PresidentDavid

​"On behalf of the Texas people I offer me deepest condolences to the people of France and the Royal Family for the assassination of the late Empress. We hope that the French government has a smooth transition as it puts the next head of state into power. If any assistance is needed, the Republic of Texas will be sure to render aid." Anthony Sparks Governor of The Republic of Texas

United States Government in Shambles Picture of Secretary of State being evacuated from Washington after attack on capitol and White House. "The United States, as we know it, seems to be no more," said newly elected governor Anthony Sparks. The governor was in Galveston when the attacks in Washington occurred and several different attempts on his life were taken. Ten other governors and countless Federal officials were killed within the span of an hour which signaled that the attacks were very carefully planned and done so far in advance. What is certain is that if there is an acting President of The United States of America, he or she has not a public appearance or statement. The command structure for American military forces is also in question after open conflict between two Army battalions that resulted in a reported three-thousand dead soldiers. After returning to Austin with his life, Governor Sparks called together his cabinet and immediately declared a State of Emergency in the entire State of Texas which enabled him to deploy the State Guard and Texas National Guard around Texas. The Governor has been in close contact with the base commanders of Federal forts in Texas, and "has so far have no problem keeping the peace and order that we have maintained for two-hundred years," said a State spokesman. In fact, four American warships are docked in Galveston harbor and awaiting contact from the Pentagon. The Governor has offered "refuge" to any and all active-duty American soldiers until they are put back into contact with the Federal military command structure. The Governor also issued a "Call to Arms for all able-bodied Texans who would like to serve and protect the community and their State." The Texas Autonomy Act has, by definition, made the "Republic of Texas" an independent nation and subsequently quadrupled the current Defense budget. All nineteen-thousand Texas National Guardsmen were called into active duty and are either in their respective bases or have been deployed around the Republic in strategic locations. The Texas State Guard has been acting in a supportive role and assisting the National Guard in patrolling the American and Mexican borders. Governor Sparks said the Texas government intends to raise the Texas Military Forces numbers from about twenty-two thousand to one-hundred and fifty-thousand in the next few months. The status of the Republic of Texas is in a political limbo right now. The State government is caught in between remaining part of a dysfunctional Union. When asked if Governor Sparks would become the fourth President of Texas, he respectfully declined to answer and encouraged Texans to "go about their daily lives" and "report unusual activity to the Department of Public Safety or the Texas Rangers."

"Thank you for declaring formal recognition of Texas Emperor Wymore. Once things cool down in the South, I would be happy to entertain a diplomat here in Texas." Anthony Sparks Governor of The Republic of Texas [Insert generic thank you response.] Followed by Cascadia and the Imperium, the Secretary of State would quickly issue a declaration of recognition of Russia as well as a sign of good faith.

