Bruno
GA Member
- Jul 1, 2018
- 2,733
National Security Council Meeting – Investigation Strategy in the Red Sea Incident - Secret and Classified
House of Belém, Lisbon
The Council convened in the President's private conference room, in a secure, private and encrypted room. The atmosphere was focused but tense. President Pedro da Gama sat at the head of the table, his hands clasped in front of him, listening intently as each member of the National Security Council entered and took their places.
Around the table sat:
- Luis Amado, Secretary of State
- Augusto Santos Silva, Secretary of Defense
- Rui Pereira, Secretary of Home Affairs
- Carlos Teixeira dos Santos, Secretary of Finance
- Vieira da Silva, Secretary of Economy and Sea Affairs
- General Luís Valença Pinto, Chief of the General Staff
- Rui Tavares, Vice President
President da Gama began, his tone calm but resolute. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining me. We are to send a team of experts to Egypt, and we must finalize how they will approach this investigation. This isn’t just about uncovering facts—it’s about maintaining credibility, protecting our interests, and ensuring this incident doesn’t spiral into something larger. Let’s start with the basics. Augusto, how do you see our team’s role?”
Augusto Santos Silva leaned forward, cigarette mouth.
“Mr. President, our team’s focus must be narrow..focused. Forensic analysis and ballistic assessment will be key and the evidence we gather needs to establish credibility and avoid any perception that Portugal is overreaching. Egypt’s government has its own priorities, and we can’t step on their toes. I recommend that our team works closely with Egyptian officials but maintains its autonomy to ensure an unbiased assessment."
Luis Amado nodded thoughtfully, waving his hand to dissipate the smoke bellowing from Augusto.
“I agree with Augusto. Collaboration with Egypt is critical, but we must also manage expectations. Egypt will want to control the narrative and other nations, particularly those under suspicion, will scrutinize our actions. Transparency will be important, but we need to ensure sensitive findings are only shared at the right time and with the right partners."
Rui Pereira interrupted pointing downwards to the table as if he was hitting nails into it
“While I see the importance of diplomacy, we must also be cautious! If our findings implicate a major player, there could be backlash,cyberattacks, economic pressure, or worse. Home Affairs is already monitoring for any signs of interference targeting our domestic systems, but I’d recommend the team work under the strictest confidentiality. And only spill the beans when we have gathered all possible evidence."
General Luís Valença Pinto spoke next, his voice crude, brash and bellowing from the deeps of his experience.
“Our experts should be prepared for contingencies. While Egypt has promised full cooperation, the region is volatile. We need secure communication channels between the team and Lisbon. Additionally, I suggest deploying a small contingent of naval assets near international waters to provide support if needed. A discreet presence, but enough to extract our people if the situation escalates.”
Vieira da Silva added with a measured tone, contrasting with the Generals tone.
“The economic implications are just as critical as the security ones. Any delays in clearing up the Red Sea’s stability will hurt shipping routes and, by extension, our economy. The small contingency could and should emphasize the importance of maintaining open trade routes during their discussions with Egyptian officials.”
Rui Tavares, ever the voice of balance, leaned back and spoke thoughtfully.
“President, the investigation will succeed or fail based on perception. If we look like we’re meddling, it could damage our credibility. But if we appear weak or ineffective, we risk undermining our strategic position. This is a delicate dance. Transparency, as Luis said, is key—but we need control over the narrative.. we must say the truth but a fundementally unbiased truth. How do we position this investigation in the eyes of the international community?”
President da Gama finally leaned forward, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority.
“Rui, you’ve nailed the issue on the head. This investigation isn’t just about what we find, it’s about how we’re seen finding it. We need our team to project professionalism and impartiality. But let’s not kid ourselves: this is realpolitik. The Red Sea is a chessboard, and we’re not the only players.
Here’s how we proceed:
Augusto, make sure our team has secure communication and contingency plans in place. We can’t afford surprises.
Luis, coordinate with Egypt to ensure they’re aligned with our efforts without compromising our independence. Keep other nations informed, but only what they need to know.
Rui Pereira, ensure cybersecurity remains a top priority. No leaks, no interference.
General Valença Pinto, position naval assets discreetly but ready. I want to send a signal without making a splash. Inform Egypt and ask for them to also have assets near us, this will show them we mean no harm and want to help.
Vieira, brief our team to emphasize the importance of stability and calm in their discussions with Egyptian officials. The world is watching.”
He paused, glancing around the room.
“We must strike the right balance between cooperation and autonomy, transparency and strategy. This investigation is as much about diplomacy as it is about forensics. Let’s make sure we get it right.”
The council members nodded in agreement, their expressions determined as they began to refine their respective roles in the mission. The meeting concluded with each member tasked with ensuring Portugal’s interests were protected while maintaining its role as a credible and responsible global player.
