01-06-2022, 09:12 PM
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.”
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.”
Quote:Office of the Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan FederationTecpancalli TonaltzintliChuaztlapoc, 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
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