The Lone Republic and World War Three

[PresidentDavid]

The glowing orange orb in the sky crept closer and closer to the western horizon. Anthony's black pants were rolled up halfway to his knees. He had left his jacket, tie, and shoes in his truck along with two Texas Rangers who reluctantly let their governor venture off unprotected with Olivia. The first three buttons on his white short were unfastened which allowed the constant ocean breeze to captivate his upper chest. His toes sunk into the sand while seawater lightly splashed against his feet which were momentarily covered in bubbly foam. His hair was still combed but it had been a long day, so it was casually whipping in the breeze. 

 

 

Olivia had already changed out of her work clothes. She was wearing a pair of jean-shorts and a Jack-Daniels t-shirt. Her red hair dangled far down her back but was constantly blown to one side or another by the wind. She held Anthony's hand and followed alongside him down the never-ending beach. Galveston was a very long island, only a small portion of it was the "City of Galveston", as far as businesses and homes went. Much of the island was like how it was hundreds of years ago with peaceful beaches, rolling sand-dunes, and tall grasses. They were at the southern beach of the mid-West part of the island and it seemed there was no one for miles. They were alone at one of Anthony's most favorite places in Texas. 

 

"Here will be fine," he said. He unfolded a white beach towel and quickly put it down on the sand for both of them to sit on. Olivia let David sit first, and then she sat right next to him; so close that their shoulders were touching. "Cold?" he questioned. She nodded. It was a lie, a white lie. She just wanted to be connected with him for a bit like she was right there. "I've never been here before. I've been to Galveston a few times but not this part of the island. How did you find out about this place?" Anthony looked out towards the sunset and thought for a while. "I came here to raise money for a man who was running for mayor a couple of elections back. One night he and I just kept driving west until we got to about here. We made a fire and split a six-pack. He was ultimately the guy that made me want to run for governor... Since then I've always thought of this place as my 'happy place.'"

 

Olivia was satisfied. She leaned her head on his shoulder and looked out into the open sea. "What are all of those ships doing out there? I thought most of them come out from the Houston Ship Channel on the other side of the island?" she said. David looked down at the sand and shook his head, "I called Admiral Teach this morning and mobilized the Maritime National Guard. I didn't want Galveston or Houston to be a target just because we had a bunch of ships in port. They're taking a defensive position in the Gulf of Mexico until given further orders. I hope they don't get further orders Olivia. I really don't." She put an arm around him and scooted closer so both sides of their bodies were touching. "Do you think we're going to go to war governor? Like, I know Texas has a lot of votes in the House and a lot of the other States respect your word... Are you going to give the representatives any advice on how to vote?" 

 

A lone seagull swooped overhead. It went out to the sea for about fifty feet and then turned around to scan the beach for edible litter. The lone bird seemed lost and worried. It wasn't with its flock and it had to make decisions on its own until it found them again. Anthony could relate to the bird's situation. "I think war is the last thing the Plains Federation needs. It is the last thing Texas needs for sure. We are doing so well economically, we are politically stable, we have relatively good neighbors who respect us and we can respect them back... Why should we be involved in European affairs? I don't even see what the British did wrong here. I have no idea what is going on, but it just doesn't seem right. It has nothing to do with us and I don't see it hurting us long-term to not get involved. Sorry I got off topic, if I had to advise them right now I'd urge them to vote against war and extend an olive branch to Britain. I think if we really tried we could derail a declaration of war." 

 

Olivia winced when he mentioned the Vice President. Her dislike for the the second in line of the presidency wasn't personal, she just knew how Anthony felt for her. It disgusted her. Olivia knew she was younger and prettier than the Vice President. Surely Anthony could see that. She just needed to make him realize how much of a catch she was, right? Regardless, Anthony talked about her quite often even though it seemed at times the Vice President didn't even know the governor of Texas existed. Anthony and the president didn't really have a relationship, even though Anthony was probably the second most powerful man in the country. Powerful people usually attract other powerful people, but neither one ever put forth the effort to establish a relationship. 

