When the winter storms finally broke enough for travel, Aria made her way to the Central Territories for the delayed working group meeting. The journey took twice as long as usual, roads still difficult despite improving weather.
The working group convened with unusual tension. The non compliance issues had affected every member's region differently. Some territories had maintained strict adherence to protocols. Others had experienced significant resistance.
"We must establish consequences," Thornwell argued forcefully. "Non compliant territories should be expelled from the working group and denied access to restoration training."
"That punishes victims," Aria said. "People suffering in non compliant territories did nothing wrong. Why should they lose access to care because their leaders resist protocols?"
"Because political leaders respond to constituent pressure," Thornwell said. "If victims cannot access care due to leadership decisions, they will pressure leaders to comply."
