Wow, great stuff guys.
Lots to think about. I'm really digging the idea of just meeting the yaks on safe ground and having a chat. By safe, I mean wired to kill us all if anyone starts anything. Then just ask them how we'll be able to walk away. Since we never really hurt them all that bad, it might be doable.
Set up by our Russian employers? Hmmm... Have to dig a little more into that.
A war? Possible, but I'm not the type to start something like that. Basher is.
And our GM, bless him or damn him, always has a plan. He's the best story designer I know. This is not random.