[b][i]Washington D.C, the United States of America:[/i][/b] It was an exceptionally busy day at the Brazilian embassy in America, as people both rushed around carrying a wide variety of official papers and stood around and watched the news as new information concerning the invasion of Ethiopia trickled out of Africa. One of the staffers shook his head. “I swear, goddamn it, they had to choose the absolute worst time to do this. Had this been the beginning or even the middle of Claro’s term, he would have ordered troops to Africa in no time. Now with the election he knows sending troops would be a disaster for his opinion rating.” “I don’t care how many people want to hop on a boat and sail over there to fight, the majority of people wouldn’t care about Spain until they’re landing in Recife,” remarked another. "You hear that Hungary's offering aid to Ethiopia now? Maybe if there's enough of us Spain can't kill us all." “Hey, everyone! Listen up!” shouted Luis Geraldo, the head diplomat of the embassy. “I have just been informed that no less than the Minister of Foreign Relations herself is about to show up on our front step in ten minutes!” The look of shock on the staff’s faces was evident, many of them had never met the woman who was in charge of all diplomacy for the [i]Republica do Brasil.[/i] “And as such, you will clean up all this mess and have everything looking respectable by the time she arrives, lest you be headed back to Brasilia. Am I clear?” “Yes,” came the chorus. “Good.” The next few minutes were a frenzy of activity, as everything was neatly replaced back into its proper locations, people went back to their work desks, and televisions were muted. So much so, that when the Minister was escorted in her first comment was on how clean and orderly everything looked. There was an inaudible sigh of relief amongst the embassy staff, and things quickly returned to normal. Luis escorted her into his office, and after shutting the door he returned to his seat. “Mrs. Moreno. To what do I owe the pleasure of your sudden visit?” Adelina settled herself into the seat directly in front of his desk. “I do apologize for the sudden nature of this visit, President Claro did not even inform me my presence would be necessary here until yesterday.” “Yesterday?” Geraldo balked at this news. “You must have been on-“ “The first flight this morning, yes,” Adelina said exasperatedly. “It was quite a shock to me as well.” “What business here up in the Far North is so important?” Luis asked half-jokingly. Adelina took a breath. “President Claro has sent me to personally attempt to conduct a reset of relations between the United States and Brazil. With Ethiopia, our closest friends, under attack and Addis Ababa predicted to fall within the next two months, Brazil urgently needs new allies.” “America is one of the few places with little Spanish or Chinese influence, Mexico notwithstanding. But that is not expected to last for much longer for the same reason: when Africa is free of socialist sentiment, the Americas will be the next target. We need to ensure that we are powerful enough to reject Spanish influence, and we cannot do that alone. We are, after all, only the biggest fish in our small pond.” Luis rubbed his beard in thought. “I definitely follow your line of thinking, [i]Senhora[/i] minister.” “What do you need from me?” “Some stationary would be nice,” she remarked. --- [i]To Lillian Mather, Secretary of State of the United States of America: Greetings. I offer both my congratulations and the congratulations of my President, Adriano Claro, for President Norman’s victory in the recent election. The ouster of President Eric Fernandez is a major victory for the American people in the struggle against communist influence. As you know well, Brazil and the United States have had tense relations under the Fernandez administration, mainly because of its association with the Third International. Now that this membership is over, however, Brazil would like to extend the hand of friendship to the United States, and collaborate to ensure the stability of the Americas against outside threats. To that effect, President Claro has asked me to request the initiation of formal diplomatic talks in order to reset United States-Brazil relations and determine in what areas our two nations can work together in the decades to come. -Sincerely, Adelina Moreno, Minister of Foreign Relations for the República Federativa do Brasil[/i] [b][i]Brasilia, Brazil:[/i][/b] “[i]Olẚ[/i], everyone.” The President settled down in his seat at the end of the Cabinet chamber in the Planalto Palace, the headquarters of the Brazilian executive branch. “Please, have a seat.” The eight present ministers and the Vice President, Jonathan Feliz, sat down, leaving only one open seat – for the Minister of Foreign Relations, absent on a diplomatic mission to America – at the table. Claro straightened his back, and leaned slightly forward. “I hereby call this meeting of the Cabinet of Brazil to order.” He then smiled congenially. “Hopefully not my last, certainly?” The others laughed, if perhaps a little nervously, as everyone was before an election. He first turned to the Minister of Agriculture, as was customary. Armando Monteiro was his name, son of one of the oldest plantation families in Brazil. “I am happy to report that the subsidies for chemical fertilizer have been enormously productive, [i]Senhor[/i] President. My statistics show that over the last four years, agricultural output has increased by no less than twenty-one percent, while the number of farmers continues to decline. This clearly shows our farmers are not only significantly more productive, they are also