[Sanctaria]

18 October 2020
Promethean Sea
SNS Hercules

"Captain, sir", the warrant officer cried over the wails of the storm surrounding them. "Captain, she's listing to starboard. The rocks must have torn through the rivets on her belly". The auburn-haired, soaked-to-the-skin veteran of the Sanctarian Navy nodded grimly. "Aye. We've contained the flooding but we're too exposed out there, we need to make for port. Where's closest?"

"Sir?", the warrant officer and navigation guide of the SNS Hercules could barely hear his commanding officer over the din.

"Where's the CLOSEST PORT?", the captain screamed. Though he knew the answer. The closest port that would be friendly to Sanctarian ships was likely either Laeral or Libertas Omnium Maximus. "LOM, sir", the shout from his subordinate confirmed it. He nodded in the direction of his shipmate, who diligently set the course in navigation. It'd be a long few hours in this storm before they got to Libertas Omnium Maximus.

---

01 November 2020
Department of Homeland Security
Sanctus, Sanctaria

The Director General of the Department of Homeland Security had only just had his first coffee of the morning before it was time to meet with military top brass. He hated it. They treated him like an idiot because he never served, and because he wasn't a politician elected by the people, they claimed he had no mandate to boss them around. Which was partly correct, but everyone and their mother knew the Secretary had to delegate some meetings to civil servants, and he headed the department!

"Dr. Carson", one middle-ranked soldier said, nodding in his direction as he entered the room. The flag officers all looked up to acknowledge he had entered, but soon went back to ignoring him. He cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, we need to discuss ship maintenance, I believe? The message to Secretary Stewart indicated it was urgent?"

"It is", a gruff reply from an older officer came back. An admiral, judging by the uniform, though Carson didn't recognise the name. "SNS Hercules, of the 4th Fleet, was damaged during a storm while they were on a routine navvy in the Promethean Sea. They're in port in LOM, but the damage is too severe for them to get back to us."

"Ok", Carson said. "Don't LOM have shipyards and maintenance bases?".

The admiral smirked. "Aye sir, they do", sarcasm heavy on the sir, "but we haven't vetted their personnel. We don't know enough about the people at those dockyards. We have national security considerations. We'll need to send our own people out there for repairs."

Great, Carson thought. Foreign Affairs were going to love him for sending them this problem. "How long is it going to be out of operation", he asked.

"That depends on how long it takes our maintenance and repair crews to get there. Once there, maybe 6 months, maybe longer, we need to properly survey the damage." The admiral paused. "We need a naval base out there if we're going to be keeping the 4th Fleet in those waters. It's too long at sea for the men, and we need to be able to maintain our ships."

Carson nodded. He knew the admiral was right. "I'll take this specific incident to the Secretary and I'll draft a memo for government on the need for naval bases in the area. We'll need DFA's input, though", he said, referring to the Foreign department. The admiral just grunted in reply and went back to the huddle of military officers discussing something else.

"Well", Carson said quietly to himself. "I guess we're finished then".

---

Department of Foreign Affairs

Bruton House

Sanctus

Divine Federation of Sanctaria

Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli
Huenyan Federal Legislature
Chuaztlapoc
Federation of Huenya

02 January 2022

Your Excellency, Vice-Speaker Tiachitli,

I write firstly to congratulate you on your decisive victory in the recent elections. The Divine Federation is hopeful this will continue the very good relationship that your good nation has with us, and that it will lead to further opportunities of development.

It is on further opportunities of development that is the secondary reason for this letter. The Divine Federation, as you know, has made significant investment into the enlargement of our fleets, including our Fourth Fleet which operates in and around the Promethean Sea. This investment, however, requires us to ensure proper maintenance of our fleet, and the distance between Divine Federation lands and the waters in which the Fourth Fleet, in particular, operates is creating less than satisfactory outcomes.

In order to satisfy my government's legislative and regulatory requirements in the upkeep of our fleet, the Divine Federation has been conducting reviews into locations in the Caxcanan region where a safe haven for our fleet could be established, and, whereby, the Divine Federation would be able to headquarter the Fourth Fleet to ensure satisfactory outcomes in terms of morale of our seamen, and upkeep of our ships.

The Sanctarian Department of Homeland Security has identified the port city of Ixtenco as a suitable location to establish a naval base, and as such I have been tasked with opening negotiations with your good government to realise this. Naturally, the Divine Federation of Sanctaria would not expect such a gift to come freely, and I am happy to discuss any terms your government may have in this regard.

