Chapter Ten: The Most Loyal Appointed Executive Secretary of the Commission

The Secretary of Trade knocked at the door, knowing what kind of conversation will transpire inside the Executive Secretary's chamber. He wasn't ready for this; he simply cannot withhold the fact that any fear he have inside was valid, and really difficult to bear. Someone, somewhere, is orchestrating the controversies now unfolding right before their very eyes.

"Please come in. The door is open."

The voice of the Executive Secretary startled him. He was still trying to contain the fear he have inside, but this is not the time to be a coward. Cowardice has no place in a society that threatens the voice of truth. Everyone must stand by their own principles, and what they believe in. He was not a coward: today he is choosing courage.

He opened the door and entered the room. In there, he saw the man he was dreading to see in this perilous times, but had no choice.

The Executive Secretary was sitting behind his desk. His chamber was well-appointed, as always. As the Secretary of Trade stared at him, he can see the look of worry in his face, although not as obvious and visible. Everybody is just trying to be strong in these tough times. He must trust his current Secretary of Trade, after all, in his solemn capacity to be able to mediate the commercial disputes in the Commission.

"Any progress on diplomatic channels?" the Executive Secretary asked. "This is not about the Ancestral House, right?"

The Secretary of Trade shook his head. "It seems that this is just a simple war on tariffs, but everyone knows this is about the Ancient Accords. This is about the Ancestral House."

The Executive Secretary acknowledged this, still studying the matter in his head. He knows that everything rests on an effective mediation on the dispute at hand.

"Then, this is already a legal matter. We must make sure that the Law Councilors interpret the Ancient Accords for the general welfare of all concerned."

The Secretary of Trade responded almost instantly. "Absolutely. This is where this issue is finally headed."

"We must enable the vote on the Cause of Action in the first instance during the Special Session and avoid any further debate that will breed more division within the Commission."

"I have to agree, Your Excellency."

"Very well," the Executive Secretary said with finality. "Let us all open all channels before any opportunity to start a war finds its way to happen."

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This Chapter is sponsored by Procter & Gamble Company.