I like that there is so much back and both and a plasticity of ideas.
I also like that it feels very current, like some of the violence we have already experienced, but that it addresses issues that are looming in the future, so it reads like science fiction while still feeling very near and present.
I find it a little difficult to differentiate the characters from each other (challenging with the length limit, I know), so that might be an area to work on if you extend this or use it in a game.
It is, indeed, increasingly unexpected when people disagree but restrain themselves from jumping to violence. Also, it’s interesting that they feel that they have to be secretive when they are having a reasonable exchange of ideas. Nice twist!