"I think..." the interim president started speaking first. "I think the nation would never forgive us if we got ourselves vassalised. We shouldn't join the Federation. We should take our losses and suffer the fate we deserved together."
"Vassalisation, I am against." I said. "But this is not an official vassalisation, there are no vassal states in this era of humanity... I want to offer another point of view. If we become a part of the Federation, we can have more say on the international politics; something we won't succeed in if we continue to suffer alone."
"Hmm... Something interesting to think about... What do you think, Miss Nuan?" Rashid asked.
"Well... We can still try to make the most of this peace treaty. If we join the Feds, we will get to keep our assets. I think we can put all this glory and pride issues aside; I wouldn't want to see the Martian people in a worse situation than they already were in."
"In case we join the Feds, they will never allow us to get back on our feet." Rashid said.
"But this is what will happen in both cases." I said. "No matter which path we choose, the Feds will undermine our plans for the future."
"We can try to recover within the Federation for some time before starting a process to leave them later on." Nuan said.
"They will make it impossible for us to leave once we join." Rashid argued. "Federation nations depend on each other so much that they can literally not leave the Federation without bloody wars... during which the leaving nation would lose."
"But a few like Turkey and Japan actually succeded in-"
"I want to remind you that they left the Federation on paper, but not in practise." I interrupted Nuan. "I have no doubt that they will join the Federation again, on paper, once this war is officially over."
Rashid sighed.
"Look, as an independent nation, we shouldn't give up one of the most precious values we have. Our ancestors didn't fight the Martian War of Independence so that we could go all the way back to the beginning, only like one and a half century later." Rashid argued.
"Valid point..." I said. "But I have to agree with Nuan. If we don't join the Feds, the Republic will lose everything of economic value. Just like Ms. Nuan, I don't want to see the people suffer. For this, I am willing to put our national pride aside. This is the time to be logical, not emotional."
Rashid sighed.
"I still fail to understand your reasoning." he said.
"And if we join the Federation, they would finish this Martian Civil War as soon as possible, because that would be for their benefit." I said.
"I don't want to know what they will do to those resistance fighters." Rashid said. "Don't be ridicolous, Kagan!"
"What did YOU do to those resistance fight- I mean, terrorists, Mr. Rashid?" I asked. "You were bombing them from orbit a while ago, what made you feel sympathy towards them so suddenly?"
"They are our people!" said Rashid. "This is an internal matter of the People's Republic, and I won't allow the Federation to get involved!"
"You were not mentioning any of these some short time ago." I said. "You said you were bombing those terrorists from orbit. Mr. Rashid... Terrorists are terrorists, no matter what nationality they identify themselves with!"
"Don't betray the Republic like those before you." Rashid said. "They are washing your brains with sweet words, Mr. Kagan and Ms. Nuan. The Republic won't bow down to the imperialist Federation."
"We will have to make our last sacrifice to start rebuilding our future, mister interim president." I said. "We will never have a future if our mines, refineries and stations close down; and our Navy gets scrapped."
"I would prefer that instead of helping the Federation's cause." Rashid said.
"I am sorry, mister president." Nuan rejoined the conversation. "But the council's voting is against you, 2 to 1. I vote to negotiate our entry to the Federation."
"Mr. Kagan and Ms. Nuan, you are now removed from all of your duties." Rashid said. "Mr. Kagan, please remove the admiral's pin on your uniform."
I stood up in anger.
"I do not recognise you as the president of the People's Republic of Mars." I said. "We will be handling the negotiations for the Martian people."
"Kagan!" Nuan was surprised.
"You are under arrest, Mr. Kagan." said Rashid. I closed the comms channel without replying.
"So much for democracy, miss." I said. Nuan was still in shock.
"What are you- I mean, we are going to do?" she asked.
"We will attend to the meeting tomorrow and discuss the treaty with the Feds." I said. "Hopefully, we will have it signed during that meeting."
"You now have a wanted status." Nuan said. "The treaty won't be approved."
"There will be no one to approve the treaty." I said. "Mr. Rashid's presidency is not legit."
"Says who?" Nuan asked.
"No one. I'm saying it, and that is the problem. The government is gone, the parliament is gone. There is no one to say anything." I said.
"So, wait..." Nuan said. "You mean, right now, we are basically building a country from ground up again." Nuan said.
"If no one beats us to it, yeah." I said. "Hopefully."
"Like... since you don't recognise Mr. Rashid's presidency... You are doing, the, uhm..."
"Yeah." I said. "Exactly. We are educated, experienced, we have the power in our hands. I am an admiral, you have political power; and using our resources, I am intent on building a new government. Be a part of it!"
"We will get blown up once we return to Mars." Nuan said.
"Don't be so sure." I said. "I know that LC/M Lodos and her fleet won't betray me. And if we get this treaty signed, the Federation would make everything to help us install a Federation-sympathizing government on Mars. Once we get everything together, even if the Homeland Defense Fleet takes Mr. Rashid's side, we won't be stopped."
"That's betrayal... but... logic tells me that it is the right course of action." said Nuan.
"That's not betrayal." I said. "That's the only way we can save the Martian people from a graver future."