A sea of black, white and khaki covers the vast tables, the array flanked by a contingent of PLA guardsmen in dress uniforms. Emblazoned on the chamber wall is a great hammer and sickle, the Party still wanting to project some semblance of soft power. The WHO head opens with a pledge to restore fertility rates and for unilateral cooperation. Trailing it is a Mandarin translation, both being demuxed out.

On your desk, a red LED awaits the adjacent button to be pressed and your words.