"Yes, it's normal for people to finish public school after turning 18."

"Then, yes, your summary is correct."

"Can we discuss the more technical side of things now?"

"Yes."

"On the local side, we figured out which machines had the pictures on them and physically broke their storage systems. On the Antarctic side, people figured out which machines had the pictures on them, had the pictures removed from their storage systems, repeatedly stored other things where the pictures were so that it would still be really hard to figure out what the pictures were by looking at the system, and then eventually got the storage systems broken once there were replacements."

"Since no one but me on the planet has spells such as Mending that will presumably suffice for now but I might like to take custody of these broken systems and burn them to be really sure."

"I'm not actually sure if they're flammable, if they instead melt would that work?"

"I would expect that to work, yes."

"Great."

"How did you come to be confident that these were all of the affected storage systems?"

Ambassador Geary has a lengthy, detailed explanation, which includes visiting multiple sites, and various people whom Chris seems to think are remarkably important issuing orders. He personally did this on the theory that it might look strange if he couldn't vouch for this and wasn't replaced in so doing by someone more important.

Blai appreciates this! He will need to also talk to other people involved in the situation so they can all share a Zone but he is fine with getting his overview of the considerations from Ambassador Geary.

"I am willing to answer extraneous questions in the Zone but would appreciate you not asking them of other parties, they normally wouldn't be personally involved in these sorts of conversations."

"I don't have any intention of asking extraneous questions in the Zone. If there's anything you wish me to be more assured of, you can tell me now, and it will be covered when I ask if you've been truthful."

"I believe that on net the United States is a force for good in the world and you will be better off working with us than you would be working with our geopolitical rivals. I don't know what specific assurances would be useful to you."

"I've been translating honestly," the interpreter chimes in.

"What leads you to believe this about the United States?" Blai inquires.