Congratulations, again, and warm regards,

Brian Young
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Divine Federation of Sanctaria

[Xiomera]

The diplomatic message from the Sanctarian government requesting permission to establish a naval base in Ixtenco was met with (mostly) pleasure in Chuzatlapoc. It would bounce around the shiny new Laeralite-constructed buildings of the Huenyans’ center of government, which had been given the rather emotive name the Heart of Huenya.

Young’s missive first landed at the International Center, the home of Huenya’s State Department. The Secretary of State reviewed it. She then sent it to the Federal Yāōcalli, home of the Defense Department.

From there, it rapidly traveled to the West Chamber of the Federal Legislature Building, the home of Huenya’s Chamber of Executives. After a bit of debate and discussion, which centered mainly around the concerns of maintaining Huenyan sovereignty versus the concerns related to Xiomera someday rampaging back into Huenya, the message finally arrived at the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli (House of the Sun), the new residence and offices of the Vice-Speaker of Huenya.

Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli read the letter, then read the several pages’ worth of concerns, suggestions, recommendations and demands that had been added by each level of government the letter had passed through prior to reaching him. Despite being a brand-new democracy, we’re already pretty good at bureaucracy, he thought with a sigh.

After a moment, he drafted his reply.

Office of the Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation

Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli

Chuaztlapoc, Huenya MC001-001

January 3rd, 2022

Secretary Young,

Thank you for your generous congratulations and for your recent message to me in regards to the potential establishment of Sanctarian naval facilities in the city of Ixtenco. We are always pleased to hear from our Sanctarian friends, and have given your request a great deal of consideration.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Huenyan Federation was only just formed a year ago after its liberation from the Xiomeran Empire, which ruled over us for over six centuries. After such a long period of occupation, our people are a bit cautious when it comes to the establishment of a foreign military presence on Huenyan soil, which hopefully is understandable on your part. However, we do believe that Huenya and Sanctaria can work together to mutual benefit to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in Caxcana and the greater world.

As such, we would be pleased to open negotiations with you on your request. While the outright handover of territory or naval facilities is likely not something that would be acceptable to all stakeholders on our side, we would be happy to offer such territory and facilities on a long-term lease to the Divine Federation at a nominal rate. The exact terms and length of such a lease, as well as the specific facilities and land area of such a facility, are all things we can work out in further discussions if this is acceptable to your government. We would also be open to discussion of joint bases for naval and air contingents, as well as other security and trade agreements that you may have in mind.

Please be aware that any such deals would have to be approved by our Federal Legislature. However, given the benefits to both parties in further ties, I see very little chance of that being an issue.

Thank you again for your congratulations, and I look forward to hearing from your government.

Sincerely,
Tiacihitli
Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation

[Sanctaria]

The email landed in the inbox with a little *ping*. After all, though they're often called cables or even referenced as letters, these days most official diplomatic communication is done by email, with the official documents or letters as attachments. Diplomacy has moved into the 21st century, though sometimes it may not feel like it.

The private secretary to the Sanctarian Secretary for Foreign Affairs noted the email, its contents, and its attachments and filed it into a folder marked "Secretary - Today". He printed off the official letter attached to the email from the Huenyan Vice-Speaker's office, and added it to a bundle of papers he kept beside his computer. He straightened his time, took a sip of coffee, and then watched patiently as the minute and hour hand on the clock opposite him slowly went from 8:59am to 9:00am. And, pardon the pun, like clockwork, Brian Young, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, waltzed into his offices anteroom, where the desks of both his receptionist and his private secretary were located. "Morning John", Young said cheerily. "What problems are going to ruin my day today?". Young opened the door into his own office and motioned for his private secretary to follow.

"Nothing as of yet, Brian, but I'm sure we'll take care of that in a hurry", John clapped back with a laugh. "The usual: recommendations of ambassador appointments, approval of some Sanctaria Aid funding, and ... oh yes, Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli of the Huenyan Federation responded to our opener for a naval base."

Young nodded. "Ok, great. That was certainly expeditious of them. Let's tackle the funding approval first, then we'll deal with the ambassador appointments. That's going to be a headache, you know what some of these career diplomats are like. Copy Tiacihitli's letter to DHS and ... yeah, better cc in the Chancellery and the Treasury too. Hendry will want to be kept in the loop, and we need to make sure Treasury aren't surprised when they see appropriation requests from us and DHS." The aide nodded and handed the first few papers to the secretary.