House of Belém, Lisbon
The Council convened in the President's private conference room, in a secure, private and encrypted room. The atmosphere was focused but tense. President Pedro da Gama sat at the head of the table, his hands clasped in front of him, listening intently as each member of the National Security Council entered and took their places.
Around the table sat:
- Luis Amado, Secretary of State
- Augusto Santos Silva, Secretary of Defense
- Rui Pereira, Secretary of Home Affairs
- Carlos Teixeira dos Santos, Secretary of Finance
- Vieira da Silva, Secretary of Economy and Sea Affairs
- General Luís Valença Pinto, Chief of the General Staff
- Rui Tavares, Vice President
President da Gama began, his tone calm but resolute. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining me. We are to send a team of experts to Egypt, and we must finalize how they will approach this investigation. This isn’t just about uncovering facts—it’s about maintaining credibility, protecting our interests, and ensuring this incident doesn’t spiral into something larger. Let’s start with the basics. Augusto, how do you see our team’s role?”
Augusto Santos Silva leaned forward, cigarette mouth.
“Mr. President, our team’s focus must be narrow..focused. Forensic analysis and ballistic assessment will be key and the evidence we gather needs to establish credibility and avoid any perception that Portugal is overreaching. Egypt’s government has its own priorities, and we can’t step on their toes. I recommend that our team works closely with Egyptian officials but maintains its autonomy to ensure an unbiased assessment."
Luis Amado nodded thoughtfully, waving his hand to dissipate the smoke bellowing from Augusto.
“I agree with Augusto. Collaboration with Egypt is critical, but we must also manage expectations. Egypt will want to control the narrative and other nations, particularly those under suspicion, will scrutinize our actions. Transparency will be important, but we need to ensure sensitive findings are only shared at the right time and with the right partners."
Rui Pereira interrupted pointing downwards to the table as if he was hitting nails into it
“While I see the importance of diplomacy, we must also be cautious! If our findings implicate a major player, there could be backlash,cyberattacks, economic pressure, or worse. Home Affairs is already monitoring for any signs of interference targeting our domestic systems, but I’d recommend the team work under the strictest confidentiality. And only spill the beans when we have gathered all possible evidence."
General Luís Valença Pinto spoke next, his voice crude, brash and bellowing from the deeps of his experience.
“Our experts should be prepared for contingencies. While Egypt has promised full cooperation, the region is volatile. We need secure communication channels between the team and Lisbon. Additionally, I suggest deploying a small contingent of naval assets near international waters to provide support if needed. A discreet presence, but enough to extract our people if the situation escalates.”
Vieira da Silva added with a measured tone, contrasting with the Generals tone.
“The economic implications are just as critical as the security ones. Any delays in clearing up the Red Sea’s stability will hurt shipping routes and, by extension, our economy. The small contingency could and should emphasize the importance of maintaining open trade routes during their discussions with Egyptian officials.”
Rui Tavares, ever the voice of balance, leaned back and spoke thoughtfully.
“President, the investigation will succeed or fail based on perception. If we look like we’re meddling, it could damage our credibility. But if we appear weak or ineffective, we risk undermining our strategic position. This is a delicate dance. Transparency, as Luis said, is key—but we need control over the narrative.. we must say the truth but a fundementally unbiased truth. How do we position this investigation in the eyes of the international community?”
President da Gama finally leaned forward, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority.
“Rui, you’ve nailed the issue on the head. This investigation isn’t just about what we find, it’s about how we’re seen finding it. We need our team to project professionalism and impartiality. But let’s not kid ourselves: this is realpolitik. The Red Sea is a chessboard, and we’re not the only players.
Here’s how we proceed:
Augusto, make sure our team has secure communication and contingency plans in place. We can’t afford surprises.
Luis, coordinate with Egypt to ensure they’re aligned with our efforts without compromising our independence. Keep other nations informed, but only what they need to know.
Rui Pereira, ensure cybersecurity remains a top priority. No leaks, no interference.
General Valença Pinto, position naval assets discreetly but ready. I want to send a signal without making a splash. Inform Egypt and ask for them to also have assets near us, this will show them we mean no harm and want to help.
Vieira, brief our team to emphasize the importance of stability and calm in their discussions with Egyptian officials. The world is watching.”
He paused, glancing around the room.
“We must strike the right balance between cooperation and autonomy, transparency and strategy. This investigation is as much about diplomacy as it is about forensics. Let’s make sure we get it right.”
The council members nodded in agreement, their expressions determined as they began to refine their respective roles in the mission. The meeting concluded with each member tasked with ensuring Portugal’s interests were protected while maintaining its role as a credible and responsible global player.
