Uhlans on the Acropolis

[TheShammySocialist]

With Poland facing national elections that would determine the face of the new country, and a myriad of other challenges as the government formed, it went without saying that Lech Sikorski was putting his faith in his other councilors. As the First Councilor, and the de facto Head of State at the moment, he would find himself in the position to respond to the Athenian call for a diplomat. As such, with the Athenian request for a meeting tendered following right after his speech in Warsaw, the next morning would find him at the airport, boarding a medium-sized transport for the relatively short flight south to Athens.

 

A flight plan would be established shortly before takeoff, and the relatively small prop job would leave Warsaw for the Athenian Capital, with Polish government markings hastily having been added the night before. The middle-aged Pole would look out over the flat plains, with sprawling towns and cities as they flew south across the Central Polish Plain, and would smile wistfully, before settling into his seat for a nap while the drone of the engines would simply drown out everything else.

[Centurius]

The plane would be escorted by fighters of the Hellenic Air Force as it made its approach to Athens AFB where the usual honours for a foreign dignitary were already waiting. As it landed the First Councillor would be welcomed by a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being escorted to the Imperial Palace under protection of the High Guard.

[TheShammySocialist]

The Polish transport would smoothly adhere to any instructions that were forwarded to it by the Athenian Government, with the pilots welcoming the fighter escorts that took up position around it as it made its approach to the Athenian capital. Upon a smooth landing, it would taxi as directed to an appointed tarmac area, where the First Councillor would disembark with a few aides. Sikorski would give a salute to any honor guard that had been appointed to oversee his landing, and exchange the usual pleasantries with the delegates that were representing the Athenian Foreign Ministry.

 

With his aides in tow, all of whom were a little warm, and more than one had a little perspiration on their brow, he would embark in the Athenian vehicles for the trip to the Imperial Palace. During the trip, the Sikorski would be relatively quiet, taking in the sights and sounds of the Athenian capital as the convoy of vehicles entered the Imperial Capital. It would be his first trip to Athens...

[Centurius]

Upon the request of the Magistrate the guests had been given the scenic drive through Athens so they could see the best the city had to offer, as the cars approached the first gate of the palace that was more of a city inside the city than a conventional palace they would start slowing down. From the first gates to the heart of the palace the drive would still take ten minutes. Once there the cars stopped and Sikorski and his aides would be escorted inside to the throne room where the Megale Autokrateira was already waiting. "Welcome to the Athenian Federation"

[TheShammySocialist]

Sikorski would be quite astounded by the edifices and magnificence that he would regard as they drove through the city, his eyes swiveling as they marveled and regarded the hearty variety of buildings and structures. The journey up to the royal palace would not prepare him, however, for the drive that would take him into the palace complex. The drive was rather slow, passing through various banks of structures and he would observe a variety of government workers scurrying about. It was the center of Athen's Imperial power, a testament to its longevity, its longstanding place in the world.

 

After disembarking from the car with his aides, Sikorski would take in the Mediterranean warmth for a moment before being allowed to be ushered into the throne room, where he would arrive before the Empress, and he would bow his head.

 

"Thank you for your invitation, Your Highness, I appreciate your hospitality thus far in welcoming me to the Federation," replied Sikorski, looking up at the Empress with a polite smile.

[Centurius]

Ariadne nodded "I hope we can ensure the same for the rest of your stay" She said before leading them to a room more fit for a meeting attached to the throne room. "Please sit, and you can ask any of the staff for drinks"

[TheShammySocialist]

"A whiskey on the rock, is just fine, if possible, please?" he would say to an aide, who seemed to be standing by waiting for them to order drinks.

 

Sikorski sat down in a chair and seemed to visibly relax in the Empress' presence, "I'm glad to be able to meeting you, Empress Ariadne, and I'm glad that Athens has taken interest in inviting me down here to meet with you as well."