06-06-2018, 02:54 AM
"You know as well as I do that we do not have the political capital to mount a war with Lauchenoiria," Prime Minister Tanvi Misra said on one end of a secure phone call.
"I made my decision to call Suleman Chaher as I did," President Nicholas Brennan replied. "We simply have to live with the consequences."
"The consequences of threatening war against another nation when we do not have the political or military ability to do so," Misra said. "Was it Marie-Claire who advised you to do that?"
"It was," Brennan replied.
Tanvi went silent for a moment, and Nicholas knew from experience and the popular conception of PM Misra that she was carefully reevaluating her opinion of his Foreign Minister on the spot. "Provided that you did not explicitly threaten war, we have some room to maneuver."
"I didn't threaten war," Brennan said. "Just serious consequences."
"And now we could be about to be mired in a foreign war the people of Laeral do not want," Misra said. "I have worked with you for 11 years now. I feel that the Lauchenoirian crisis is not a situation best suited for your talents. Nicholas, you are an excellent speaker and a fine leader." Nicholas mentally braced for what she was about to say. "However," she continued, "this situation is rapidly taking on the appearance of a political quagmire. Resolving these political issues is where I can be most useful to you. After all," she said, "isn't the saying that the President solves problems from his desk by day, and the Prime Minister prevents problems from reaching his desk by night?"
"Not exactly," Brennan said, "but you get the idea."
"Yes," Misra said. "I know how Chaher's mind works. I know how every political game on the continent works, and how to play it. I see in Leanna Walker a creature similar to myself, and I know exactly how to move her. I am your most skilled political tool, Nicholas. Allow me to be used where I can be most effective."
Nicholas had made up his mind. "I doubt, Tanvi, that you have ever been anyone's tool but your own. Regardless, you've convinced me. I'm placing you in charge of our government's response to the situation in Lauchenoiria, in my name."
"Excellent," she said. " I will begin working immediately. I would like access to our Security Council, in addition to my present duties."
"You'll have it," Brennan replied, his mind already on the next issue he needed to address. "I'd like this resolved before the elections."
"It'll be done," Misra said, smiling to herself.
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Newly emboldened by her new role, Prime Minister Misra prepared a message to deliver to Leanna Walker at her temporary residence outside Laeralsford once she recovered. She then picked up her pen (she preferred to write her more important correspondence by hand) and began composing a message for Prime Minister Moore. She finished the letter, sealed it in an envelope, and passed it on to one of her aides, Nathalie. "Give this to the Bureau of External Action. Tell them that it is absolutely necessary that their agent, C-02, receives this letter by tomorrow."
"Agent C-02? You know the individual BEA agents?"
"Of course. Tell them Tanvi Misra sent you. Jerome will understand."
Nathalie stood there for a second, trying to process this. The BEA was notoriously secretive, and in fact had a reputation as one of the most tight-lipped and morally
suspect agencies in the Laeralian government.
"Hurry, won't you? I haven't got the whole damn day," her boss said. Nathalie quickly hurried out of the room. She'd learned that the Prime Minister's bark was worse than her bite, but she didn't want to suffer through any more tongue-lashings than she had to.
"I made my decision to call Suleman Chaher as I did," President Nicholas Brennan replied. "We simply have to live with the consequences."
"The consequences of threatening war against another nation when we do not have the political or military ability to do so," Misra said. "Was it Marie-Claire who advised you to do that?"
"It was," Brennan replied.
Tanvi went silent for a moment, and Nicholas knew from experience and the popular conception of PM Misra that she was carefully reevaluating her opinion of his Foreign Minister on the spot. "Provided that you did not explicitly threaten war, we have some room to maneuver."
"I didn't threaten war," Brennan said. "Just serious consequences."
"And now we could be about to be mired in a foreign war the people of Laeral do not want," Misra said. "I have worked with you for 11 years now. I feel that the Lauchenoirian crisis is not a situation best suited for your talents. Nicholas, you are an excellent speaker and a fine leader." Nicholas mentally braced for what she was about to say. "However," she continued, "this situation is rapidly taking on the appearance of a political quagmire. Resolving these political issues is where I can be most useful to you. After all," she said, "isn't the saying that the President solves problems from his desk by day, and the Prime Minister prevents problems from reaching his desk by night?"
"Not exactly," Brennan said, "but you get the idea."
"Yes," Misra said. "I know how Chaher's mind works. I know how every political game on the continent works, and how to play it. I see in Leanna Walker a creature similar to myself, and I know exactly how to move her. I am your most skilled political tool, Nicholas. Allow me to be used where I can be most effective."
Nicholas had made up his mind. "I doubt, Tanvi, that you have ever been anyone's tool but your own. Regardless, you've convinced me. I'm placing you in charge of our government's response to the situation in Lauchenoiria, in my name."
"Excellent," she said. " I will begin working immediately. I would like access to our Security Council, in addition to my present duties."
"You'll have it," Brennan replied, his mind already on the next issue he needed to address. "I'd like this resolved before the elections."
"It'll be done," Misra said, smiling to herself.
----------------
Newly emboldened by her new role, Prime Minister Misra prepared a message to deliver to Leanna Walker at her temporary residence outside Laeralsford once she recovered. She then picked up her pen (she preferred to write her more important correspondence by hand) and began composing a message for Prime Minister Moore. She finished the letter, sealed it in an envelope, and passed it on to one of her aides, Nathalie. "Give this to the Bureau of External Action. Tell them that it is absolutely necessary that their agent, C-02, receives this letter by tomorrow."
"Agent C-02? You know the individual BEA agents?"
"Of course. Tell them Tanvi Misra sent you. Jerome will understand."
Nathalie stood there for a second, trying to process this. The BEA was notoriously secretive, and in fact had a reputation as one of the most tight-lipped and morally
suspect agencies in the Laeralian government.
"Hurry, won't you? I haven't got the whole damn day," her boss said. Nathalie quickly hurried out of the room. She'd learned that the Prime Minister's bark was worse than her bite, but she didn't want to suffer through any more tongue-lashings than she had to.