Seref Games

A Telegram arrives at the capital of the USA. The world is filled with dangerous communist elements, driven by amoral atheistic ideas. The Kingdom of Romania wishes to open talks, and seek friendships with like-minded nations.

A response was dispatched indicating Romania was welcome to send an emissary to meet with Secretary of State Farahnaz Amiri in the city of Tehran.

Luca Croitoru steps out of his staff car in Tehran. The sun glints off his round glasses, and he withdraws a handkerchief and dabs at his brow. They were truthful when they told him how hot it is here. He swallows.
The hotel itself is rather too hot, certainly to be wearing such a ridiculous suit in. He wonders if his Government would be opposed to letting him dress in the local fashion.

Still, appearances must be preserved.

After the hotel, the immaculate black Rolls-Royce glides to a stop outside the capital building. Luca steps out, his step carefully measured as he approaches the US dignitaries. Greetings are exchanged in well-practiced persian, and at last he finds himself in a cool conference room, across from the Secretary of State. He clears his throat.

"Madam Secretary. Thank you for meeting me. The Romanian government is a great admirer of the unity of the U.S following the devastation of the plague. You have brought stability to the people here, and that is commendable."
"As you may be aware, Romania seeks friendship and stability with the nations of the world. Unfortunately, there are rising militant nations that are growing dangerously influential- I am referring to the Communists. A new Federation is growing powerful in Russia, with a powerful military and dreams of reuniting the USSR."

Luca turns his head slightly. His round glasses catch the light.

"Of course, this is no modest threat. In light of their militarization, the most prudent step seems to be the offensive alignment of nations against them. With your permission, the government would like to purchase a building in Tehran to transform into an Embassy. You would of course be given your own in Bucharest. There are also economic implications to our friendship; Romania has ample supplies of oil, although not as much as the USA. Controlling this supply- and denying enemy factions their oil- is obviously effective."

-

Luca nods. "Ah, your new metropolis. Of course. We shall begin promptly."

"The only other matter at this time would be clarifying trade relations. The USA and Romania have many similar exports and imports, but nevertheless open trade is desirable, with our economies both budding in this post-war period."

He opens a leather briefcase, stamped with the Romanian coat of arms, and withdraws a sheaf of papers.

"We have drafted a modest open-market deal, outlined here. Please examine it at your leisure."

Mr. Croitoru was warned to expect hostility here, but the meeting went as well as he could have expected. He is keenly aware that the USA will guess at the Kingdom's tacit interest in weapons. Or certainly will when they note the Government's admiration for the new Asian models. After composing his report, he decides to go after a drink. He feels exhausted, and there will be plenty to do tomorrow.

Shortly after the conclusion of the meeting, a note was dispatched from the desk of the Secretary of Defense to their counterpart in Romania, proposing a program whereby the United States-- which was already planning to modernize its existing hardware-- would provide the equipment it was replacing to Romania rather than scrap it. The program also entailed US officers going to Romania to help them begin indigenous production of new military hardware like the F-86 in lieu of the World War-era technology Romania was currently using.

A small church outside Galați, Romania, has been transformed into a field headquarters, a large antennae affixed to the iron cross atop its steeple. Strangely, nobody among the staff objected to their companionship. Now they sit together, staring over the moonlit farmstead, the voices below distant and unimportant.

It is here that the Romanian Generals joyfully receive the proposed agreement. As Ioan Arhip reads over the US program, a smile breaks across his face. "It seems Croitoru has performed beyond our expectations. The USA has been generous in their response. Iolanda will want to hear of this at once."

Electric signals zap through the delicate mesh of the new symbol, radiating excitedly from its outstretched limbs. Beside it, the old one is silent, contemplative, immovable. It perches as it has for four hundred years, raising only a slow and cynical eye to the newcomer.

"Go on then. All the world's yours, my young friend. Your passion burns, and it burns brightly. But beware; such bright things do not last."

It is with utmost confidence and secrecy that Luca Croitoru delivers a bound manila folder to Farahnaz Amiri. The folder is stamped, in large jet-black letters, TOP SECRET. The papers inside are headed Operation Green Lion.

"I hoped you might consider this, Madam Secretary. It contains relevant details as to current Romanian plans for the prospective annexation of Bulgaria. I hope we might have a conference- confidentially of course- once you have had ample time to review the papers."