[color=009c3b]Brasilia, Palácio da Alvorada[/color]

"Are you certain that it's wise to confront Paris about this, Ambassador Davis?” Conceição asked, her clawed fingers knotted together beneath her chin. Her brow furrowed, her eyelids pushed down in a flat, disapproving line. The man across from her - a thin man, his brownish-grey hair surrounding the top of his yet yet somehow managing to miss all of it.

“I am, Madam President.” Davis responded, carefully adjusting his spectacles. “I have to disagree that the French government will see this as a confrontation, however; they’re aware that we’re likely a few steps ahead of them. We don’t have anything to gain from stealing from them, but-”

Conceição nodded, bringing her hands down against her desk. She leaned back ever so slightly in the huge, leather chair supporting her - only to quickly rock forward again, spending a few short moments staring at his lapel, a handkerchief in the pocket. She nodded again.

“You think we can convince them to cooperate with us, Ambassador?” She asked. He nodded in return, without even a moment spent in thought.

“I’m certain that we can. As I’m sure you know, President, Paris could use a beachhead in the Americas. Furthermore, if our scientists are right, this technology - this ‘Faster than Light” propulsion - is going to be frankly *huge*. They can’t afford to fall behind. Nobody can.”

The President nodded again. “I doubt we’ll be able to get the Soviets to cooperate with us, but... OTAN *would* be extremely valuable. They’re friendly enough, and you’re correct that their support will be valuable - especially when it comes to the UN vote.” She said - and Davis nodded back.

What about India, she wondered? They were deploying orbital weapons against fucking *pirates*, of all things. Could they be relied upon if they were willing to throw that much weight around so flagrantly? What if the Americans simply vetoed the resolution, or the Soviets pretended to play along as they proceeded to hoard all the technology for themselves?

Brazil *needed* allies.

“Prepare a plan of action for me and inform the French that we’d like to to speak with them, and give my greetings to the President.” She said. Davis promptly stood up, bid her a respectful farewell, and proceeded out the door without another word. He was a dedicated man, if nothing else - and she could respect that - but she still had to keep a handful of secrets from him.

It was time to contact their friends in the EALN.