Byzantium Summit

Grazia rose to greet the First Minister, and nodded when she mentioned going straight to the point.

"First Minister, I would like to extend formal greetings on behalf of First Councillor Valerio. He conveys his good wishes, and hopes that any rivalries may be cast aside in the face of the concerning attitudes by nations in the southern hemisphere. I have news that negotiations in the Mekselia Summit have been unproductive, following aggressive and even expansionist rhetoric by nations like the Sol Federation. My government believes that there is much to be gained by forming an alliance focused on mutual defence and the exchange of technologies and commerce between our two nations and Tepetitlan, whose representative should be arriving any minute now."

Grazia turned and held out her hand, an aide giving her a folder with some pages inside, a report drafted that same morning by the Foreign Office. "If you review this report, recently drafted by my staff, you will see an assessment of the economic benefits of such an alliance, and the diplomatic and security advantages of standing together. With the withdrawal of Selene from active politics, it comes down to us to ensure international peace and security are kept, and unity is paramount to that goal."

She leaned back, waiting to hear what Gallo had to say.