Upon the grace of the offered hospitality, Karl was struck out of his odd, fleeting awkwardness and instead made his way into what was a room filled with some of the most monumental shapers of imperial culture and life -especially in the last two years. In fact, it quickly dawned upon him that these gathered architects were exactly the kind of people who could instantaneously erase him from existence. On the other hand, they could also propel him so highly from his station that he might wonder if he had not been fired from a missile silo with so much depleted uranium strapped unto his rear. Such considerations, so vast in scope, might crumble a more silly or ambitious man, but instead of a lofty bloom of pride or some crippling form of fear at the potential prospects, Karl instead tasted the bittersweet tinge of metamorphosis. This he could perceive like some foreign spice, and he calmly attuned to his reality much like a veteran officer does, or at least should do.
As a military man, he knew the clear difference between overcompensating with bows, salutes, and “sir this” and a few “mi’lady thats” or quipping with jests -or overspeaking out of turn. He quietly nodded to Governor Lowe and Minister Calgar. They needed no introduction and Karl was of the opinion both servants of the civilian government looked remarkable. Not apt to risk further scrutiny when the variables were so massive he complied with the request made by the Grand Moff: helping himself to tea, adding a touch of sugar, and completing his plate with a few assorted biscuits before taking a seat. All the while he found himself glancing at the other members of the party, deciding it would be completely pointless to try and emulate them.
He might also say it would have been an utterly worthless endeavor to not notice effortless posture of the Grand Moff, but nevertheless he made a valiant fight of keeping his eyes either glued to his cup or to hairline level.
"Do you know why I've asked you both here?" Asked she, seemingly content to do so and quite pleased with waiting for answers.
This told Karl that Governor Lowe wasn’t part of this show -a relief in a sense, for someone else was also being pulled into a surprise. He searched the blonde for some hint of solidarity, or perhaps even a cue to assist him into reaching the right headspace for a response -instead he noticed a certain shine in her eyes. It was barely perceptible, but he could see the extra moisture nonetheless. What he could do with this information didn’t help resolve the issue of responding perfectly to the question but he filed it away for later. Lowe was a politician regardless, so swimming in these kind of seas would probably prove easy for someone with her kind of career.
“We were summoned here regarding an interview, and considering the time year it could possibly be on about the New Years Honors list. Or that could have only been the word passed around.” He only remarked as such since that was the gossip he overheard from the last few weeks. This, however, didn’t feel like such a meeting. Not with Minister Calgar present. No. This was something else. Something which nagged at the pit of his stomach, poking at that sixth sense fighters tended to develop. The important difference was his training which enabled this sensation to be used to provide a grander allotment of vitality - a trait shared by any seasoned campaigner part of the FIST. New orders were coming. Despite the growing excitement Karl came across as measured in tone when he spoke: throaty and warm in timber. “I feel we are going to receive a new directive; though I haven’t the first clue on what it could be.” Of course, after months in a recovery period with the rest of his unit that could only be wish fulfillment talking.
