As the Chancellor lead the two leaders inside, she made a comment on the presence of Nahku. The Premier chuckled, and said, "Well, you know what they say about friends and enemies." She nodded with respect at Commander Hoffer when he introduced himself, whom she had long admired as a skilled commander in the art of air warfare. "Thank you," she replied simply to his compliment, as she shook his hand.

Premier Velikaya raised her eyebrows at the openness of the Chancellor as she began speaking, as she was much more muted with her intentions. Despite this slight indication of surprise, she kept her entirely neutral and expressionless face for the rest of the explanation. 

When the Elvish prime minister began to speak, Velikaya turned to examine him. Conceited and decadent, but perhaps less so than usual, she concluded. Perhaps there might be hope of reasonableness in the elven empire after all.

The announcement of the bombing strained her facial control, but she managed. She never could have imagined such a wonderful outcome, one which eliminated a Yllendthyr noble and even now was bringing them to the brink of war with the Sultanate. The most sublime pleasure, she thought to herself, was that of a plan coming together perfectly.

When they had finished, the Premier cleared her throat. "The statement that Yllendthyr and Kataylabinsk might not see eye to eye is a considerable understatement, but I do see your point. The new Sultan, Babur, clearly has a tendency for recklessness and irrationality, which in combination with the upheaval in KalMea makes for a very tense continent. Regardless, the People's Republic's position is the same: if you give us a proposal, we will examine it, but we are reluctant to participate in any offensive endeavor." Leaning back, she wondered what the reaction to her reluctance might be.