You understand some of the details of the situation...

"You both will understand soon that my decision is dictated by necessity..." - Lockwood whispered, leaning slightly toward your ear.

Then he looked at his squad of armed guards and quickly gestured off to the side...

While Lockwood continued his rousing speech to the crowd of his followers (increasingly convincing the doubters of the logic of his plan), you and Ursula were surrounded by muscular, armed men, each wearing high-quality gray kevlar armor (each sporting a small symbol of a black horse's head on their right shoulder pad) and a helmet with an integrated gas mask and miniature night vision device.

A dozen guards armed with automatic laser rifles...

You both had to obey.

Ursula, showing her temperament and not holding back her displeasure, exclaimed, "What kind of absurd idea is this?! I'm no diplomat! I want to fight, not talk!"

You silently considered the situation: "Rector Lockwood is probably not as simple as one might think on first acquaintance... Behind the friendliness and smiles, there's clearly a true essence—the character of a pragmatic politician who is willing to **** his subordinates to do what they don't like..."

Hm...

It seems that after leaving The Undercity and breaking ties with your previous superiors, you immediately found a new... boss.

You sighed quietly, accompanied by the guards.

It seemed your faint hope of hiding from adversity and living a quiet life had just been shattered.

So, now you and Ursula were escorted to a room hidden from unwanted attention, the entrance to which was located through a rather long underground staircase leading deeper into the island.

The guards led you inside a spacious room, which was littered with papers (books, reports, magazines, maps...). Several desks held research equipment (electronics, microscopes, chemical reagents in flasks, etc.).

You mentally guessed that Rector Lockwood was probably quite a well-rounded individual: he was once a general in the Enclave army; now he leads a secret organization and is a master of conspiracy; he also has achievements in the realm of public speaking and personal charisma. And now he also has an interest in science and technology. And (judging by the tattered appearance of many of the book jackets), he has an interest in the legacy of an ancient, lost civilization—what might be called "US history."

"What the hell!? Why should I get involved in diplomatic nonsense?! I should be planning an attack on the capital and leading the **** on the presidential palace!" - Ursula continues to grumble, even stamping her feet in outrage. Your gaze involuntarily fell for a second on her titties, swaying from her sudden movements...

Your imagination conjured up a vivid image of what the fabric of her clothing concealed...

However, you managed to quickly overcome your inappropriate thoughts...

"What do you think, Ulysses? Do you have any experience in diplomatic negotiations? Will you be of any use at all on this mission?" - the young woman's disgruntled tone clearly indicated her irritation with the situation.

You nod phlegmatically: "I won't exaggerate my skills... But I've worked on the surface of the earth... Spy missions to infiltrate primitive societies for the purpose of research and effective use... In a certain sense, it could be called a form of 'diplomacy'..."

Before Ursula can quipped back, the door to the room opens and a muscular black man of about fifty-five, wearing a green shirt, green pants, and a dark green cloak, steps in. Lockwood looks a little tired...

He's alone, there's not a single guard nearby...

And there's also something... stern about his expression...

"I protest! Do you seriously want..." the young woman, her beautiful blue eyes flashing indignantly, tries to speak.

"Enough... You will do what must be done... Like everyone else..." - the elderly man's deep voice leaves no room for objection.

It's as if he can't even imagine anyone successfully resisting his will.

You see Ursula's cheeks flush. Rector's gaze clearly makes her fidget and become embarrassed.

"But I can do much better..." she tries to say something.

"I know your abilities, Ursula. You're a good saboteur. You can lead a small squad of saboteurs who covertly harm the enemy. But you don't know how to think strategically. You're missing the big picture... If I were to fulfill your wishes, it would be like a general creating a decisive battle plan based on the wishes of some sergeant..." - Lockwood is merciless and precise in his phrasing.

You observe this dialogue modestly, noticing that this brave and strong girl (who saved you) is clearly ashamed of the fact that you've witnessed her being scolded like a misbehaving schoolgirl.

"You either obey like a soldier for the sake of future victory, or you flee like a pathetic deserter... So, what is your choice, Ursula?" - these words are spoken with absolute calm, but in this cold calm, one can sense the icy steel...

"Forgive me, sir... I will do what must be done... I will carry out orders without question... If for our mutual victory I must participate in a diplomatic mission, I will do it..." - Ursula says quietly.

Rector Lockwood nods with satisfaction: "Excellent... An answer worthy of a good soldier. And all of us (myself included) are soldiers here, fighting for the great future of a Reborn United States!"

You realize that Rector's character bears the indelible imprint of many years as a general and leading troops on the battlefield.

Now his intense gaze of black eyes fixes on you...

"Ahem... I have no objections. I'm willing to do whatever I can... It seems it was for my experience and skills that you gave the order to rescue me..." - you reply, feeling him studying you, analyzing your every reaction.

Lockwood smiles wryly: "I can guess what you're thinking... The thought of ****... The replacement of one leadership by another... However, all this is mere trifles compared to our global task! The Enclave is like a 'spark' from which the Great United States can be reborn like a phoenix from the ashes! However, this 'spark' can be extinguished by the weakness, incompetence, and corruption of those who rule now!

What have these arrogant idiots managed to achieve in centuries? A few small outposts on a radiation-scorched earth? A dozen scattered bunkers under their control in various corners of a once-great country? It's simply a paltry result....

Therefore, for the sake of the higher goal, we will all have to do more than just do our utmost... We will all have to exceed our own limits... We will all be obliged to make any sacrifice to ensure the survival of future generations and the triumph of a Reborn United States!"

"What exactly do you mean?" - you ask.

"In this diplomatic mission, Ursula will be responsible for security and other... issues requiring violent resolution... And you, Mr. Cleveland, will be responsible for diplomacy... in the broadest sense of the word..." These words (and the very tone of his voice) create a certain premonition in your mind.

"Will this mission be similar to my... previous 'diplomatic' missions on the surface of the earth?" - you ask.

"It won't just be similar... You see... What's a leader's duty? To prepare for any outcome. To ensure that the goal is achieved under the most varied possible scenarios... The Omitrons... They might not accept our offer? And then what?" - he says.

Ursula looks between Rector and you, confused.

"I want guarantees of success, guarantees of maximum effectiveness... If the robots reject the diplomatic offer, your mission becomes a sabotage one. Your squad will have to cause maximum damage to The Omitrons, disrupt their central control systems, and steal the most valuable technical assets. In this scenario, the weaker those robots in our rear, the better. And the more you steal from them, the more effective we will be in storming The Undercity..."- says Rector.

"But even if the diplomatic agreement is successful..." - you say.

"You get my point, Mr. Cleveland... After victory, we don't need an 'ally' who's stronger than us. That's simply dangerous. Therefore, your task is to demonstrate maximum persuasion skills. Let those robots be confident in our 'alliance.' Let their combat units assist us. And let those units suffer maximum losses. And let your 'diplomatic voyage' also bring us new knowledge..." - Rector Lockwood says things that are best left to a minimum audience (now you understand why he organized this "conversation" with just you and Ursula).

Your past experience in primitive surface societies also included something similar: diplomacy was a synthesis of persuasion, bribery, espionage, manipulation, and deception.

Well, throughout history, diplomacy and espionage have always been intertwined.

You realize that a rousing speech to a crowd of supporters and real politics are two different things.

So, Rector Lockwood has clearly proven himself not only a skilled orator but also a far-sighted politician.

However, the danger of your "diplomatic" mission is such that you simply might not survive...

"And now you should listen to the details of the travel route..." - says Lockwood, showing you a large map of a vast underground cave system.