[Laeral]

Office of the President

Republic House, Laeralsford

Marie-Claire-

I've given some thought to the CDSP proposal and I've decided to take your advice and accept their offer. This might hurt us tactically, but Laurence Chang confirmed for me that it was always going to be difficult to keep our fighters flying over Lauchenoiria anyways. I'd like you to tell CDSP Ambassador Chen that we'll accept his offer, and tell him that CDSP aircraft are welcome to use our airstrips once they're operative. I don't believe that the CDSP is doing this from the goodness of their hearts, so try and read between the lines when you talk with them, but of course, be sure not to antagonize them. I recall that the CDSP wants us to send representatives to thresh out the terms of this onboard their hospital ship. You know best how this is done, but be sure to pick some of the few of our diplomats with firsthand experience of the CDSP. They're quite crafty, as you know.

On the international front, we do need more allies for this coalition we're assembling. I'd like you to have ours talking with the Libertans, and make sure that they're still going to commit troops. I'd also like you to talk with the Skodesmen, try and get something set up between our respective military and diplomatic teams. I would suggest that you don't bother trying to get the Catholics into the coalition, since they rarely change their mind once they're set on something. Offering our (non-public) support for them is their dealings with Gonhog would certainly be in order, though.

If the Kerlilians or the Gonhogians try to organize a talk with you, feel free to accept. Just don't promise anything and remember that their men (or rather women, in Kerlile's case) are killing ours.

Yours,
Nicholas

___________________

President Nicholas Brennan sat next to the Mayor of Laeralsford and smiled for the cameras as the dragon boats assembled at the starting line before the race. They, along with several rows of local dignitaries, were sitting in rows of seats overlooking the Laer River, which flowed eastward running through the city of Laeralsford. The President of Laeral traditionally oversaw the opening of the Dragon Boat Festival, a Rén* festival commemorating- well, no one was quite sure, but either the suicide of a benevolent official, or the suicide of a beloved Minjian** priest, or something involving dragons. Nowadays, it was mostly an excuse to eat, spend time with family, skip a day of work, and watch teams of rowers in dragon-prowed boats race each other on the nearest river. As the boats lined up, a process which involved much cheering from spectators and muffled cursing from rowing captains, Nicholas turned to Mayor Courtois, sitting to his right. "Which boat did you say was..."
A series of popping sounds. The next thing Nicholas knew, one of his bodyguards, Jianhong, had picked him up like a doll and was quickly carrying him off the bleachers and towards his waiting car. Behind him, he could see the spectators screaming and fleeing the stands. Jianhong leapt into the backseat of the car, carrying Nicholas with him, before he slammed the door shut and the driver pulled away, two SUVs with sirens on top pulling in in front and behind them.

About an hour later, with President Brennan and Prime Minister Misra inside the panic room at Republic House, Jianhong came into the room, closing the door behind him. "We caught the guy," he said. "Man named Henderson Long, a Slokaisian citizen. He's in custody, and he's been yelling conspiracy nonsense from his jail cell."
"Did he hurt anyone?" Nicholas asked.
"A person in the crowd was hit. He's at the hospital now, in critical condition."
Nicholas stifled a sharp intake of breath. "Thank you for telling me," he said. "I'd like to speak with the victim, and with Henderson Long, once the all-clear is given."
"Absolutely," Jianhong said.

*Laeralian name for the largest Asian ethnic group in Laeral
**Dualistic religion indigenous to Laeral