Scroll to the bottom for international information that you can reply to. "What's your name again?" Anthony made a second attempt to perfectly tie his tie. His new secretary did her best to keep track of the newly elected governor's schedule and agenda but she was having just about as difficult a job as he was with his new job. "My name is Olivia, sir," she pretended to write something down to look busy. "Well, Olivia, if you forgot to schedule my meeting with the Houston Port Authority it's not too big of a problem. I'm sure there's plenty more to do here in Galveston. Just don't do it again." She sheepishly nodded at his grace and put her hands and the clipboard behind her back. "Thank you governor... I promise I wont disappoint again." He adjusted his tie in his mirror and sighed relief, "Well I think this ought to be a relaxing day. I love this island. Not to mention I get to come back to this penthouse tonight. Whoever said Moody Gardens can't be luxurious is full of it. So, what's first on the agenda?" The sun just beamed over the horizon as Olivia brought her clipboard back to her face, but before she could answer his question two Texas Rangers (who's duties also included providing protection for the Governor of Texas) opened the the door to the penthouse wielding their pistols. One grabbed the governor's jackets and his boots and the other gave a rushed explanation of what was going on. "Sir, the President and Speaker of the House were both killed in Washington about fifteen minutes ago. The Vice President was injured but we were told by the Secret Service that he's still conscious and can walk. He's was sworn in as the fifty-second president about five minutes ago." Anthony was putting his boots on and then slipped on his suit jacket while the explanation was given. "Then what's the the problem?" Two Texas Rangers armed with assault rifles passed by the door and secured the hallway. One of the Rangers put his left hand on the governor's shoulder and kept his weapon pointed forward and the other escorted them both. "Take Olivia with us," Anthony ordered as he was rushed out of the room. Another Ranger waiting outside grabbed her and wasn't too far behind. "The problem is that a surface-to-air missile struck the White House when the Vice President returned from the capitol building before he could descend to the bunker. The governors of California, New York, Virginia, and Illinois have been killed. There's others reported but we can't verify. The Department of Public Safety thinks you're a target as well." A company of Texas Rangers escorted the governor towards the elevator which had been checked for any explosives or malfunctions before they had even come to the hotel. Rangers and security were already assembled in the lobby and outside of the hotel where the motorcade was waiting to bring the governor a short distance to the nearby Lone Star Flight Museum (originally an airport). "Two helicopters have already been fueled and are going to take you to Ellington Field. From there you'll take Air Guard One back to Austin and the Air National Guard will provide an escort. The Director of Public Safety should be scrambling two F-16s about now. Watch your head sir," the Rangers pushed Anthony into his limousine and Olivia followed with only seconds to spare. Gunshots erupted before the door could close and one of the Rangers outside was turned into Swiss cheese. "STAY DOWN!" shouted the Ranger that held down Anthony. Outside both sides exchanged fire but Anthony and Olivia couldn't tell where from. The motorcade sped off while bullets smashed into the bulletproof glass of the limo. It took only a few minutes to get to the flight museum where two helicopters were on their helipads. The gunfire could still be heard in the background and getting closer to their destination. The remaining Rangers with the governor and those at the museum took Olivia and he into one of the helicopters and both of the airships hovered into the air. "Elington tower acknowledge flight plan for Maritime One, we're on our way with the package ETA fifteen minutes. Copy? "Roger Maritime One, we've grounded the airport until your departure." "Roger, over and out." As they got higher in the air and started to push towards the mainland it became apparent that whoever was attacking the hotel made a considerable effort to kill the governor. A ploom of black smoke crept up from part of the lobby and almost all of the glass was broken in the penthouse. The Texas Rangers were luckily a few minutes ahead of whoever was planning Anthony's assassination. "Brace yourselves!" roared one of the pilots as they took a sharp right turn. Machine gun fire made a fine metallic sound as bullets embedded into the side of the armored helicopter. "Maritime One to Ellington, mayday mayday mayday, receiving heavy fire south of Tiki Island. A second helicopter is trailing us and is armed. Where the hell is our air support?!" An explosion rocked the chopper and scared the occupants