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The role of a politician brought many exciting moments but also plenty of tedious ones.

Friedrich Van Holling reflected that this was a rare mixture of both as he waited in the visitor lobby of the Zwagg Island Plant. The name was a mouthful, but Friedrich had become accustomed to saying it during town hall meetings and debates in the Congress. He had flown to Oregon to visit the power plant since the people behind it hoped to construct another within his district and referred to it as the Humboldt Nuclear Scheme. It was an issue that had been hanging over his Congressional district for some time now. Questions had been raised about it at countless public town hall meetings and Friedrich's office had been deluged with concerned phone calls, emails and letters urging him to put to a stop to the idea. Friedrich had emphasised his opposition to the project but the company behind it had found new ways to submit planning applications after each veto.

Congress was mostly in favour of it and some local residents had said it would bring more employment to the area. Friedrich found himself wincing from the stage at a church hall meeting in his hometown of San Amador which had almost erupted into a fight. A Bear declared himself in favour of the project which led to plenty of muttering from the audience. "We have to accept this is the future," the Bear claimed. "The older plant upstate in Sulston is closing and that provides us with most of our power, and that was a dirty old fashioned style plant that was not good for the environment." "But do we want a nuclear plant in our backyard?" a female Husky piped up. "Plus, it's fine while it's operational but what do we do once it's decommissioned, it won't be very environmentally friendly then, and how can they guarantee it's safe?" "It's perfectly safe," the Bear scoffed. "And think of the jobs it'll bring." "Well, I'm not so sure about the employment point," a grey Wolf said, scratching his muzzle. "If it's jobs they want to create they'd be better building it near the old plant upstate. San Amador, Alvarado, Kennington and Bakerstown already have high levels of employment. Towns outside Van Holling's district and further upstate like Sulston and Fort Ellis have lower levels, wouldn't it make sense to build it there?" "Yeah, plus I heard this is going to be a new type of reactor they are testing out. Why do they have to use us as test subjects, and how can they assure us it's safe?" the Husky added. "Of course it's safe!" the Bear cut in. "Good grief, all this hysteria is silly." "Don't talk to my wife like that!" a male Husky growled. "Ladies and Gentlemen!" Friedrich announced in a booming voice. Everyone in the audience fell silent and turned to face him. "That concludes our meeting for now, but I shall end on saying this; most of you know that I am opposed to this project, but I also want to take into account the perspectives of those in favour of it. Indeed, this plant will be an experimental type. I am going to the existing sister plant in Oregon which has the same design to reconnoitre and talk to the CEO of the energy company operating it. As your representative, I will note down all of your concerns, whether they are for or against the plant, and present them to the CEO to see what he has to say. However, I will state this firmly; I am proud to represent this district as not only do I call it home, I know it is made up of neighbourly, patriotic, dutiful and respectful towns and communities. That is an image we project to the rest of this state. I know many of you who have attended tonight's meeting by name and I know for a fact you are good and kind people. This is an emotional topic and one that worries a lot of us, including myself, but do not let it spoil what common ground we have. Whatever the outcome, we are still neighbours who chat to each other in the grocery store, over the garden fence, hang out on the beach together, and sing woeful Bonnie Tyler covers in bars, yes I've witnessed your singing Eric when I've gone out for drinks," Friedrich added with a wink to a Border Collie seated in the front row. The audience laughed and visibly relaxed. Friedrich knew from his military days that humour was a good way of relaxing people after a tense situation, and he felt relieved that the tactic had worked. "I will fly to Oregon tomorrow, meet with the CEO and make an announcement regarding the outcome of our talk. With that, I declare this meeting closed. I hope you all have a wonderful evening and a safe drive home." Friedrich climbed down from the stage as the audience stood to leave and walked to his assistant Emily. "You diffused that swiftly," the Vixen remarked with a grin. "It had to done," Friedrich replied. "Let's head home." Emily had driven Friedrich back to his house where his daughter Melanie and mate Diego had been waiting.

