Byzantium Summit

Grazia Marelli was in balcony of her room at the Hotel Bosporus, overlooking the Artemian Strait. In her position as Foreign Councillor for Sartoria, she had visited Byzantium several times already, but the city never ceased to amaze her, particularly the sense of history that one could perceive just by walking through its streets. In fact, it was in that very city where she had first met Marco Valerio. They were both exchange students and had shared several classes, and the friendship that they forged extended even after both pursued different career choices: Marco in the Senate and Grazia in the Foreign Service. While she was often detailed to far away countries, they always made time to meet whenever she was in town, and they both shared several views with regards to foreign policy. So when Marco became the Council President, she was his first and only choice for Foreign Councillor.

She was in Byzantium on his orders, with clear instructions to meet in secret with representatives from Sylon. Marco distrusted Procellia, after their stunt with a half-hearted military infiltration, and she had later received word from him of a terrorist attack in Afgurla. While Marco returned to Mekselia, she was tasked with putting aside all differences with the Sylonnic to ensure their mutual safety in the event of either international terrorism or further military interventions from Procellia. Word was that Sylonnic First Minister Victoria Gallo would attend the secret meeting. They had never met, but she expected the talks to be productive.

Just as she thought that, Grazia saw a single car entering the hotel driveway. It was quite discreet, so nothing that would call for attention, but for some reason she thought Victoria Gallo was in that car. Sure enough, someone behind her called out:

"Councillor, Victoria Gallo has just arrived."