into thinking that they'd soon be falling out of the sky but it was the other National Guard helicopter flying next to them that had been blown to bits. "Maritime Bravo is down Ellington, Maritime Bravo is down- deploying countermeasures!" A bright array of flares erupted from Maritime One and diverted the trajectory of a missile sent from the enemy trailing them. Suddenly a second explosion rang out and the pilot raised his hand in victory. Two F-16s bolted past Maritime, having just destroyed the helicopter behind them, and quickly made a 360 to protect Maritime One's Flank. "Sir!" shouted the co-pilot to Anthony. "The Director of Public Safety wanted me to relay a message to you - something has happened to Strat Com's structure, NorthCom is unresponsive and the Secretary of Defense is dead! We aren't sure where the Secretary of State is! That's all he said sir!" Olivia still kept her head down with her hands over her ears for fear of more explosions. She fearfully buried her head face onto one of the governor's legs and kept quiet. Anthony considered the information he was getting, "Did he mention how good his intel is?" The pilot nodded, "He had the Sec Def on a video conference from the Pentagon when he was shot sir, he is the intel!" A steady stream of chatter was coming in from Ellington. "Ellington to Maritime One, the National Guard is receiving heavy ground fire from the west entrance, we're going ask you to make an eastern approach and lad next to Runway 35 - Air Guard One is waiting for the package." After another six minutes the situation continued to deteriorate and the airbase-turned-airport came under more fire. "I'm making a call, we don't have enough fuel to make it to Bush, we have to touch down here! Governor get ready to run!" The tower stopped responding over the airwaves a few minutes ago and the pilot could see the tower was crowded with people at the top; probably those that didn't belong there. As the helicopter landed the pilots powered down the engines and grabbed two rifles from a secured box on the left wall of the chopper. They jumped out, then the Ranger, Olivia, and the governor followed. Air Guard One was on Runway 35 only about forty-five feet away. They double-timed it and didn't meet any fire, but as they rushed up the stairs into the aircraft the Ranger noticed a fueling truck heading towards the runway from about 200 yards out. The cockpit door was opened and the pilots awaited orders. "Get us in the air, vertical assault!" said one of the helicopter pilots to the three pilots in the cockpit. They shut the door and secured the plane. Within a seconds the engines roared to life and the brakes were disengaged. An explosion shook the plane. Anthony could see outside his window the one of the F-16s fired a missile at the fuel truck but the missile hit the control tower which spectacularly collapsed. The front tire of Air Guard One lifted off the ground but the fuel truck was getting extremely close. A National Guardsmen fired a shoulder-fired rocket launcher and blew up the fuel tanker which apparently had malice to Air Guard One. As the governor's plane soared into the air a ploom of fire and thick smoke followed behind it from the fuel explosion. The F-16s stayed with Air Guard One as reached 30,000 feet in a matter of seconds - a very unpleasant take off. It was eerily quiet. Almost no one was onboard but a few Rangers, some National Guardsmen, Olivia, and the governor. Anthony allowed a few minutes of silence but once they were cruising he motioned for one of the Rangers to come over to him. "Get me the direct line to the Director. He needs to fill me in," Anthony said with authority. The Ranger quickly went over to the small communications sector of the aircraft and then escorted the governor there when the call was being made. "Director, we're in the air on our way back to Austin. I think we're safe for now, do you have any more news for me?" The line was staticky at best, but Anthony could hear most of what the director was saying. The governor's plane was nothing like Air Force One which was designed to be a mobile-White House. Texas had grown considerably economically and by population since 9/11, but in those decades money was not being routed to the National Guard. "Sir, the United States is under attack from somewhere within. We don't know who, but it's bad. Before the Secretary of Defense was shot, he told me Nightwatch was shot down over West Virginia. He made it sound like the only safe place in the country right now was NORAD. Since that happened Washington's gone dark, including the Pentagon. We don't know who is in control right now sir; we do know that a lot of governors are dead, a lot of congressmen were killed in the capitol building attack, the President, Vice President, and the Speaker of the House are all dead, the Secretary of Defense and presumably the Joint Chiefs are dead, and if what the Sec Def was saying is true, Strategic Command was crippled by a series of