[b]Zagreb, Slovene-Croatia[/b]

Pavic moved toward the presidential office at a quick pace; there were news, urgent news. On his right hand were a pile of clipped papers, typed in an organized fashion, line by line until it filled with bottom. A few pages had the occasional graph or chart. Pavic was in his early forties, and like the many of the other people in the palace, he dressed formally and walked firmly. He navigated around the hallway mazes, passing through groups of people muttering to each other. Pavic knew the presidential palace by heart; after all, he was one of Dvornik's several assistants and advisors. 

Soon enough he had reached the tall double doors of the office. Pavic gave the door one short series of knocks. "Come on in, Pavic. I know it's you," a voice responded from inside. 

Pavic took a deep breath and opened the doors – his body peeked in, seeing a man in a brown suit. Fifty years had aged Dvornik. A tie lay folded next to the table lamp, and the light-gray haired man leaned back on his seat, fiddling with the radio set in front of his stacked papers. Pavic's message was quick and short: "Serbia's in the Iberian League, Mr. President."

"I understand, Pavic," Dvornik answered, straightening up and adjusting the lamp slightly toward him. "The ongoing conflict between Spain and Ethiopia is a problem toward our own interests. Our trade routes are stuck: Spain controls the Gibraltar, and now, the Suez Canal. Issues may start to get ugly in the Mediterranean. And now Serbia's just adding to those problems. Inactivity won't do anymore."

"...And Hungary, sir."

"Yes, Hungary," Dvornik muttered, his hands interlocking with each other. "My concern lies not with Ethiopia. Honestly...I don't give a shit about the affairs in their continent. They lie a thousands of kilometers away from us, through land and water. Aid would be impossible either way. But if we don't take sides, Serbia will become more confident and attempt to take Bosnia away, and soon enough, our own nation."

Dvornik sighed and slid inward, placing one wrinkled hand at the table, and another on his forehead. He recalled the start of the conflict between Slovene-Croatia and Serbia; he was only a high school student when Reunification occurred. Finally, after a few minutes of silence, he had made his decision. "Send a diplomat to Hungary," he suddenly replied. "We need to make sure Serbia doesn't act out of hand. Right now, we stay quiet until Serbia acts, or we're certain that Prussia, Austria, and Hungary backs us up."

Pavic nodded quietly and took his leave; his footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Dvornik looked back at his papers. 

"Make your move, [i]Dragan[/i]."

––––––––––

Adél Bak, President of the Republic of Hungary.

Mrs. President,

I must give you my approval and sincere respect toward your recent speech toward the increasingly imperialistic actions of the Iberian League. Such actions threaten the peace and stability of Africa and Southern Europe – we, the Dual Republic of Slovene-Croatia, are against these aggressive actions. 

We are also concerned with the joining of Serbia in the Iberian League. They, like Spain, have a history of constant aggression and intimidation. We fear, that with the help of Spain, Serbia will begin to harass and throw the Balkan countries into a state of war for its own interests of expansion. 

So we would like to send two diplomats to Budapest for talks over this increasingly frightening conflict. Serbia may intend to threaten the prosperity of our nation; it may threaten the prosperity of yours as well. Rijeka and Pula will also be opened up to assist in bringing aid to the Ethopians beyond the Mediterranean.

With respect,
Andrej Dvornik, President of the Republic of Slovene-Croatia.