The Deputy Secretary of State rubbed his temples: "The President's directive is to avoid direct conflict, but containment is necessary. What's the European stance?"

"France and Germany want to negotiate with Mexico to establish new rules, but they're not aligned internally. Eastern European countries are very worried, afraid of being the next target. We can leverage this to reinforce NATO's eastern flank, while... secretly supporting the hardliners in Europe against Mexico."

"What about resources?" a think tank advisor asked. "Where will the money come from? Congress won't approve massive new funding."

"Massive funding isn't necessary." A cold gleam flashed in the Deputy Director's eyes. "When the United Kingdom collapses, there will be a lot of... ownerless assets and disgruntled talent. We can absorb some of them. Moreover, Mexico's model is not invulnerable. Their rapid development relies on high-pressure control and skewed social resources, with increasing internal pressure. McTavish in Scotland and the Mexicans are not a monolithic bloc. We need to find these fissures and gently tap them."

The meeting ultimately reached a secret operation plan: "Wind Roll Grass," aimed at creating "controlled instability" within Mexico's emerging sphere of influence through intelligence, economic, and political means, while gathering strategic assets scattered by the collapse of the United Kingdom, and drawing Europe into forming an "informal soft encirclement."

In the drizzling rain, three lightly armed frigates sporting the freshly painted Scottish flag slowly approached the shore. These were emergency purchases from the "second-hand market" of an Eastern European country, hastily modified by a Mexican technical team. A simple commissioning ceremony took place at the dock, with McTavish standing on the review stand, watching the blue and white flag rise, his face devoid of any smile.

After the ceremony, in the captain's cabin, MacLaine handed a report to McTavish: "The first installment of compensation, thirty billion British Pounds, has been paid by London, but twenty billion of it was 'recommended' by our new Treasury Department to be prioritized for repaying Mexico's arms purchase loans and consultant fees."

McTavish flipped through the report: "So the money we fought hard for is just going back to the Mexicans?"

"And there's worse." MacLaine lowered his voice, "The Mexicans 'suggest' that we issue sovereign bonds, to be underwritten by them, to raise infrastructure funds. The interest... isn't low. Moreover, they want part of the extraction rights of the newly discovered North Sea gas field as collateral."

"What does Callum say?"

"He says it's economic colonialism, but right now we have no other choice. International capital lacks confidence in us; no one but Mexico is willing to lend money on a large scale to a freshly 'independent' country still bearing the scars of war."

McTavish walked to the porthole, looking out at the gray harbor. Is this the cost of independence? Trading one master for another, more cunning, and more ruthless master?

"Tell Callum that at most, they can have 30% of the gas field extraction rights. The bond interest needs further negotiation." He turned around, "Also, discreetly contact the Chinese. Do not go through official channels. Just say... we have some rare earth minerals and need a development partner."

A hint of surprise flashed in MacLaine's eyes, but he quickly nodded: "Understood. It's very risky. If the Mexicans find out..."

"Then make sure they don't find out," McTavish interrupted him. "We can't put all our eggs in one basket, even if the other basket isn't necessarily clean."

...

High-ranking officials from the foreign ministries of the Six European Countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium) held closed-door talks. The atmosphere was tense.

The German representative presented an assessment: "Based on the latest intelligence, Mexico, through Scotland, has essentially gained a foothold for military presence in the North Atlantic. They are accelerating absorption of European technology and capital. Our 'partnership' negotiations with them are progressing slowly. They insist on technological black boxes and data transit rights."

The French representative: "We cannot accept concessions on data sovereignty. But we lack means to counter. After the United Kingdom collapsed, our influence within NATO has also diminished. The Americans' 'Wind Roll Grass' plan is more about cleaning up the aftermath than directly blocking Mexico." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The Italian representative: "Perhaps... we could consider reaching some 'sphere of influence' understanding with Mexico? Acknowledge their interests in the Americas and parts of Africa in exchange for them not deeply intervening in European Continental matters, especially in the Balkans and Eastern Europe?"

The Spanish representative sneered: "Negotiating with the tiger for its skin. Today they may want Scotland, tomorrow they may want the Canary Islands' port rights. Their appetite is systematic."

The discussion reached an impasse. Ultimately, the German representative proposed a compromise: expedite the implementation of the EU's own "technological sovereignty" and "defense autonomy" plans, while initiating "limited partnership" negotiations with Mexico, focusing on "reciprocal openness" and "joint standard setting," rather than unilateral concessions. Additionally, secretly launch a "European Renaissance Fund" to selectively acquire key technologies and enterprises flowing out from the disintegration of the United Kingdom, and attract British research talent to Europe.

"This will require money, a lot of it," the Dutch representative reminded.

"Issue EU Joint Bonds," the German representative decisively declared. "The lesson from the fall of the United Kingdom is that division and stinginess can be fatal. Either unite to invest in the future or be devoured by Mexico one by one."

England, Kent County countryside villa

This was an informal weekend meeting of the "England Transitional Parliament Preparatory Committee." Sarah Kent, invited as a "civil representative," felt completely out of place. The room was filled with lawyers, scholars, and former politicians, discussing "constitutional principles," "checks and balances of power," and "proportional representation."