September 9, afternoon.
Li Wei had just settled into the general's suite, which had been converted from a container, and had barely taken two bites of the lunch her adjutant had brought when she received a notice from the Arctic Alliance.
She was to attend an important prewar conference together with Ma Baoguo.
Li Wei hurriedly straightened her uniform and boarded a helicopter with Ma Baoguo, flying toward the "Frost" Fortress, which stood along the mountain defense line in the northwestern sector.
The fortress was the Arctic Alliance's general headquarters in the western frontier, equivalent in status to Hua Nation's "Rock" Fortress.
The conference was held in a small meeting room of approximately two hundred square meters.
There were not many attendees.
From Hua Nation, there were only her and Ma Baoguo.
From the Arctic Alliance came one general, two lieutenant generals, five or six major generals, and two odd men dressed in black clerical robes.
Finally, there was a beautiful female major specially responsible for translation.
She had long chestnut hair, a gentle and refined air, and a sweet smile. Her name seemed to be... Svetlana.
In any case, Li Wei remembered her name.
Nameplates had already been placed on the long conference table, and Li Wei found her seat at the far end.
Ma Baoguo handled the pleasantries and formalities. Taking advantage of the lull, she finally had time to look around the meeting room.
Hanging on the wall opposite them was a huge physical map, exceedingly rare in this era.
Several staff officers were marking it with red and blue pens. They looked extremely professional.
More importantly, heavy velvet curtains hung on both sides of the map.
Together with the retro solid-wood table, the whole setting gave Li Wei the illusion that she had somehow arrived