computer viruses or decapitation like the Executive Branch just had. I'm sure there's a lot of the command structure that's intact, but whoever is doing this is trying to remove the head from all of the snakes, governor." "I'm sorry about your brother," Anthony said quietly. "Thank you, but he died for his country sir." Anthony swallowed and they were both silent for a while. "Should we initiate Operation Defense Protocol?" "I don't think we have a choice sir, do you give the order?" "Yes I do director. I'll be back at Austin soon, but you lock down that city like its Alcatraz. And get the Lieutenant Governor to the Mansion in case I don't make it back." "If you don't make it back sir it'll be after the entire Texas Air National Guard has been annihilated. You're going to be alright." Three Weeks Later The Texas Governor's Mansion decorated for Christmas and still flying the flag of the United States of America "Good evening my fellow Texans. I am addressing you from my office in the Governor's Mansion here in Austin. These past three weeks have been the darkest in American history. Thousands of people have been killed by a domestic-terrorist organization, and I can confirm from reliable intelligence that the government of the United States of America as we know it no longer exists. After the annihilation of the Executive Branch, the Supreme Court, and most of congress the command structure of the American military was brought to its knees be a series of coordinated attacks designed to destroy leadership. At best, a few remaining regional commands still exist of the American military, but some of those soldiers are no longer American soldiers. Two Army battalions went into open conflict in New England and there is no commander-in-chief. The Deputy of The Texas Department of Public Safety, Francis Watchmaker, was the brother of the late Secretary of Defense and has been able to retrieve valuable information for the Texas government. Army, Air Force, and Navy bases around the State have agreed to come under temporary cooperation of the Texas National Guard which I am the commander-in-chief of until the legitimate American government is reestablished. I'm going to be realistic with all of you - we are afraid that there will be no reestablishment of the American government. New England is engaged in heavy conflict, the West Coast already acting independent, and the south has called a convention of southern States to set up a temporary government which we have sent observers to but are not actively participating. That is why that today, with the approval of the Texas Congress, I will be signing into law the Texas Autonomy Act which will permit us to run Texas as an independent nation until the United States government is refounded and, if not, sets up a structure for us to call a constitutional convention, which is constitutional under the current Texas Constitution, in order to form a government capable of permanently running Texas as an independent nation. I know this is frightening to many people, but I urge you to continue with your daily lives as normal as you can and keep working. I am also issuing a Call to Arms for any capable young men to join the Texas National Guard and provide for our defense until the next chapter in Texas history is started. Also, a multitude of United States Navy ships and personnel have come to Galveston and have been granted refuge; along with a number of United States Air Force personnel and their aircraft. I will provide another update tomorrow, but until then God bless you, and God Bless the Republic of Texas." Operation Defense Protocol was a secret planned operation devised by the Texas Department of Public Safety in the event that the United States government was crippled. It was made to keep the Texas government intact and functioning while outside chaos ensued in the rest of the country. It also detailed VIPs to protect and a secure plan to form an independent government if there was no hope of the United States of America (legitimately) coming back into existence. For now, Anthony Sparks was still Governor Sparks, but if things didn't change soon he'd be President Sparks. The message he gave to Texas, which was defacto broadcast across the United States, served as a formal declaration of autonomy of the country but also to the world. A diplomatic message was sent out to major powers such as the United Kingdom, France, Japan, China, Russia, Australia, and other European states seeking recognition and possibly protection if offered. The border with Texas to the rest of the country was under lockdown as best as the National Guard could manage, but refugees from other States were mostly welcomed but kept out of city-centers. OOC: If you have already DoEd you don't have to accept this lore I wrote for what happened to America, but I thought it was an interesting way to go about the fall of the United States of America. However if you have already DoEd you are welcome to accept the story if you like.

