03-22-2021, 06:00 AM
March 21st
Xochuaxte Palace
"I am totally opposed to this plan," Tlanexchel said. Sitting next to him, Texōccoatl coughed slightly. "I have to agree with Tlanexchel on this one. While the Eirians are our allies, sharing defense technology with them is a national security risk, in my opinion."
Sitting between the two men, Yauhmi looked distinctly unsettled. "Yaochtzin, explain how this whole partnership thing would work again, please."
Doing his best to stifle a sigh of exasperation, Trade Secretary Yaochtzin explained how the proposed joint partnership between the HRDF and the Eirian trade ministry would work for what seemed like the twentieth time. This meeting feels like it's gone on longer than the damn war, he thought as he finished his explanation. "I understand your concerns about sharing defense technology," he told the gathered Huenyan leaders yet again in a more frustrated tone than he had begun the morning. "I am not sure you do," Huacue said, cutting Yaochtzin off. The Necatli leader shook his head. "If we let other countries have access to our defense technology, they could turn that against us someday. It is not worth the risk. We can always remove the defense technology from the agreement and collaborate on other things."
Yaochtzin was at the end of his patience. "The bulk of this proposed agreement has nothing to do with defense technology," he snapped. "It would foster collaboration between us and the Eirians on technology related to the economy and to infrastructure, both things we desperately need right now to revive our own economy. You're all concerned about ghost threats like 'the Eirians will steal our defense secrets' when the real threat Huenya faces, right now, is internal. We need to get people working again. We need to get the economy going. Empty pockets and empty bellies cause the kind of unrest that destroys nations, and we need to get a handle on that now or there might not be a Huenya left to worry about its secrets being stolen. We need to start trusting and working with other countries if we are to have any chance of fixing what the Empire destroyed and get Huenya back on its feet. This agreement could serve as a template to have similar collaborations with other nations, giving us the jumpstart we need. It would also show that Huenya, unlike the Empire, is a reasonable partner on the international stage that is willing to share and work with other countries. When we start doing things like applying for GDIB assistance, that kind of goodwill is going to be absolutely essential."
Before anyone else could interrupt again, Yaochtzin waved his hand. "As for the concerns about defense technology....look, you're all worried that the Eirians would use that knowledge against us someday. Agreements like this ensure that our neighbors would not need or want to. Like us, the Eirians have a vested interest in taking measures against the threat that the Empire still poses to Caxcana. Why would we not work with them? They're our closest neighbors, and face the same threat we do. It just makes sense for us to have a relationship. And that includes defense - yes, I know, defense is your baby, Tlanexchel, but listen, damn it!" Yaochtzin said, waving down the Defense Secretary who was about to interrupt. The former Jaguar Warrior, unaccustomed to having a mere bureaucrat make a demand of him, sat down but glowered at Yaochtzin grimly.
"The way the Empire pursued defense was unilateral - we're the biggest bullies on the block, and you don't dare mess with us. Huenya is in no position to do that, even if we wanted to, and we shouldn't. We need to begin forming alliances and cooperative arrangements in defense also, to protect ourselves while we're rebuilding, but also to have strength in numbers to deal with the Empire and anyone else they may ally with. And if you don't think Calhualyana isn't doing the same exact thing we're doing - trying to find partners to bolster her strength - you're naive or crazy. So we share defense technology with the Eirians. Collaboration is a two-way street; we're likely to learn as much from the Eirians as they are from us. Combining our resources and our knowledge with that of other countries will allow us to accomplish research that the Empire by itself can't match. Combining our knowledge, and building a defense network of like-minded nations in Caxcana around these sorts of collaborations, is our best hope of ensuring that Calhualyana can never come back to re-conquer us. Does anyone here really buy her whole 'we don't want western Huenya anymore' claim? She's just waiting for the best moment, once she has rebuilt, enough time has passed and the interest of the rest of the world has shifted elsewhere. She will come for us again. We need alliances and collaborations in defense to deter her, and this is where we start." Yaochtzin paused for breath; Tlanexchel, instead of objecting, looked as if he was thinking.
