit I love what your Order has managed to accomplish."

 

[Odinson]

Silas noticed the lack of vehicles on the island, but decided not to ask about it. He, Arthur, and the security detail followed the Secretary General as they began their small walk. While Silas had played a much larger role in the building of the Global Assembly Campus, Arthur only saw the end of it. The results, however, were indeed quite impressive.

"Our Order may be small," Arthur said, "but we are unbelievably diverse. People from all around the world, including very fine achitects and civil engineers, stock our ranks. It will be perhaps the greatest honor of this decade that we were permitted to build the Global Assembly, and now we are also able to host it... This is quite a magnificent building."

@Dutchy