---

The clock edged closer to 6pm and John Evans, private secretary to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs yawned. Alas, though, he knew the day was far from over yet. He snapped back to attention when he heard his name being called from the other room. "You rang, m'lord", he said sarcastically. Brian Young, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, shot back a smile. "Email in from DHS" the politician said, nodding his head towards his computer. "Have a look, type up a summary of its needs, and put it in the diplomatic post for Huenya. Treasury said some base acquisition was already provided for in DHS' budget for the year so we shouldn't have any hold ups there." 

John nodded. "Do you want to look it over before I shoot it out?"

"Nah, it's fine. Just pop in my e-sig."

---

Department of Foreign Affairs

Bruton House

Sanctus

Divine Federation of Sanctaria

Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli
Huenyan Federal Legislature
Chuaztlapoc
Federation of Huenya

04 January 2022

Your Excellency, Vice-Speaker Tiachitli,

We received with great interest your acknowledgment of our previous letter, and look forward to completing negotiations.

We propose headquartering our fourth fleet, as previously mentioned at this naval base. This requires an office building for civilian and military staff - for national security purposes, we would require all civilian staff to be Sanctarian citizens, and this includes maintenance staff. The naval base will be required to be approximately 500 hectares, with a dry dock, numerous workshops, an ammunition depot and, of course, a fuel depot. The Divine Federation is happy to contribute to ensuring these facilities are created if not already in existence, or in the event they are, modified to meet our requirements.

We would not propose your nation ceding territorial sovereignty to the Divine Federation, so the proposition of a long-term lease is satisfactory to us. We request any monies spent, to be spent, by the Divine Federation in the general upkeep of the base be taken into account when determining a leasing fee.

The fourth fleet consists of two aircraft carriers, with associated aircraft, and eight destroyers and cruisers. Additionally, we have four amphibious ships, as well as their landing craft, and ten to twelve frigates, depending on fleet requirements. There are also numerous oilers, provision ships, and repair ships, but again these numbers depend on need.

The fleet also two dozen patrol boats, and four submarines, one of which is nuclear. For national security purposes, we are unable to tell you when a submarine will be in dock or in the base, but for transparency's sake, your being aware we intend to use the base for the submarines also is important.

The Divine Federation would require the area to be walled, with sight towers, which would by necessity be protected by armed members of the Sanctarian Defence Forces. Ingress and egress must be controlled by the SDF. Any crime committed on or within the naval base would naturally remain under your jurisdiction, however we would require members of the SDF military police be retained in a cooperative capacity. Further, while we acknowledge your jurisdiction in and on the base itself, the Divine Federation retains jurisdiction on and in any ship, boat, or equivalent vessel or vehicle of the Sanctarian Defence Forces. Should any crime be committed on a vessel, even that in dock and in base, the Divine Federation requires sole jurisdiction over such matters.

We confirm, however, the above notwithstanding, relevant authorities of your nation will not be denied entry, should correct due process procedures be followed, to the base proper or the buildings within and on the base, though they may be denied entry to, or boarding of, any of our vessels.

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Foreign Affairs really do appreciate your assistance on this matter, and we hope our requirements meet your satisfaction. We understand the Huenyan Federation will have conditions of their own, and we look forward to receiving them.

With my kind regards,

Brian Young
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Divine Federation of Sanctaria

[Xiomera]

After the reply was received, it made the rounds of the Huenyan bureaucracy again, until reaching the Vice-Speaker once more. Tiacihitli leaned back after digesting the latest Sanctarian response, along with a light lunch and a glass of a rather fine wine from Eiria. Before speaking, he asked the other two men dining with him their thoughts, as he tended to do before offering his own opinions.

Great Speaker Texōccoatl sipped his own wine thoughtfully. “I don’t have any particular issue with the Sanctarians’ requirements, except for one. Having ‘sole jurisdiction’ over anything that happens on one of their vessels or ‘equivalent vehicles’ concerns me. Suppose some kind of crime is committed against a Huenyan national aboard ship, or something similar? I understand why they want to maintain operational security on their vessels, but it seems prudent to me to insist that they allow us to participate in a ‘cooperative capacity’ in such investigations, just as they are asking us to allow on the base itself.”

“I have to agree, at least as long as it’s up to me,” Defense Secretary Tlanexchel said, tapping ash off his cigar.

“Are you looking forward to going back to the ranks?” Tiacihitli asked, a bit of amusement in his voice.

