In a past life, Conference Room 203-B had been the meeting room of choice for a local agricultural bureau. Its conversion into the Situation Room of the People's Federation of Yuezhou had been a bit abrupt; its hasty expansion had left the chairs noticeably mismatched and the table uncomfortably small. But such was life in the new Xilindao. Around the large rectangular table - which sort of had all of them pushed up against the walls, other than the man sitting at the end of the table - were some of Ren Qiang's most trusted advisors, military commanders, foreign ministers, and, of course, the Premier himself, practically drowning in elbow room at the table's head while his advisors jostled for position around the rest of it. With a nod to Foreign Minister Huang Rennan, the deposed leader of all Yuezhou started the meeting.
"As you all know, chaos has erupted in Nyowani Kitara after the rumored (but unverified) death of Boaz Akongo," Huang began. "Curfew has been declared in Dewayo, and military movements have already begun. The violence is already beginning to spread across the country, to cities such as Port Viljan and Inhalo. Græntfjall and Banija are both rumored to be involved, but we have no way of verifying that information - our Kitaran contacts have largely gone silent."
It was harrowing news. Some time passed before General Gong, an older man with a distinguished YPA career, stood up. "If Nyowani Kitara falls, then surely we are next," he said grimly. "The workers' struggle has failed time and time again in central Rushmore as of late - first Tikariot and Græntfjall, then our setback, and now Nyowani Kitara. The cowards on the mainland will surely invade once our last source of support is gone."
"We don't even know what's happened yet. There are other nations in Rushmore," Huang replied evenly. "Savojarna. Mytanija. Pridnestrovia."
"They're too far away," another general this time, a younger one named Wan. "Ana Mecava-Cetic has either abandoned the cause, or is being forced to by right-wing parties. And neither Chairman Bjugstad nor Marshal Stepanenko have shown any desire to support us against the United Republics. Nyowani Kitara is our only true ally in this fight. If they fall, we fall. We must intervene."
"What do you think they'll do if we send our military to Nyowani Kitara without any escape plan? Without even verifying that Boaz Akongo is dead?" a young minister countered. "Then what? Hide here like mice until the capitalists wipe our kind from the earth?" came the response from Gong, which he ignored. "I fear the younger Akongo may be a lost cause. If this is a new government, then it clearly lacks the steel of th-" he stopped, not out of any particular inclination to, but because Ren Qiang had stood to speak.
"General Wan is correct. I spoke to our dear friend just days ago." he looked up. "The Græntfjaller's treatments were ineffective. Boaz told me fate was counting down his days. It seems others were as well."
"But we cannot afford to act rashly with our final ally on the brink of collapse. Nafuna Akongo may be young and unprepared, but if she is then we must help prepare her. We must assess the situation first, then offer as much support as we can without endangering ourselves. Ministers Huang, Lu - focus all your energies on contacting our connections within Nyowani Kitara, and assessing where we can provide the most support. And try to get me and the Akongo daughter on a call by tomorrow. Wan, Gong - prepare our men." Huang began to protest, but the Premier cut it off quickly. "I made Boaz Akongo a promise. The People's Federation does not go back on its word."