Friedrich smiled as he began to recount watching a movie with Diego after Melanie had gone to bed, but his thoughts were interrupted as he heard the sound of footsteps and he looked up to see a Lioness in a pinstripe jacket walking towards him. Friedrich stood as the Lioness extended a paw. "Good morning Mr Van Holling, I'm Amy Schultz, Mr Attikar's personal assistant," the Lioness explained. Friedrich shook her paw before following the Lioness across the lobby. "Mr Attikar said to pass on his apologies for the delay, he has been in a meeting but he's able to see you now," she explained. The lobby itself was housed in a building on the edge of the site. It was an ultra-modern but faceless area with abstract paintings on the walls, white furniture and a faux-marble floor, but as Friedrich followed Amy down a corridor they passed a set of floor to ceiling windows. He glanced out and saw the plant itself; four identical white rectangular buildings with three tall cooling towers standing beside them. The structures looked innocent enough, but in his mind Friedrich struggled to see how they would fit in the natural landscape surrounding San Amador. "This way please Mr Van Holling," Amy said, gesturing to a set of elevator doors. "Mr Attikar is waiting for you in his office upstairs." The Lioness pressed a button and the elevator doors slid open. Friedrich stepped inside and the doors slid shut, leaving him on his own.

The interior of the elevator was lined with mirrored glass and Friedrich glanced at his reflection. He was a thirty four year old tall black and tan Alsatian who had the looks of a movie star and not a typical politician. He was dressed in a dark blue suit which fitted against his muscular build without being too restrictive. He had combined it with a crisp white shirt and black silk tie. If you want to mean business then you have to look sharp he had explained to his mate Diego before the car had taken him to the airport. However, Friedrich's sense of foreboding grew as the elevator carried him upwards. If this was a spy thriller the floor of the elevator would open and I'd fall through it, he thought before pushing the idea away. Now was not the time to entertain silly thoughts. The elevator doors opened and Friedrich stepped out.

The doors opened directly into an office which didn't dispel the feeling of being in a spy thriller. The office was futuristic yet somehow as faceless as the lobby area; more abstract art on the walls, modern furniture and (strangely) a sculpture of what looked like a Caracal standing in the middle of the room. It was cut from grey marble and stared right at Friedrich as if warning him to stay off its territory. Friedrich found himself rolling his eyes. It was just a statue, and a very pretentious one at that, nothing to be concerned about. There were more floor to ceiling windows at the far end of the room giving a view over the plant while a wooden desk sat in front of them. A door at the side of the room opened and a short brown Caracal stepped out. He was dressed in a dark suit with a crimson tie. "Ah, Mr Van Holling, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," the Caracal said in a smooth but clipped voice. He grinned before extending a paw. "I'm George Attikar, the CEO of Equinox Energy." "Likewise, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person having liaised via emails with your staff," Friedrich replied. He glanced back at the statue and realised it must have been modelled on Attikar himself. "Please, take a seat," Attikar said, gesturing to a brown leather chair facing his desk. Friedrich sat down and found the chair wasn't comfortable despite its stylish appearance. Attikar sat behind his desk and looked Friedrich up and down. "Would you like something to drink, water, coffee?" "No thank you, your assistant asked me already when I arrived," Friedrich replied. "So, I have heard the people within your district have concerns about the proposed Humboldt scheme?" Attikar asked. His tone seemed friendly enough, but Friedrich's stint in the military had heightened his senses to analyse small details. He could tell Attikar's eyes were searching for any kind of weakness or a way to gain leverage over him. "Yes," Friedrich replied. "We have collective concerns over the environmental impact and that this is a brand new type of reactor. The people I represent don't wish to be used as test subjects for it." "Oh, this is certainly not using people within your district as test subjects," Attikar replied, mustering an innocent tone. "This is about providing the best and most reliable source of energy we can to the public, and one that is safe for the environment. We chose the area near San Amador as the surrounding factors are perfect; access to water, space to build, but also the old oil fired plant up near Sulston is closing. I would build on that site but that plant will take some time to decommission and demolish." Friedrich wasn't convinced that the Sulston plant would take some time to decommission, but he allowed the Caracal to continue. "I am happy to meet with residents in San Amador and listen to what they have to say first hand," Attikar said.

Friedrich sat in silence for a moment as he mulled over Attikar's words. "That's very thoughtful, although I have come with a list of concerns they have raised with me," he replied. Friedrich reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. It contained a list of issues raised by the public at town hall meetings that Emily had typed out. He placed it on Attikar's desk and slid it over. "The few cases from the public I have heard in favour of the plant are that it'll bring jobs," Friedrich explained. "But the vast majority are against. As I say it's the concerns over the environment, spoiling the landscape nearby, that it's a new kind of reactor, building it close to a populated area, the impact it'll have on the tourist industry which is important for the local economy and the fact that San Amador already has a high level of employment. You can read the concerns there." Attikar took the sheet of paper and appeared to study it. "I can certainly come to San Amador and lay these concerns to rest," he responded carefully. Friedrich decided it was time to cut to the chase. "The bottom line is that after consulting as many as I could in my district, we don't want the plant built there," he said firmly. "I am a representative of the people, and I do all I can to heed their concerns." The smile on Attikar's muzzle shrank and his eyes narrowed, but the Caracal quickly regained his composure. "Well, hopefully you'll come around to the idea once you've seen how the plant operates," Attikar said, trying to maintain his smile while staring right into Friedrich's eyes. "Perhaps," Friedrich replied, returning the stare. "It'd be very kind of you to show me around the place," he added.