“Are you kidding? I was never meant to be a politician. As much of a prick as he is, Acxopotl can have the Defense Secretary job and be welcome to it. I’m a soldier at heart, and men like me don’t belong in stuffy bureaucratic offices. Or in stuffy palaces,” he added with a smirk at Texōccoatl. The Great Speaker rolled his eyes in response.

“I’m glad we managed to alleviate the fears of the Chamber of Executives that this could be some kind of Sanctarian bid to interfere with our sovereignty,” Tlanexchel said with a more serious tone. “Indeed,” Tiacihitli replied. “Your cogent point that the Sanctarians could just take it from us, without much effort, if that was really their game seemed to settle them down.” Tlanexchel smirked again. “It’s kind of better to have a big brother as a friend than an enemy.”

“Do you anticipate that the Chamber of Deputies will oppose this agreement, once they vote?” Texōccoatl asked. “Are you kidding? Between the influx of money and trade this will bring, and the fact it should discourage Calhualyana from trying anything stupid against us, the legislators will probably be falling all over themselves to welcome the Sanctarians,” Tiacihitli replied. “Our final-ish offer will be going out today.”

Office of the Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation

Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli

Chuaztlapoc, Huenya MC001-001

January 6th, 2022

Secretary Young:

Thank you for your prompt reply to my message dated January 3rd. After review of your previous letter, the terms which you have outlined are, broadly, acceptable to the Huenyan Federation. The only change we would request would be that, in the event of a crime or incident involving a Huenyan national occur aboard one of your ships or equivalent vessels, that Huenyan authorities be allowed to observe in a cooperative capacity similar to how Sanctarian military police would participate in any investigation on base led by Huenyan officials. We agree that concerning matters aboard your vessels or vehicles that Sanctaria would retain sole jurisdiction, and Huenyan authorities would only be involved to the extent necessary to ensure any of our nationals’ basic human and civil rights are protected. We also agree that, in the interest of operational security, that Sanctaria would retain sole authority to decide when someone may board their vessels or vehicles while in dock or on base. We would ask, however, that Huenya be given the right to full and complete disclosure at all times as to the cargo or personnel who may be aboard such vessels, particularly if weapons of a nuclear capability are involved. Huenya would also require a provision that no other weapons of mass destruction outside of nuclear weapons may be present in Huenya at any time, or on the base or in dock.

It is our hope that these few addendums will be acceptable to your government, and that a final agreement can be concluded promptly. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Tiacihitli
Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation

[Sanctaria]

The Government of Sanctaria met three times a week in cabinet - on a Wednesday in person, but also in incorporeal conference in calls on Mondays and Fridays. This meant government ministers were kept abreast of urgent matters, and the government could pivot quickly in case emergency arose. Typically, though, the calls on Mondays and Fridays were usually only for updates on matters already agreed, or for issues the government was able to forecast.

"Any other business", Chancellor Charlene Hendry said, in anticipation to end the call after 75 minutes. "Yes, the Hueyans have some conditions for the naval base", Foreign Secretary Brian Young replied, dashing the hopes of some ministers in getting off early. "They want Huenyan police to be involved in a cooperational capacity should an incident involve a Huenyan national.

"I'm fine with that", said Homeland Security Secretary Kathryn Stewart quickly. "Anything else?"

"Yes, they want to be given complete access to all cargo and personnel lists of ships docking in the base. They also want to stress that, other than our subs or carriers that may have nuclear weapons, no other weapons of mass destruction are permitted."

"I can agree to the WMD ban, but not a hope in hell will I agree with them getting our manifests. Absolutely not." Stewart scoffed angrily. "We'll give them the total number of personnel on-ship when it docks, and a commitment that the cargo list isn't carrying some sort of invasive species or other contraband, but that's it."

There was a pause on the call before Hendry started speaking. "In general, I would agree with Kathryn. I'm not in favour of giving the Huenyans, or any nation hosting a base where we are stationing crew, lists of identifying information of that crew, but also of our cargo in general. We can give a commitment that military and civilian personnel cannot leave the base without going through Huenyan border control, so they know who is entering their nation-at-large rather than just our base."

Young thought about this. "That might be possible, but I can understand the Huenyan concerns for their national security. While I'm not suggesting any Sanctarian would do anything untoward, naturally, if the positions were reversed we would certainly want to know who was entering our country."

"I don't want Huenyans boarding our vessels", Stewart interjected. "If sailors want to leave base and travel to the city, then the Huenyans can set up a passport control office in one of the buildings."

"So we'll have a permanent Huenyan passport office on-base? That doesn't seem efficient or something the Huenyans will probably agree to. They're not going to station someone on-base who might stamp a few hundred passports every couple of weeks", Young replied.