I have the feeling some ass is watching porn right now and using up all of the bandwidth.... Damn it.

It'll work for a month then for a couple of days it wont - in this case about a week. What does it take to be fixed? That person to stop using their computer on the network and IRC to notice that no one is distributing malware anymore or? I miss all of you... And I wanted to thank TBM for helping me with Anthropology - I got a 96% on my paper.

It'd be nice if the internet here could fix itself :/ Still no IRC for David...

Location: The Governor's Mansion "Who's there? Show yourself..." Anthony picked up the candle on his desk to try to get a better look at the doors to his office. "It's me, governor. I'm sorry I was just dropping off some... things. Do you have a minute to talk?" Anthony recognized Olivia's voice and relaxed. "I always have time for you Olivia, come in." She cracked open one of the doors and squeezed in. Anthony's office was dark except for his desk which had a lone candle lighting a few papers he was examining. "Sir, you know that the Governor's Mansion was given electricity in the 1890s, right?" Anthony took off his reading glasses and looked up at Olivia who was barely visible in the dark room. "No, I actually didn't know the exact date. How did you know that?" She came closer and sat at one of the chairs across from his desk. "We had to take this ridiculous history test to be allowed to work in the mansion. I still remember some of what we had to learn. Did you know that this is the oldest home in Texas that has been constantly occupied?" Anthony was being out-historied by a woman who hated history. He shook his head and put his glasses back on. "It might seem kinda weird, but when there's not a lot of light it makes me more creative. Writing with a candle next to me makes me feel like I'm Edgar Allen Poe or something, I don't know. I'm not doing work right now, don't tell anyone." He smiled and wrote a few more words until he remembered she wasn't there to watch. "I'm sorry, what did you want to talk about?" She gulped and looked away from him. "Olivia?" She played footsies with herself and looked up like a puppy that ate half the Thanksgiving Day turkey. "What kind of relationship do we have?" Anthony suddenly felt the same she did. "We... we have a great relationship, why?" She blushed and shrugged, "We... get together here and sometimes you'll bring me on a trip but we're never just alone to.... enjoy each other's company or talk. I just feel like you might be, I mean I'm not accusing you, I just feel like you might be-" "Don't say it" "-embarrassed of me." He took off his glasses and blew out the candle. He got up from behind his desk, put his jacket on, and made his way to the door. "Governor I'm sorry I- I-" he opened one of the doors and raised his index finger at her, "Just wait a minute." Anthony closed the door and left her in the dark. He walked over to her desk and picked up her phone. After trying a few extensions he finally found one that worked. "This is the governor calling from Olivia's desk... Yes sergeant it's nice to hear from you too. Listen, I need the motorcade brought around front in ten minutes... Yes we're going eat out tonight. Thanks." He hung up and opened the door to his office. "Olivia?" "Yes?" she whimpered. He walked up to her and grabbed her hand to guide her out of the room. "Come downstairs. We gotta go." Refusing to give any explanation, Anthony brought her downstairs to the front room where the entrance to the mansion was. Two National Guardsmen stood still on either side of the doors in their ceremonial uniforms but real weapons. A Texas Ranger cracked open the door and popped his head in. "We're ready sir." "Ready for what?" asked Olivia. Anthony motioned for her to walk out with him. Outside of the mansion was the full motorcade usually used for travelling longer distances or going into very public events. The point of it was of course to protect the governor but it also garnered a lot of attention. A ranger opened the door and allowed both inside. Police sirens screamed once they took off. The governor's chauffeur pull down the privacy window in the front of the vehicle and leaned his head to the side. "Where will we be going tonight sir?" Anthony checked his watch to see how much time they would have. It was eight forty-five. They could go somewhere nice. "I'm feeling stake. Somewhere nice if you can Stephen." "Of course Governor." Anthony closed the privacy window back and leaned his head against Olivia's. "We're going on an expensive date in a public place that I'm going to pay for and everyone is going to see. I'm not embarrassed of you Olivia." She scooted over to the mini-fridge and and reached behind it. She pulled out a small wooden box and threw it to Anthony, "Think fast!" It hit him in the face and he fell over on his side. "Ahgh!......" "Governor! Sorry! You played baseball I thought you'd catch it!" "Is that suppose to make me feel better?" he said with a smile. He rubbed the sore part of his forehead and opened the box which had three cigars inside. "I thought one of these would be a nice reward if you ever did anything sweet, sir." He chopped one of them and put it in his mouth. "What are the other two for?" She took the box back from him and put it under her seat, "We don't know yet." He gave her a shoulder hug just as the limousine pulled to a stop in front of a fine eatery in downtown Austin. The privacy window slowly came down and revealed Stephen's smiling face. "Sir, the Rangers would like to establish a perimeter before you go inside." "Nonsense Stephen. Come open the door; I'm the Governor of Texas not the King of England." "Of course sir." Stephen jumped out of the drivers seat and ran around the front of the car. The small Texas flag and the governor's flag gently mounted on the front of the limousine fluttered in the strong breeze as he moved to the door handle and pulled it open for the governor and his date. The police lights and the limo grabbed the attention of many people nearby. Well-dressed businessmen and some of Austin's influentials watched Governor Sparks step out and help his lady friend as well. She held onto his arm like she was a first lady and smiled politely to the onlookers and a few photographers hoping to get a snap or two of the rich or anyone famous at the restaurant. The Rangers opened the doors with perfect timing as Anthony and Olivia walked in with finesse. The host did a double take at the governor just after he turned away a couple who didn't have reservations. "Have a light sir?" "Uhh, err, of course sir. Here you are." Anthony puffed his cigar a few times to make sure it'd stay smoking and looked around the restaurant. "I'm sorry for the inconveince, but we didn't make a reservation. Are there any tables open?" The host looked through is chart and scratched off a name, "Ah, yes here we are sir. A table seems to have just opened up. Please, follow me." Others in the restaurant took notice when the governor and Olivia were seated. "Anthony I don't think this is a smoking restaurant," she whispered softly. He opened his menu and looked over some of the options, "I doubt any of these old people mind. See anything you like? I feel that t-bone calling my name. Say, did I ever tell you about that time I met Vladimir Putin? He's a fun guy, it's just too bad he's evil." Anthony rambled on about things he hoped she would find remotely interesting while she stared into his eyes and nervously thought about every action and reaction she made. What would she order? Should she pretend that she knows who Vladimir Putin is? Should she acknowledge that their waiter has been standing behind Anthony for about two minutes now but he's too afraid to interrupt him while he's telling a story? Ignoring the anxiety, she was just happy Anthony wasn't afraid of revealing his interest in her to the world - and that he didn't just want to have sex.