There was a moment of silence but Attikar eventually nodded and gestured for Friedrich to follow him. They walked back to the elevator and rode it down to the lobby. "For security reasons I don't take people into the plant itself without a few days of security clearance before they arrive, but as you're a political representative I will make an exception," Attikar explained. "And crucially I'm the representative of the district that the Humboldt Nuclear Scheme could be built on," Friedrich added. Attikar smiled in response but his eyes remained narrow. The elevator doors opened to reveal Amy waiting outside. "I'm going to take Mr Van Holling up to the plant," the Caracal explained. "Call to let them know I'm on my way." "Yes, Mr Attikar," Amy replied before walking off. Friedrich followed Attikar across the lobby and out of the main entrance. A car was already waiting for them outside; a black Jeep with the Equinox Energy Corporation logo on the side. A brown Hound driver stepped out to open the door and Friedrich slid into the leather interior. "Thank you," Friedrich said as he settled into his seat. The Hound fixed Friedrich a curt nod before climbing into the driver's seat.

Friedrich glanced out of the window as they set off towards the plant. The rectangular buildings loomed up as they drove closer. The Hound stopped outside the closest building in front of the entrance. Friedrich climbed out and glanced at the doors leading inside; heavy duty and constructed from steel. There were two Rottweilers dressed in security uniforms standing either side of the door. Attikar flashed his security pass and one of the Rottweilers punched a code into a pad mounted on the wall. The doors swung open and Attikar led Friedrich inside. Friedrich had never been inside a nuclear power plant before but his mind conjured up images of men in hazmat suits, dials and buttons. However, the doors led into brightly lit area with white painted walls and bright lights on the ceiling that caused Friedrich to shield his eyes. One stereotypical sight was a Terrier in glasses and a white laboratory coat with pens poking from the top pocket. "I'm going to leave the talking to Dr Reed here," Attikar explained as the Terrier walked over. "He is one of the chief safety scientists here at Zwagg Island. He is a recent recruit as unfortunately my old safety scientist Dr Hirani passed away very suddenly a few days ago." "I'm sorry to hear that, my condolences," Friedrich replied. "Indeed, he was a brilliant young man who helped to develop the new type of reactor we have here," Attikar said. "Dr Reed, this is Representative Friedrich Van Holling." Friedrich shook paws with Dr Reed. "Unfortunately I can't show you into the reactor itself. Only staff with clearance can get that far, but there's still some pretty awesome stuff I can show you around here," Dr Reed explained, wagging his tail. "I'll take your word for it," Friedrich replied in a diplomatic tone, although he was already getting the sense that the tour wasn't going to ease any concerns he felt.

Friedrich walked with Dr Reed to what looked like an airport metal detector with Attikar following closely behind. A Calico in another white coat appeared with a device that Friedrich recognised as a Geiger counter. "This is a necessary precaution everyone does when they enter and exit the plant," Dr Reed explained. "It's to make sure a canine or feline isn't carrying as much radiation around as they normally would, which could suggest we have a leak." "If you mind taking your shoes off sir?" the Calico asked. Friedrich obliged and removed his brown brogues before he stepped through the device. The Calico then waved the Geiger counter over Friedrich which remained quiet. Friedrich slipped his shoes back on and followed Dr Reed to an elevator with Attikar walking behind. Friedrich could feel the Caracal's eyes boring into the back of his head.

The elevator led up to the control room which did have the appearance that Friedrich had been expecting. He glanced at all the screens, dials and switches that covered one wall as they stepped out of the elevator. "This is actually a design that will soon go out of date," Dr Reed explained, gesturing at the control panel. "The new one uh, if it gets built will be more automated and remove the risk of someone causing an error by pressing the wrong button." "I see," Friedrich replied, watching as individuals of various species monitored the control panel. Dr Reed then showed Friedrich another control station and the turbine hall through a glass observation deck. The Terrier gamely explained what everything was, but Friedrich didn't feel any more reassured than he had been when he had first arrived. He was also aware of Attikar following him closely as they walked around. "Thank you for the tour Dr Reed," Friedrich said as they reached the entrance room and the Calico approached with the Geiger counter. She gestured for Friedrich to take his shoes off and pass through the scanner before waving the Geiger counter over him. It remained relatively quiet. "Good, you are free to go," the Calico said. Friedrich retrieved his shoes and followed Attikar back outside.

