Two of the security guards straightened the bright yellow national flag on the wall behind the Chairperson's seat. It had a crossed question mark and exclamation point in the center, and an ampersand above both, all in bright red.
The housekeepers worked their way around the sleeping Yukari Tanizaki, Commissar of Foreign Affairs. Her head and arms were on the table, her face passive in deep slumber. From bitter experience, the staff knew better than to disturb her when snoozing. The head of the Politburo's Silly Faction was a volcano of wrath when jolted awake.
A few minutes later, Koyomi "Yomi" Mizuhara arrived with her armed bodyguard escort. The Commissar of Intelligence and Security had a briefcase chained to her wrist, holstered pistol on her hip. She took no chances when carrying top secret information to the weekly meetings. Dressed in a green ensemble with bright red leather belt and boots, she drew appreciating looks from the male waiters. Grinning, she tossed her long hair back.
A sharp "Oops!" caught her ear outside the main doors, followed by a stumbling sound. She snapped her head around, as did her escorts.
"Are you all right, madame?" said one of the guards.
"Yes, yes, I'm okay," replied Kaorin, Commissar of Sciences. "Just tripped over the rug, that's all." She entered the room, her blue business suit scuffed up at the knees. "I'll never get used to high heels," she murmured, brushing her skirt.
"You should wear boots, like I do," said Yomi, patting one of her long legs. "Besides it's wintertime. You'll freeze your feet."
"I can't find any my size," she said, slumping her shoulders. "You know why."
"Used up your yearly shoe ration, huh?"
"Face it, Yomi. No woman can resist a good pair of Pradas on sale. Even me." She whined to herself as she trudged toward her chair. Yomi shook her head in pity, took her place at the table.
A minute later Marshall Kagura entered along with her escorts. The Commissar of the Armed Forces wiped the sweat from her brow after her usual daily exercise routine. Her military uniform looked slept in, as if she forgot to iron her jacket and skirt.
"Morning, Kagura," said Yomi, unlocking her handcuffs. "What's with the wrinkled outfit?"
"My steam-iron broke down again," she grumbled. "Left a bad burn mark on one of my shirt collars. Not to mention I was three seconds slower than normal on my daily three kilometer run - AGAIN!" The last word she barked, banging the table for emphasis.
Yukari snorted a snore, followed by a grumble.
The room went dead silent. No one moved a muscle.
Half a minute later, Yukari returned to her low murmuring of a snooze.
The room released their breath, as the waitstaff finished their tasks.
"Sorry," Kagura whispered, grimacing. "Almost blew it there." Kaorin dug out a handkerchief, dabbed her forehead with it.
"Still trying to be last year's record time?"
"I know I can do it, Yomi, I know I can." She looked down at Yomi's boots, pointed a finger. "Thigh-highs again?"
"Commissarship does have its privileges," she said smirking. "Just breaking them in today. Come the wedding night, when my Pyotr sees them with the rest of the ensemble, he'll have the shock of his life." She chuckled at this.
"Oh yeah," Kagura said, taking off her coat. "When is the wedding date again?"
"Mid June. I'll send the RSVPs after New Year's."
"Excellent." She bent down to Yomi's ear. "Just don't let Tomo find out about it. She'll never let you hear the end of it if she does."
"Knowing this place, she already found out." She jabbed a thumb in Yukari's direction. "If you get my drift." Kagura nodded. "But if she goes too far, I'll have to reintroduce her to my left uppercut. They're on - ahem - quite familiar terms with each other." She raised an eyebrow. "Again, if you get my drift."
The Marshall smiled, glanced at Kaorin's seat. She spied her shivering scalp peeking above the table. "You can stop hiding, Kaorin. She wasn't referring to you."
"Are-are you s-s-sure?" she stuttered. "I don't want to be s-s-sent to the g-g-gulag for m-m-making fun of her boots."
"Jailed over a pair of boots?" She shook her head. "We're not THAT bad. Contrary to popular belief, your name isn't Tomo Takino. You're the opposite of her, you know."
Kaorin popped up her head. "S-s-sorry about that. I j-j-just don't like getting into office politics and stuff. It's just so - so - dangerous."
"Get yourself some herbal tea," said Yomi, unlocking her valise. "Peppermint to calm you down."