[h2][center][color=ed1c24]Santa Fe, Brigadier General Garcia[/color][/center][/h2]

There was a small moment of pause as his words sunk into the gathering. The strange robot representing Lord Paladin Barnaky managed to look unimpressed. And then Lucius abruptly pointed at him as he looked around the room. It was vaguely unnerving to singled out by Caesar.

“This is why I gladly speak with the NCR’s military and not its politicians.”, Lucius began “a soldier means what he says and has the discipline required to carry it out. I would trust the word of General Garcia here over any of those profligate snakes that call themselves the NCR Senate….”

He was that successful? He figured that Caesar would pick up on the fact that he wasn’t happy with all of the things he said like Barnaky seemed to have. It would be good to remember that Caesar preferred army men such as himself.

“As for Kimball…” He continued, “His remains along with the fallen at the Battle of Pheonix were collected by NCR POWS. I will allow them to return home. They should be buried in their native soil and honored there. Even Kimball. As much as I found the man to be absurdly arrogant and detestable in life, he died with some honor fighting as a soldier should alongside his men. I bear the scars he gave me proudly as a mark of a worthy foe. I trust you do not misunderstand the trophy I display in the hall as that of shaming. I display it not to shame: but to remember a fallen adversary.”

Garcia gritted his teeth a little. He was hoping Caesar wouldn’t keep Kimballs regalia as any kind of decoration. Nevertheless, he couldn’t fail to be happy that Kimballs remains could be brought home. It was Kimball that pinned the Brigadier General insignia on his chest in what felt like decades ago. He was also very glad for Lucius’s good treatment of the soldiers. His imagination had conjured up a far worse fate for them, but this Caesar seemed to be almost knightly in his honor. “I accept these terms.”

Lucius stood, and motioned for Garcia to stand with him. He offered his hand, and Garcia clasped the hand of Caesar. Time seemed to slow down in the gravity of the moment. He wondered if there were cameramen or sketch artists watching, waiting to put this in what passed for a newspaper here.

“Then we are agreed. And there will be the peace. I will have my scribes draft the official agreement immediately, which we might sign here today.”

He nodded. “General Hsu has given me the authority to sign today. It will last past tomorrow and the next, Caesar.” And with that, his role seemed to be over for now. But the conference was only beginning. Hey, he had gotten through the hardest parts at least. As he sat down, he asked a little awkwardly “What part of the wasteland should we talk about next? Perhaps the war in Florida?”

President Harris finally wetted his stumpy lips and took the reigns. “Yes, that is probably wise. First, I give thanks to you Caesar for allowing this process with the NCR to go smoothly. Thank you for disconnecting the irrational actions of Kimball from the soldiers who had to follow his absurd strategies. In regards to the Keynesian Civil War, I plan to soon announce my support for His Serenity Bartholomew Hemingway III and his loyalist faction against the rogue slave states. The direct intervention of the Free Confederation of Texan States should likely follow. Peace and freedom must be brought to the region, and His Serenity is the most likely to bring it." He looked towards Barnaky and Lucius "What are your assessments of the situation?”