Record:Hospital Visit, Part II
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Dux Marone: (Rubbing his eyes.) What gives?
Giulio Moretti: I was in town, as usual. That you were here as well made things easier. How are you feeling? (He turns a page. Giornale Economico, as usual.)
Dux Marone: As well as I could be, I suppose. Goodness, it happened so quickly...
Giulio Moretti: I can imagine. (He closes the newspaper, laying them down on the table.) This war has been sitting quite heavy on people.
Dux Marone: Yeah, well, what am I supposed to do? T'vaqi went in first. Our response was more than proportional. If anything, Deysachin's the ones who...
Giulio Moretti: Yes?
Dux Marone: Look, Giulio, why are you here? You didn't cause this, you've been having a quiet retirement, what's the point in me telling you all of this like it's some damn confessional?
Giulio Moretti: There is no point. I just thought you might need it.
Dux Marone: ...
(Dux Marone lies in silence for a moment, fighting off the urge to say anything.)
Dux Marone: It's those damn Deysachnis! Any time we stand up for something, they twist it around and make their cause. I am not hearing good things about their invasion. How are we supposed to establish lasting peace when they always attempt to dig in their grubby fingers into every last piece of soil?
Giulio Moretti: I suppose that is the reality of living next to a giant.
Dux Marone: You never had to deal with them like I did.
Giulio Moretti: Maybe I chose not to.
Dux Marone: What's that supposed to mean?
Giulio Moretti: Nothing. I told you already.
Dux Marone: Are you telling me to ignore them? I mean, where does it stop if we do? I mean, you've seen it already, Okrit, a legitimate democratic country, is instead being represented by that private mercenary group that's no better than the pirates out east. They keep propping up their little mandates and territories as far as Hapšaw. I mean, you've seen the elections in Buglio!
Giulio Moretti: Easy on the heart there, friend. Yes, I did see all of that. I saw it happen.
Dux Marone: Then, what's with the meek attitude?
Giulio Moretti: Do you value our independence, Bartolomeo?
(Dux Marone stays silent, awaiting continuation.)
Giulio Moretti: We are a small nation. Not tiny, but small. Small in every metric that matters. Our population is not huge. Our military is lagging behind. Our industry is doing quite well, but it depends on exports to sustain it. If the world turns on us, then what?
Dux Marone: We will defend ourselves. We have to.
Giulio Moretti: You are already straining the extent of our international political capital. Do not overestimate it.
Dux Marone: And what, are we supposed to lie down like some nation of cowards?
Giulio Moretti: I know how much all of this means to you. But there is no use in showing your teeth if your bite will be blunt. Attempt to reel Deysachin in. But do not antagonize them.
(Giulio Moretti stands up and begins pacing around the room.)
Giulio Moretti: Do you remember, what was it... 56? Those were different times. It didn't take long for Deysachin to swoop in.
Dux Marone: I remember. I was there.
Giulio Moretti: You should, then. You played your part exceedingly well, enough to ensure Deysachin trusted you enough to install you instead of one of their own. If it weren't for you, we might not be a democracy right now.
Dux Marone: I can imagine where you are going with this.
Giulio Moretti: Do not turn yourself into a nativist, but know that Advisor Papregoli is a thorn in your chest that you won't get rid of. Squirming will only press it in deeper.
Dux Marone: Get to the point.
Giulio Moretti: If you're going to do a job of ensuring a counterweight to Deysachin exists, you will not do it alone. Make friends with nations. You will not beat them into submission. You need a coalition to back you, and right now you just don't have it.
Dux Marone: So who, Kalam?
Giulio Moretti: And T'vaqi, once the war ends. Do not hesitate to mend relations. Okrit as well, possibly, though they do not seem particularly concerned with foreign affairs. But even further than that. I doubt you will have much issue finding nations that have been slighted by Deysachin. You do not have to profess love to them. But they need to be on your side.
Dux Marone: I'll think about it.
Giulio Moretti: Very well. I did as much as I could. It is up to you now, while your mandate lasts.
(The door closes behind Giulio. The room is silent.)