irc.coldfront.net: Closing Link: [IP address] (Z:Lined (Z-lined: Your IP, [IP address] is in the cbl.abuseat.org DNSBL. http://cbl.abuseat.org/lookup.cgi?ip=IP Address)) Sometimes it just says terminated. EDIT: Ah so it has the IP on the Composite Blocking List. It's odd how it wont be for like two weeks and then for five days it'll be on the CBL.

I meant IP address. And I know, but 400 people probably live in these dorms and we have the same internet.

And now all of a sudden I can't log onto IRC here at my dorm... I think someone else is on IRC and it doesn't want to let two people on at the same time because I think we have the same IRC address. I should just stay logged in all the time...

Location: The Governor's Mansion "I don't know what's wrong with him, but it has to be something serious on his mind," Olivia said to the other members of the governor's staff. Davis Snow, the governor's chief of staff who was a blunt older man from Dallas, uncomfortably folded his arms and made a suggestion. "It's... a philosophical problem that he's dealing with; I think it would be best if we just left him alone to think, alright?" The others sensed that it was a sore subject, but Olivia pressed on. "Wait, you talked to him? What's the problem?" Davis sent the others members of the staff back to work and brought Olivia into his office. "I wouldn't be talking to you about the governor's private affairs normally, Olivia. He and I have a friendship that involves trust-" Olivia raised her hands in frustration. She was having a secret relationship with the governor, she knew about trust. "Look, just tell me. I wont tell him you said a word, I'll just ask him what's going on - I just want to know what I'm getting into." Davis sat down behind his desk and thought out a well-worded response. "He's going to be on the 'Late Night' show tomorrow. They sent me office some questions that they might ask and a lot of them have to do with equality for women and minorities - one of them was "What is your stance on interracial marriage?'" Davis stopped talking and let it sink in. "Are you saying the governor doesn't believe in interracial marriage?" Davis kept quiet for a few minutes. "I don't know what he believes, figure that out yourself. I just know this entire situation brought up some bad memory in the governor's past and he's trying to make sense of it all." Olivia got up with uncertainty and started for the door, but behind her hand touched the knob she asked the obvious question. "If it bothers him, why doesn't he just lie?" Davis powered up his laptop to begin looking through emails. He shrugged and looked up from the screen a few seconds, "'Sparks don't lie, they fly and catch fire.' That's what he told me." She thanked him for the information and left. She made her way down the hall to Anthony's office but stopped on the way when she saw a young black woman going through a big stack of papers at one of the interns' desk. An eager intern crept up behind her. "Can I get you some coffee, ma'am?" Olivia turned and saw a perky blonde in a checkered skirt eagerly standing with her hands behind her back. she was short and very young, possibly eighteen. Her hour-glass figure and bright blonde hair was only outmatched by her full chest which grabbed most others' attention when she was wearing a sweater - that day she was wearing a button up blouse and neglected her collar-button and two buttons below it. Olivia narrowed her eyes and looked the girl over like they both worse the same dress to prom. "Who have you been assigned to? You're a little... young." The intern maintained a jubilant smile and answered proudly, "I'm a freshman majoring in political science here at UT Austin; Davis Snow is my grandfather. I'm assigned to be an assistant for the governor three days a week after my classes. You're the governor's secretary right?" Olivia's face turned red with frustration, the girl didn't do anything wrong but she was a very protective/jealous woman. "You can dress better next time you come here," Olivia said coldly. She buttoned the girl's last button and tried to do the second but the blouse was a bit too small to accommodate for the rest of her bust. The girl blushed and folded her arms, "Yes ma'am..." Olivia took out her phone and pretended that she was looking at something important, "What's your first name?" The girl shyly said "Juliet" and Olivia acted like she was taking note of it. "Do you know who that woman is over there? The one going through those papers?" Juliet turned her head and thought for a minute. "That is the Deputy Secretary of State of Texas, Michelle Dupre. