A hero's welcome for the fleet and the welcome by the Director for you.

As soon as the ships are anchored, the cargoes and the gifts from Utrecht, Alma and Petronius quickly begin to unload while the surviving crews of both vessels are beginning to come down from the ships. Down there, a crowd of people are waiting for them and they are cheering for them for their safe return.

"Clearly, these are the peoples who voted for Director Ratcliffe." - You think as you are watching the cheering crowd which are mainly made up of the youths and the folks who are either retired or discharged that are part of the latest generation in the long line of the veterans of the Wilderness Wars.

"Welcome back, Rear Admiral Buchanan! I see that one of the ship is gone. Hmm. That is to be expected since one of the primary missions of the expedition is to deal with the pirates that was harassing our coasts." Montgomery said as he approached the Rear Admiral.

Montgomery Ratcliffe, the current Director of the Republic of Florida, appeared to be middle-aged large Caucasian man with recently shaven face in dark blue suit with red tie and black shoes. And standing behind him appeared to be an African-American woman in either her late 20's or early 30's with long black hair and glasses in green dress and dark green shoes.

Knowing that you needed to go down there and introduce yourself as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Utrecht to the Director of the Republic of Florida, so you do just that. You walked down with your companions down to meet the Director and the crowd down below.

"Greetings, Director Ratcliffe. My name is Anton Blake and I am the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Utrecht to your country." You said as you bowed before the Director of the Republic of Florida in respect.

"Welcome to Florida, Ambassador Blake. I hope the trip here had been kind to you. Now come! You and I have much to discuss back at my office." Montgomery said as he and his secretary lead you and your companions to the carriages.

Once inside the carriages, the coachmen drive you and the others to the Director's Palace, the place where all Directors of the Republic of Florida resided ever since its foundation.

On the way there, you found this port city to be somewhat resembling that of the Axeman City, New Rotterdam and Port Williams in a way such as that it is a bustling city full of activities. You see a few marketplaces, the banks, pharmacies with soda fountains, other carriages passing by and inns for people to stay for the nights.

Soon, you and the others arrived at the Director's Palace and is being led straight to the office of the Director himself by Director Ratcliffe and his female African-American secretary along with the ambassadors from Pretonius while your companions stayed behind at the reception.

"Sit, Ambassadors. You guys and I have some diplomatic matters to discuss." Montgomery said as he's sitting on the chair behind his desk.

"Well then, I would like to start with the Treaty of Petronius." You said as one of the ambassadors from Petronius handed Director Ratcliffe the rolled paper from President Mikes to him.

The Director of the Republic of Florida soon opened the paper and read the conditions of the treaty himself. After he finished reading them, he turned to look at you and the other ambassadors.

"I found this to be acceptable." Montgomery said as he then grabs a bird's feather, dip into a bottle of ink and then use it to sign his name to ratify it.

"If that is the case, then we would like to ask for some of your ships to travel to the other nations to give them the copies of this treaty." One of the ambassadors said with hope of this request being granted.

"May I know where do you guys intended to go?" Montgomery asked them, wanting to know where they needed to go so that the ships can arranged for them.

"To Texas, Yucatan, Alma, Utrecht and the Dominican Republic." Another ambassador said to the Director of the Republic of Florida.

"Hmm. That can be arranged. Anything else?" Montgomery asked them back, wondering are there anything else they needed or not.

"Well, I would like to talk about establishing the good relations between your country and Utrecht, Mr. Director." You said with hope that the answer will be yes.

"Of course, Ambassador Blake! And I can assured you that my nation seeks nothing but friendship and cooperation from your nation. And if possible, an alliance also." Director Ratcliffe said with a smile.

"That is delightful to hear, Director." You said with a nervous smile because of the diplomatic pressures that you are feeling on your shoulders.

"And will the same be applied for Petronius?" Another one of the ambassadors asked the Director.

"Of course! We needed all trading partners and allies we can get." Montgomery said as he turned to look at one such ambassador from Petronius.

"And for now, you are all dismissed." Director Ratcliffe said and upon hearing that, you and the others leave his office. But before you get to leave, the Director of the Republic of Florida speaks again.

"Oh! And one more thing! You are all invited back here for dinner at 18:00 P.M." Montgomery said as he smiled back at you and the other ambassadors who are leaving his office.

After that, you reunited with you companions in the reception and then leave to settle at one of the inns in Richloam.