“Obviously, Pritchart and her administration would very much like to change that. They’ve failed to do so at the negotiating table, and so it’s very possible—even probable—that this entire announcement is designed to do so in another venue. If they’ve been able to offset our military advantage, or even to create a false impression that they’ve done so, then the entire balance of power shifts. In which case,” she transferred her attention from Janacek alone to everyone else around the table, “Edward’s suggestion that this might be the first step toward a new, more aggressive foreign policy stance would make perfectly good sense.”

“I see.” High Ridge nodded thoughtfully, then pursed his lips. “But you said that was the first possibility. What’s the second one?”

“The second one,” Descroix said, “is that this announcement represents an escalation of a purely internal political agenda.”

“How?” New Kiev asked. Descroix glanced at her sharply, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer shrugged. “I’m not discounting the possibility, Elaine. I’m just curious about how an announcement of enhanced military capabilities could affect any sort of domestic agenda.”

Her tone was conciliatory, despite the growing antipathy between her and Descroix, and the Foreign Secretary relaxed visibly.

“The internal dynamics of the Republic aren’t as clear as we could wish,” she said. “In large part, that’s because their entire system is so new. In a lot of ways, they’re still working out precedents and spheres of authority as they go along, and if they don’t know exactly where the lines lie, it’s even more difficult for us to know. Even so, though, it’s pretty clear that Pritchart and Giancola are rivals, despite his membership in her Cabinet. As you know, he ran a fairly respectable campaign against her in the presidential election, and there are several indications that he sees foreign policy as an issue on which he might base an even more effective campaign when she runs for reelection.

“We don’t have a formal ambassador to Haven, of course, but we do have extensive third-party contact with their government through several other nations’ embassies and consulates. On the basis of that contact, it seems evident to us that Giancola’s been pressing Pritchart to assume a more assertive stance in their treaty negotiations. Not only that, but he also appears to be in the process of establishing his own clique within their Congress and the upper tiers of the Administration, and he’s using discontent with Pritchart’s stance to do it.”

“I assume that if we’re aware of this, President Pritchart also has to be aware of it.” New Kiev’s observation came out as a question, and she cocked an eyebrow at Descroix.

“I’m sure she is,” the Foreign Secretary agreed.

“In that case,” New Kiev asked, “why doesn’t she simply fire him as Secretary of State?”

“Probably because she can’t,” Descroix replied. “She has to consider the balance of power between domestic political factions just as carefully as we do, Marisa. Probably even more carefully, given how… unsettled the Republic’s internal affairs have been. It’s obvious that Giancola has a substantial power base of his own, and she probably figures that she can’t afford to openly alienate it. Especially if he has been succeeding in strengthening it.”