A Battle Unseen

[vesica]

Office of the Premier, Government House, Davostag

The heavy oak doors shut behind Hutorian Ambassador Natalie Ross as she stepped into the dimly lit office. The room was a stark contrast to the cold, monolithic government buildings that surrounded it—here, dark wood paneling and flickering oil lamps gave the illusion of warmth, though there was none to be found in the air between her and the man seated across from her. Axel Rodin, the Premier of Davostag, sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled in front of him. A practiced politician’s smile curled at the corners of his lips, but his eyes—cold, calculating—never left hers. "Good day, Mr. Premier," Natalie said smoothly, lowering herself into the leather chair opposite him, crossing her ankles and looking straight into him with piercing eyes of her own.

"Madam Ambassador," Rodin greeted, tilting his head slightly. "I appreciate you coming. There's been... a misunderstanding between our nations, and I’d like to clear the air before things escalate beyond control."

Natalie arched an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"The simple truth is this," Rodin went on, leaning back in his chair. "We sought an economic agreement with the so-called Legionary Kundrati for the safety of the one point one million Davostagers trapped within their borders. We had no choice but to ensure they were granted equal rights—without our intervention, they would have remained beneath the boot of that regime’s so-called 'master people.'"

He tapped his fingers against the polished surface of his desk, seemingly choosing his next words carefully. "We see this as a major victory for our people. But let me be absolutely clear: there is no formal alliance between Davostag and the Legion. No guarantee of support. However—" his voice darkened, "—we will take military action if their security is threatened. Whether that threat comes from the international coalition placing hurdles in their way, or from the Legion itself, should they decide to send our people to the camps again."

Natalie exhaled slowly, nodding as if considering his words. Then she leaned forward. "So," she said, voice cool, "you're tying yourself to a despotic totalitarian regime because they are holding one point one million hostages. The alleged billions in economic investment is nothing more than a bribe to keep them from murdering your people. The second you cease being economically useful, you become just another 'lesser being' to them." She let the weight of her words settle before adding, "And if there is no formal guarantee, then the so-called security of those 1.1 million Davostagers isn’t worth the paper it was written on."

Rodin’s smirk barely faltered. "What is formal is the trade agreement we signed," he countered. "The numbers of that trade, of course, are open to interpretation." He waved a hand dismissively. "I don’t care what the Kundrati Union or Kalistan are saying. We are not aligning militarily with them."

Natalie leaned back in her chair, watching him with a keen eye. "If you believe their internal numbers—and yes, we’ve seen them—you are the reason their economy isn't collapsing in on itself. To be clear, we are not seizing your ships," she added, her voice like sharpened steel. "We are searching them. If there is nothing of military value, they go right on their way. Your trade is merely… slowed."

Rodin shrugged, feigning indifference. "Then that should be fine by us."

"If there is any financial offset, we are happy to pick up the tab," Natalie continued, her meaning clear—Hutori would compensate Davostag if their trade took a hit; Hutori had always been good with a carrot.

Rodin exhaled through his nose, his fingers tapping once more. Then, his tone shifted. "You understand, of course," he said, voice measured, "that if you want to instigate a war with them, this is your opportunity. I have credible intelligence that they will attack your blockade if these talks do not… 'succeed.'"

Natalie didn’t so much as blink. "Their economy is barely afloat," she said. "Their navy is, by their own admission, propaganda and our own intelligence estimates, a shell. And we are operating so far from their airspace that they couldn't touch us if they tried." She tilted her head. "If Hutori wanted to fight Kundrati, we would be. We're not. Because, quite frankly, we consider it a waste of time."

Rodin chuckled under his breath. "The reason for this meeting," he said, "is simply to clarify Davostag’s position in all this. If the house of cards is going to fall anyway, we see no reason not to give it a nudge. So, if you wish to continue your naval activities, be my guest."

Natalie’s lips curled in the faintest smile. "Glad we understand each other. Now, let’s get to brass tacks—what exactly are you giving them? Aside from billions in direct financial investment?"

Rodin was silent for a moment before finally answering. "Free trade," he said. "That was the basis of the agreement. A potential trilateral deal with Rutania is also on the table." He exhaled. "I asked for the security of our people, and they agreed. The real issue," he admitted, "is the uranium mines. That’s what all this is really about."

Natalie’s eyes sharpened. "Uranium mines?"

"In Kundrati," Rodin clarified. "We don’t have any of our own. This was an old agreement we had with the Kundrati Union, which I simply revived."

A slow, knowing smile spread across Natalie’s face. "You do realize that we have uranium. Right next door."

Rodin blinked, then gave her a small, tight-lipped grin. "Well, would you look at that," he said. "That’s good to know."

"I'm glad we understand each other, Mr. Premier."

Rodin’s expression sobered slightly. "And what will Hutori do," he asked, "when they start launching missiles because of this blockade?"

Natalie’s smile didn’t fade. "What did we do," she asked in return, "when, your people once upon a time sank a single Hutorian destroyer?"

Rodin’s mouth opened slightly—then shut. He nodded. "Well…"

"Need I say more?" Natalie asked, tilting her head slightly.
Rodin sighed, rubbing his temple. "So the question is: will you lift the blockade? Or should we simply allow this to play itself out?" He hesitated before adding, "If it is the latter, Davostag will prepare for the safety of our people in Kundrati—but we will not stand in your way."

Natalie stood, smoothing out her jacket. "Mr. Premier, Hutori has a policy about only ever being enemies with someone once. And we prefer to keep it that way."

Rodin stood as well, extending a hand. "I could not agree more, Madam Ambassador."

Natalie took his hand firmly. "Then pass on a message for us to the Legion."

Rodin arched an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

She leaned in just slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Hutori has never fired the first shot." A pause. "But we have always fired the last."

Rodin exhaled slowly. Then he nodded. "Understood."