"Alright, we'll do this", Hendry said in an effort to close off the discussion. "Tell the Huenyans we'll agree to police cooperation in incidents involving a Huenyan national, and that we can commit to no WMDs, other than nuclear weapons, being present in Huenyan waters or in-base. Crew and cargo manifests, however, are non-negotiable. We will not hand those over. We will, however, allow members of the Huenyan police, or border authority, to guard entry and exit to the base, alongside some of our own men. That way the Huenyans know who is entering and leaving for their own security, and can check documents of those leaving if necessary, while we're also maintaining access too.

If they won't agree to that, ask them to delegate border authority at the base to members of the Sanctarian Defence Forces and we'll issue a list of people leaving, and entering, on a daily basis."

"I still don't think that's realistic, personally", Young said to the Chancellor, "but if it's agreeable with you, I'll present a version that should satisfy concerns express by yourself and Kathryn."

"I don't want the Huenyans on guard like Charlene suggested", Stewart jumped in. "I appreciate the suggestion, but the generals will jump down my throat for that. It's Sanctarian guards only".

"Ok, scrap that suggestion then Brian, just make sure that DHS and I get a copy of what you do suggest before it's sent", Hendry paused. "That's all for today then, speak to you all on Monday."

*click*

Brian Young rubbed his fingers through his hair. Ok, he thought to himself, let's just approach this like we have done with other naval bases.

---

Department of Foreign Affairs

Bruton House

Sanctus

Divine Federation of Sanctaria

Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli
Huenyan Federal Legislature
Chuaztlapoc
Federation of Huenya

07 January 2022


Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli,

Thank you kindly for your last letter dated 06 January 2022.

We can confirm that we will agree to your request that, in incidents involving Huenyan nations, the Huenyan police authorities will be retained in a cooperative capacity to observe treatment and due process of their citizens, which they remain guaranteed under Sanctarian law. We can also commit that no weapons of mass destruction, other than nuclear weapons as already advised, will be transported through or stored at the naval base. The SDF force does not, as a rule and principle of international law, utilise any other kind of weapon of mass destruction.

Unfortunately, we would find it difficult due to national security and operational concerns to give your nation complete disclosure and access to review crew and cargo manifests of our vessels. In an effort to be cooperative, we can supply your immigrations and customs authority a list of any crew member, military or otherwise, and any cargo that intends or is intended to leave the base. Supplementary to this list, we can include the travel documentation of those same crew members that intend to leave the base for your own record-keeping. We can also give a commitment that any cargo leaving the base will be available for inspection by your authorities should they wish to do so after reviewing that modified manifest. The Sanctarian Defence Forces do not routinely transport cargo that would deemed to be contraband or an invasive species through naval bases located on host nations.

I hope this is agreeable to your government,

With continued warm regards,

Brian Young
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Divine Federation of Sanctaria

[Xiomera]

Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli reviewed the last response from the Sanctarians (once it finally got to him) with a sigh. We knew the whole manifest thing would be a non-starter, but we'll take what we can get, he thought as he penned his (hopefully final) reply.

Office of the Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation

Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli

Chuaztlapoc, Huenya MC001-001

January 9th, 2022

Secretary Young,

After further discussion with all stakeholders within our government, we are prepared to modify our requests from our previous letter dated January 6th, 2022. We would propose the following changes:

1) Instead of requiring a complete manifest of cargo and crew, we would request only that any cargo or crew leaving the base provide our authorities appropriate notification, by forwarding a daily list of such departures to the Huenyan Federal Police station located at the Port of Ixtenco. This way, we can have necessary disclosure of who, or what, may be entering our country without otherwise posing an undue hindrance to the daily operations of the base or its personnel.

2) To be more clear about the reason for our original request for manifests, we are proceeding on the assumption that at least some of your vessels in port or on base, at any given time, may possess an offensive or defensive nuclear capability. We understand your concerns about operational security for your fleets, and will not request or require any notification of the presence of such weapons, or vessels equipped with same, at any time. We are requesting, however, an understanding that no such weapons should be launched, fired or otherwise used from the base against a declared or undeclared target of the Sanctarian Defense Forces without prior notification and consent from the Huenyan Federation government, except for an imminent attack from an outside party or other emergency situation precluding such notification. The use of Sanctarian nuclear weapons from the base could potentially involve the Huenyan Federation in a nuclear conflict that it has no control over. That being said, however, we fully understand and acknowledge that once said vessels leave the port or base, and are in international waters or airspace, they are free to deploy and/or use whatever weapons they wish without any condition whatsoever.