"You're assuming things always stay the same. Right now, the Eirians are friendly to us. What if a government comes into power there that is not so friendly - or even allies with the Empire? I know that sounds ludicrous now, but if someone had told me a year ago that we would be sitting here in a free Huenyan nation and that the oppressive Empire had been forced out, I would have found that a ludicrous theory also. We never know what the future holds, and that still makes sharing this kind of technology risky. I am still opposed to this plan," Huacue said.
"By the gods and goddesses, you're so paranoid, Huacue," Sirua said. "Prudent, Sirua, not paranoid. You Itotemoc are too trusting. You really should not be so naive," Huacue retorted. "Your lack of maturity is dangerous."
The Itotemoc leader sighed in response. "I think you're also another p-word sometimes, Huacue. One that rhymes with 'stick'."
Before the two leaders could squabble further, Yauhmi leaned forward to cut them off. "Let's put an end to this. I am in favor of the proposal."
"So am I," Sirua said.
"I am not," Huacue said with a grimace.
The Vice-Speaker and Cusuyo, the Tepiltzin leader, both looked at each other before Tiacihitli finally sighed. "I am in favor," he said. Cusuyo nodded in agreement.
"That would be a yes from this Chamber, I believe," Yauhmi said. Huacue grimaced again. "Should we not wait until after the elections so that the elected legislature can also vote on this?" he pressed.
Yaochtzin looked at Huacue as if he wanted to shove the tablet with his brief on it down the man's throat. "If you want to keep Huenya waiting until at least January of 2022, and possibly much longer, to begin making the kind of economic deals that might save our collective ass, sure, let's wait. I would not rate our chances of being able to ride the year out as super-high."
"Diplomacy, please, Mr. Secretary," Yauhmi murmured, as Huacue began to stand up. "And calmness, please, Huacue." The Necatli leader sat back down, although his expression clearly said that Yaochtzin would probably want to avoid crossing paths with him for a while.
With the votes making it official, the path was clear for Huenya to begin collaborating with Eiria - assuming the Eirian government approved it as well.
Xochuaxte Palace
"I am totally opposed to this plan," Tlanexchel said. Sitting next to him, Texōccoatl coughed slightly. "I have to agree with Tlanexchel on this one. While the Eirians are our allies, sharing defense technology with them is a national security risk, in my opinion."
Sitting between the two men, Yauhmi looked distinctly unsettled. "Yaochtzin, explain how this whole partnership thing would work again, please."
Doing his best to stifle a sigh of exasperation, Trade Secretary Yaochtzin explained how the proposed joint partnership between the HRDF and the Eirian trade ministry would work for what seemed like the twentieth time. This meeting feels like it's gone on longer than the damn war, he thought as he finished his explanation. "I understand your concerns about sharing defense technology," he told the gathered Huenyan leaders yet again in a more frustrated tone than he had begun the morning. "I am not sure you do," Huacue said, cutting Yaochtzin off. The Necatli leader shook his head. "If we let other countries have access to our defense technology, they could turn that against us someday. It is not worth the risk. We can always remove the defense technology from the agreement and collaborate on other things."
Yaochtzin was at the end of his patience. "The bulk of this proposed agreement has nothing to do with defense technology," he snapped. "It would foster collaboration between us and the Eirians on technology related to the economy and to infrastructure, both things we desperately need right now to revive our own economy. You're all concerned about ghost threats like 'the Eirians will steal our defense secrets' when the real threat Huenya faces, right now, is internal. We need to get people working again. We need to get the economy going. Empty pockets and empty bellies cause the kind of unrest that destroys nations, and we need to get a handle on that now or there might not be a Huenya left to worry about its secrets being stolen. We need to start trusting and working with other countries if we are to have any chance of fixing what the Empire destroyed and get Huenya back on its feet. This agreement could serve as a template to have similar collaborations with other nations, giving us the jumpstart we need. It would also show that Huenya, unlike the Empire, is a reasonable partner on the international stage that is willing to share and work with other countries. When we start doing things like applying for GDIB assistance, that kind of goodwill is going to be absolutely essential."