The pair remained silent as they climbed into the waiting Jeep which drove them up to the visitor building. Friedrich was mulling over everything he had seen in the plant, which as he looked back on it wasn't very much and not very in-depth, but he could also sense Attikar was still weighing him up in his mind. "Thank you for showing me the plant," Friedrich said as they reached the visitor building. "I hope it taught you some more about how it operates?" the Caracal replied. Friedrich climbed out of the car as he thought of a diplomatic answer to give. "It was certainly interesting," he settled on. "But my thoughts on the issue remain the same, and I must honour the concerns of those living in my district." "Very well," Attikar smiled, although his eyes remained narrow. "I'll have Amy arrange for a car to take you to the airport." Friedrich was about to answer but Attikar was already making his way back inside. Friedrich followed the Caracal through the door and found Amy already on the phone arranging a car. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to bid you farewell," Attikar said. "I hope you have a safe journey back." "Thank you for your time Mr Attikar," Friedrich replied. The Caracal fixed him a curt nod before walking off to the elevator. Friedrich settled into a chair and waited for the car to show up.

Five minutes later a grey Mercedes pulled up outside the building. Friedrich made his way outside and climbed into the back. He glanced out of the window he saw the Hound driver from earlier standing by the entrance to the visitor building and talking on his cell phone as the Mercedes pulled away. The Hound seemed to glance directly at Friedrich before disappearing inside the visitor building which made Friedrich feel a little unnerved, although he couldn't put his paw on exactly why. He felt glad when the car reached the perimeter fence which was topped with razor wire before passing through the security gate. The road followed a causeway which led to the mainland and Friedrich glanced out of the window at the setting sun. He loosened his tie and thought about Diego and Melanie. Friedrich lamented the fact that his daughter would probably be in bed by the time he arrived home, although Diego had a habit of letting her stay up late. He knew by rights he should tell Diego that was not something to encourage, but he found it hard to feel any sense of annoyance towards the Wolfdog. If Melanie was in bed he could spend some quality, intimate time with his mate. Friedrich pictured Diego's naked and toned physique and longed to be holding the Wolfdog close to him. The thought of his mate with no clothes on was causing Friedrich's cock to stiffen a little, so he distracted himself by glancing out of the window.

The car was taking him along a road following the bank of the Columbia River. The setting sun reflected on the water and the red light shimmered on the surface. The sky itself was turning from a shade of royal blue to black. The stars were soon out, but clouds rolled over and suddenly the road was dark. There were no street lamps on this particular patch. Friedrich knew the stretch of the road passing the Columbia River was a pretty spot, but the darkness obscuring everything made him all the more eager to get home. He glanced at the driver; a Cougar who had his eyes fixed straight ahead on the dark road, and again began to entertain the image of his mate in his mind's eye. Friedrich pictured Diego laying on the bed, naked. No wait, the Wolfdog was clad in a pair of tight fitting underwear (Friedrich knew his boyfriend had a habit of borrowing his briefs). Sliding a pair of sexy underwear off his mate was like unwrapping a Christmas gift. Friedrich shifted his leg, feeling conscious of the growing bulge on his suit trousers, but he continued to play out the fantasy of Diego on the bed. Hey babe, what took you so long? Sorry stud, you know what these meetings can be like. They're especially frustrating when they don't lead anywhere. Well, I've been waiting for this moment all day. Heh, that's a nice bulge in your undies stud, or should I say my undies. Why don't I give you a paw to help with that? Crash! Friedrich sat up. He was sure he had heard something crashing behind their car and he glanced out of the back window. The red tail lights of the Mercedes lit up the road, but he couldn't see anything. "Did you hear that?" he asked the driver. "What is it sir?" the Cougar replied. "I thought I heard something crashing behind us," Friedrich explained, wondering if he should ask the driver to turn around. "It could be rocks falling into the river, that happens from time to time," the Cougar shrugged. Friedrich wasn't convinced it was rocks. He had never seen of heard of such a thing happening on these roads. Nonetheless, he settled back into his seat and allowed the Cougar to keep driving.

He couldn't wait to get home and prayed it would be a safe journey.