In regards to condition 2), it is hopefully understood that, given the previously excellent relationship between our two nations, and our hope for a continued mutually beneficial partnership, our request is meant as more of a measure to retain control over any outside conflicts we may be drawn into, and not as an attempt to direct or dictate Sanctarian defense or foreign policy.

Please let me know what you think of these latest concerns. If we are able to come to an accord on these matters, I have no doubt that an agreement can be readily struck that will be highly beneficial for both our countries, and the greater stability of eastern Caxcana.

Sincerely,
Tiacihitli
Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation

[Sanctaria]

It was getting towards the end of a long day when Foreign Secretary Brian Young finally got a chance to read the latest missive from the Huenyans on the negotiations for a Sanctarian naval base at the Port of Ixtenco. He read quietly before reaching over to the phone on his desk and punching a few numbers. "Stewart", a terse reply came over the line.

"Kathryn, it's Brian. Did I catch you at a bad time?", he asked politely? 

"Brian, hi, no not at all. Didn't expect to be hearing from you after today's cabinet con-call, is everything ok?", Stewart was generally a very friendly, upbeat person. Young liked her as a colleague, she was very good at what she did. Always on top of her brief.

"Yes, yes, everything's fine. Work call I'm afraid, wanted to get your feelings before I went to Charlene about it - the Huenyans finally came back with a response. They're dropping the requirement for full manifesto, and just want notifications of when crew or cargo are leaving the base and into their territory so they can then do the necessary checks."

"Ok, standard border control checks, we can live with that. Did they come back to you about our concerns on operational secrecy surrounding the nuclear submarines?"

"Yeah, they'd be happy with a commitment that no nuclear weapons be launched from within the base or any other part of their territory, land, air or sea, without prior notification to the Huenyan government - exception included for self-defence."

"Sounds like a very reasonable request for me, I've no issue with it from a homeland security POV. Does FA?"

"Nope, all very standard, as you said. I'll go to Charlene, tell her DHS and DFA are in agreement and have her sign off on the conclusion of negotiations from our end. Once the agreements are confirmed by both parties, DFA will hand responsibility for this and comms with Hueyna over to DHS."

"Perfect, thanks Brian. Sorry for dragging FA into this - we really do need a base in that part of the world."

"Happy to help smooth the way, Kathryn. I'll see you at cabinet on Wednesday".

"Good evening, Brian", Stewart said in a soft, upbeat tone before Young heard a click. Immediately he pressed another few numbers on his phone and waited patiently as he heard the dial tone ringing.

"Brian, hi", came a voice down the phone, "is something the matter? It's late in the day and not long after cabinet - Lauchenoiria isn't in another civil war or anything are they?"

Young chuckled. "Haha, no Charlene no, nothing like that. I just wanted to let you know the Huenyans have lessed their demands and neither DHS nor DFA have any objection to their new conditions for the base. I just spoke to Kathryn and we're both happy to go ahead once we have your ok."

"Good. Sounds good. Send on over a summary, but you can tell Huenya we're good to go from our end. Anything else?"

"No, that's everything. Have a good evening Charlene".

"Thanks Brian, you too", the Chancellor replied before ending the call.

Young paused for a moment, scribbled some thoughts on a notepad, and then called his aide, John Evans, into the room.

"Yes sir", the private secretary said, head just peeking around the door.

"Hendry and Stewart both ok with the new Huenyan conditions, so we're going to try and wrap it up. Write up something quick, get it ok'd by the DG, and then sign it in my name. We'll hopefully be able to hand this over to DHS in the coming weeks now."

The private secretary nodded and left the room quietly.

Department of Foreign Affairs

Bruton House

Sanctus

Divine Federation of Sanctaria

Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli
Huenyan Federal Legislature
Chuaztlapoc
Federation of Huenya

10 January 2022


Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli,


The Sanctarian Department of Foreign Affairs thanks you, and your government, for the clarifications and the sense of import with which you seek to conclude these talks. The Sanctarian government has no objection to your conditions, and can commit to the requests your government has made.

The Divine Federation of Sanctaria values the relationship we have with your good nation, and its ideals of democracy, freedom, and equitable justice. The establishment of a Sanctarian naval base at the Port of Ixtenco will cement our friendship, and encourage further good ties between our two nations.

We look forward to the conclusion of these negotiations, and the execution of same.

Warmest regards,

Brian Young
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Divine Federation of Sanctaria