Before anyone else could interrupt again, Yaochtzin waved his hand. "As for the concerns about defense technology....look, you're all worried that the Eirians would use that knowledge against us someday. Agreements like this ensure that our neighbors would not need or want to. Like us, the Eirians have a vested interest in taking measures against the threat that the Empire still poses to Caxcana. Why would we not work with them? They're our closest neighbors, and face the same threat we do. It just makes sense for us to have a relationship. And that includes defense - yes, I know, defense is your baby, Tlanexchel, but listen, damn it!" Yaochtzin said, waving down the Defense Secretary who was about to interrupt. The former Jaguar Warrior, unaccustomed to having a mere bureaucrat make a demand of him, sat down but glowered at Yaochtzin grimly.
"The way the Empire pursued defense was unilateral - we're the biggest bullies on the block, and you don't dare mess with us. Huenya is in no position to do that, even if we wanted to, and we shouldn't. We need to begin forming alliances and cooperative arrangements in defense also, to protect ourselves while we're rebuilding, but also to have strength in numbers to deal with the Empire and anyone else they may ally with. And if you don't think Calhualyana isn't doing the same exact thing we're doing - trying to find partners to bolster her strength - you're naive or crazy. So we share defense technology with the Eirians. Collaboration is a two-way street; we're likely to learn as much from the Eirians as they are from us. Combining our resources and our knowledge with that of other countries will allow us to accomplish research that the Empire by itself can't match. Combining our knowledge, and building a defense network of like-minded nations in Caxcana around these sorts of collaborations, is our best hope of ensuring that Calhualyana can never come back to re-conquer us. Does anyone here really buy her whole 'we don't want western Huenya anymore' claim? She's just waiting for the best moment, once she has rebuilt, enough time has passed and the interest of the rest of the world has shifted elsewhere. She will come for us again. We need alliances and collaborations in defense to deter her, and this is where we start." Yaochtzin paused for breath; Tlanexchel, instead of objecting, looked as if he was thinking.
"You're assuming things always stay the same. Right now, the Eirians are friendly to us. What if a government comes into power there that is not so friendly - or even allies with the Empire? I know that sounds ludicrous now, but if someone had told me a year ago that we would be sitting here in a free Huenyan nation and that the oppressive Empire had been forced out, I would have found that a ludicrous theory also. We never know what the future holds, and that still makes sharing this kind of technology risky. I am still opposed to this plan," Huacue said.
"By the gods and goddesses, you're so paranoid, Huacue," Sirua said. "Prudent, Sirua, not paranoid. You Itotemoc are too trusting. You really should not be so naive," Huacue retorted. "Your lack of maturity is dangerous."
The Itotemoc leader sighed in response. "I think you're also another p-word sometimes, Huacue. One that rhymes with 'stick'."
Before the two leaders could squabble further, Yauhmi leaned forward to cut them off. "Let's put an end to this. I am in favor of the proposal."
"So am I," Sirua said.
"I am not," Huacue said with a grimace.
The Vice-Speaker and Cusuyo, the Tepiltzin leader, both looked at each other before Tiacihitli finally sighed. "I am in favor," he said. Cusuyo nodded in agreement.
"That would be a yes from this Chamber, I believe," Yauhmi said. Huacue grimaced again. "Should we not wait until after the elections so that the elected legislature can also vote on this?" he pressed.
Yaochtzin looked at Huacue as if he wanted to shove the tablet with his brief on it down the man's throat. "If you want to keep Huenya waiting until at least January of 2022, and possibly much longer, to begin making the kind of economic deals that might save our collective ass, sure, let's wait. I would not rate our chances of being able to ride the year out as super-high."
"Diplomacy, please, Mr. Secretary," Yauhmi murmured, as Huacue began to stand up. "And calmness, please, Huacue." The Necatli leader sat back down, although his expression clearly said that Yaochtzin would probably want to avoid crossing paths with him for a while.
With the votes making it official, the path was clear for Huenya to begin collaborating with Eiria - assuming the Eirian government approved it as well.
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