"The General."

"The General" she replied, turning to the man beside her. "You said you would explain your presence."

Serrano nodded, rising to his feet, his bearing erect and proud.

"Presidente, the situation is dire," he began, his voice steady and confident. "Defense Minister Morales was in the car with Presidente Reyes -" he glanced at Isabella, "ahem, the late Presidente when the guerillas ambushed the convoy. Unfortunately, there were no survivors."

The Cabinet erupted in murmurs and whispers, and Serrano raised his hand, gesturing for them to be silent.

"The situation is dire," he repeated, his voice growing louder. "By the time reinforcements arrived the killers had disappeared into the jungle, and we were unable to track them. Our forces are spread thin, and the jungle is a maze. Without strong and decisive leadership, we will be ****."

Isabella was suddenly aware of how many sets of eyes were now watching her.

"And what would you suggest, General Serrano?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"We need to fully mobilize our military, and sanction a full scale counter-offensive against the communists," Serrano replied, his voice firm and resolute. "We need to crush them before they regroup and strike again."

The room fell silent, and Isabella could feel the tension in the air. The decision she was about to make would shape the future of Montesoro.

"Ministers," she said, her voice barely audible. "I want your opinion. Do you believe that a full military response is necessary?"

A moment of silence, and then, one by one, the ministers began to nod. Even Sato Nakamura, the last man in the room she could count on for a fair judgement, seemed to agree.