Morales tapped his fingers on the table. "General Korosov, if I retreat, what about Assad? If my fleet retreats, Assad will think he has no support. If he thinks he has no support, he'll become afraid. Afraid, he'll shoot. Shoot, people die. If people die, I've brewed my coffee for nothing."
Korosov laughed softly. "General Morales, Assad hasn't been firing anymore. Yesterday he went to your bridge, drank your coffee, and said, 'I won't kill anymore.' He went again today. He'll go again tomorrow. He goes every day, says every day he won't kill anymore. Says he won't kill, then he won't kill. Won't kill, won't be any deaths. No deaths, and your coffee won't be wasted. So, will you retreat?"
Morales was silent for a long time. "I'll retreat fifty nautical miles. You retreat fifty nautical miles. The Americans are watching. Whoever goes back on their word is a coward."
The call ended.