more efficient. There is some concern surrounding the runoff of these fertilizers into the Amazon-“ Monteiro shot a dark look at the Minister of Science, who coughed in agreement. “Those concerns will no doubt be remedied with time.” Claro nodded, and turned to the Minister of Defense. “President Claro, with news of the Spanish attack on Ethiopia our generals have recommended a strengthening of the defenses along the Atlantic coast, a suggestion I readily agreed to. We have stationed additional troops and aircraft along the more susceptible areas, and emplaced additional anti-aircraft guns.” Several members of the Cabinet looked dubious at the idea that mere anti-air guns could defend against jet aircraft. “I have brought to you the idea of creating physical defenses, of actually constructing forts or garrisons on the coast to make an amphibious landing even more impossible.” Casimiro Silva was loyal to his core, a true military man, who would never consent to any momentous decisions without consulting him, an attribute which Claro greatly appreciated. Claro sat thoughtfully for a moment, before shaking his head. “I feel that would be both expensive and premature. We have no evidence that Spain even intends to attack us, so far.” He looked next at the Minister of Trade and Development, Estevao Madeira, who had been shuffling through papers. Upon noticing Adriano’s gaze, he hurriedly began speaking. “President Claro, our industrial base has continued to grow under our watchful supervision. Oil production is up considerably, and the chief executive of Petrobras believes that by the end of the century we should be competitive with Spain in the volume of oil and oil product production.” He shuffled through his papers once more, before pulling out one in particular. “The most pressing issue now is the proposed Venezuelan pipeline.” “Oh, goodness. This again?” Claro frowned considerably. “I am all for the expanding of our petroleum production, but I have heard about the Spanish pipelines in Africa. There are tales of entire villages sick, wells poisoned, as a result of leaks. Pipelines are far too prone to damage for me to ever consider piping oil from Venezuela to our refineries in Brazil. If I am reelected, I firmly intend to veto that bill regardless of what splinter faction of my party votes for it.” “With that settled, I will now hear the report of the Minister of Education.” Calista Torres, the youngest member of the Cabinet, spoke up. “The Expanded Rural Education act you passed three years ago has proven invaluable to my department. Literacy rates in rural areas have increased from 50 to 75 percent, and the overall literacy rate from 80 to 85. In my firm opinion, the state of education in this country has never been better.” The Minister of Finance, Eduardo Victore, straightened his glasses. “The 1979-1980 budget is extremely solid thus far, [i]Senhor[/i] President. The national debt has been reduced to 122.4 billion real, which is marvelous considering that is barely over 10% of our GDP. As our population ages social security expenditures are expected to rise significantly, but by then we should have the financial resources to combat it.” The Minister of Justice, Benjamim Franco, knowing his turn was next, quickly followed up with his report, despite its significantly darker tone. “There has been a recent outbreak of crime in the coastal cities, with the expansion of both organized and petty crime. Interior cities’ crime rates continue to decline, but this explosive crime wave we are seeing is both without precedent and unexpected. Police authorities have ramped up enforcement, but the end is not yet in sight.” President Claro looked sharply dismayed. “Ensure that they are getting all of the resources necessary to combat this. If we need to send in the army, we will.” Franco nodded. “Of course, sir.” Claro turned next to the Minister of Science, as the meeting began to draw to a close. “Senhor Estevez, have we made any notable breakthroughs on the rocketry project yet? Anything of the kind?” Joao looked remarkably sour. The failures of his department were well known throughout the government and were beginning to gain a reputation as a complete waste of time. “As you well know, President Claro, our scientists are trying as best as possible to attempt to create an experimental jet or rocket engine. As we speak we are experimenting on multiple different types of fuel.” Monteiro, eager to rectify the slight about the fertilizers, could not resist commenting. “Have you ever considered that maybe there’s nothing wrong with the fuel? Maybe your rockets are just bad?” Claro gave a sympathetic look, but said “Please, Armando. Let the man speak.” Clearly attentive to the dogpile which was forming on him, Joao merely said, “I will have them redouble their efforts.” The Minister of Labor, Marcelo Neri, looked up from his newspaper and laughed. “[i]Senhor[/i] President, surely we do not need a minister of labor with yourself as President, but perhaps I will be of use to a Liberal administration.” “As a result of your enlightened policies, workplace productivity has continued to rise…” He let that sink in for a moment. “Except amongst the state-owned industries. There, it has essentially remained stagnant. I would recommend increased discipline to match those of private enterprise, if they are to remain competitive.” Claro nodded, and returned his gaze to the center of the table. “I’d like to thank you all for your reports. I hereby declare a recess.” The ministers filed out, and Claro turned around in his chair merely to gaze out of the window at the sloped walkways and neatly trimmed grass of the Three Powers Plaza outside.