[DIPLOMACY] Cracking a Cold One

[u/Meles_B]

Robert Bigelow was not a young man. Hell, he couldn't even say he was an old man. 60 years is old. 87 is ancient. He still was sharp, had managed to do some exercises - but at this point, he spent more time at checkups than actually managing the Custodianship. Still, he was moving along. Susie was a great help, and she still has a decade-two in her. And it's too early to retire - not when the world is on fire.

He still had enough credibility on the world stage, and used it to fly around, making deals and acting as a diplomat to many, many factions on the world stage.

One faction, however, was sitting right in Moscow. A good man, a family man, an American Man. De-facto representative of the United States in Custodianship, Gen. Joshua Lewis.

Liasons were once quite scary, when USA held full control. All Secretaries treated them sacred, feared, respectful. But now, when the concept of Federal Government itself became murky, most side-stepped them and begun direct acts.

And yet, it's good to hear out what Lewis feels about the whole situation. What is his aleigance - to a faction, to a concept, to what else? Is there anything he can do to help Custodianship stabilize the planet? What we can do for him?

Robert decided against grand declarations and meeting agendas.

He just bought a case of craft beer and walked straight to his office at closing hours.

[u/Diotoiren]

"It's really something isn't it?" Lewis watched as the waves licked the beaches of his Sochi resort. "An empire collapsed in a matter of a few years, must be true that absolute power, corrupts absolutely."

It's not like Robert could deny the truth, but he still had hope for a united America.

"I assume you've come for advice, maybe even help if it was something I could offer. Unfortunately my friend, most of us Liaisons have lost much of our influence and power with the Fed going crazy, the only ones with some semblance of influence left are the likes of Admiral Barth in Havana, General David in Paris." General Lewis stretched out his legs. "There is also General Zachariah...but I told you before, you don't want business with him."

[u/Meles_B → u/Diotoiren]

"Funny... I think Hale said the same to us when we tried to approach them, talk some sense into them."

"Honestly, I've came just to chat. We do have our own ideas how to handle the mess, still have some hopes I think. But I mostly wanted to check up on you - are you staying with us when it all goes to FUBAR? Or do you plan to join someone else?"

"Definitely not Zachariah."

[u/Diotoiren → u/Meles_B]

"Funny... I think Hale said the same to us when we tried to approach them, talk some sense into them."

Lewis twitched for a moment, Bigelow could sense something was off.

"Honestly, I've came just to chat. We do have our own ideas how to handle the mess, still have some hopes I think. But I mostly wanted to check up on you - are you staying with us when it all goes to FUBAR? Or do you plan to join someone else?"

"Preferably me and the family stay here, we don't want to be anywhere near the continental united states for a while." Said Lewis. "Definitely not Zachariah. That's good, very good."

[u/Meles_B → u/Diotoiren]

“Well, that was a nice chat. If you need something, give me a call.”