Three weeks of relative peace made the messenger's arrival feel like an omen, a uniformed Association courier riding through coalition territory with formal documentation that meant bureaucrats were paying attention again.
Luthra intercepted the courier at the main gate, already guessing what the sealed envelope contained based on Director Kaelen's parting comments about "reconsidering protection parameters."
'Here we go. They couldn't leave us alone for a month without finding new leverage.'
The documentation was extensive, forty pages of legal framework proposing "Enhanced Partnership Initiative" between Coalition Protected Territory and Hunter Association Regional Command. Misha translated the bureaucratic language during emergency council meeting.