 

"I don't think Anna Kennedy can help you make this decision. What does she know anyway? Everyone knows that her focus is more on leading the Senate then being on the president's cabinet." At this point, Olivia and Anthony were practically cuddling on the blanket. He was just trying to comprehend the gravity of what was going on. Someone could have stabbed him with a molten rod of steel and he wouldn't have noticed. But nevertheless they were cuddled together, watching the sunset on a remote beach. "When it comes to an ear in the Executive Branch, she's all I have. I have sources in the Octagon, most of the other States, and a lot of companies. But I don't have ears on the president except for her. I think I do need her. I really do." 

 

They didn't talk much after that. The sun was mostly set. Numerous oil rigs started to glimmer just on the horizon. Their bright lights beamed on as the sun's light dimmed down to a weak shimmer. The wind picked up and it grew colder. The beach was actually pretty nice in the winter, at least in Texas. The governor knew a decision needed to come soon. It would only be a matter of days before the president called congress into emergency session. The fate of hundreds of thousands or even potentially millions of Americans rested in his hands.

 

[PresidentDavid]

Anthony enjoyed sunsets more than he did he did sunrises. Sure sunrises represented a new beginning but a sunset meant it was time to think. You have just completed one of the many plentiful yet still precious days in your life. Now that the sun was down it was time to reflect on the decisions you made and the progress that you achieved through the small tasks and major undertakings that combined together make a small fraction of your life. Your only task now was to review and maybe plan for later, but it was now a time of rest unless you were really ambitious. Anthony was usually ambitious, but the only thing he could do now was think. He narrowed down his options to three or four regarding the war, but he was having trouble choosing the best of the worst. A Sparks had not made a decision this important in a very long time. 

 

After the sun faded into twilight and twilight faded into oblivion, Anthony and Olivia walked about a mile and a half to a small beach house that he owned. He had to pull a lot of strings to be able to build a residence in a State Park, but that little place was a decision that he had no regret for. It wasn't huge and sprawling. It was small, but it looked nice from the outside for sure. The light blue paint was pealing in some places, but if anything that gave it more character. In the back of the home was a wooden deck facing the beach. It had a wooden table and a few chairs along with a swinging bench on chains. A Texas flag gently fluttered in the wind while it hung from the wall of the house facing the porch. The crashing waves of the ocean could be heard perfectly from there. Anthony didn't want to go to bed yet, he still had his thinking to do. Olivia still had probing to do. 

 

Olivia leaned on his shoulder and slowly twirled her hair with two of her fingers while they both watched the night sea. "What do you think will happen if congress votes down the war?" she said. "I doubt the UK is just going to to accept that we launched an attack on them like that. I'm sure they're going to think it was planned to be done on purpose. Will we have to.. surrender?" Anthony put his arm around her and held her close and then addressed her valid question. "We would have to offer some type of reparations. But I think to even consider them I think the president will need to resign. Even though my sources in the Octagon tell me it wasn't his fault the British probably wont ever believe that, it is just too simple of an explanation that the admiral in control of the fleet gave the wrong order. Anna would be sworn in as president and a new vice president would have to be appointed. I'm not sure of Anna would want the job though, I know she likes her work in the Senate. That would mean Speaker Coin would be the next in line for the president. Coin could do the job, but if he would want it is a different question.

 

"After the President resigns and, let's say it's Anna, takes the Oath of Office, she would probably have to make a cease-of-hostilities proclamation and either go to the UK or send the Secretary of State. After that I don't know what the British will want. Best case scenario they'll want us to pay for the ships and give some type of reparation to the families of the soldiers. Worst case scenario they want something ridiculous and we actually have to stay in the war. It's a war we can probably win, but it isn't one that we should fight. I think it mainly hangs on the president resigning and the British being reasonable in the peace talks. That's what it comes down to." Olivia thought that he had processed this in his mind pretty well, but that didn't make the situation any better. 

 

Anthony's phone buzzed. He ignored it. It buzzed again and this time Olivia picked it up. "Anthony, it's the Lieutenant Governor. He said...." she read over a lengthy text and handed him the phone.  "The Nationalist Caucus is going to propose a resolution entitled, 'Texas Independence.'"

 

Anthony threw the phone onto the wooden floor, "Or we could secede and say it's not or problem. I guess that's always an option too... I don't know how this could get any worse." He stood up and helped her up by the arm. He opened  the sliding glass door and then closed it shut behind them. He turned around and she was gone. She flicked off the light in his room and turned on his radio. "Come to bed governor."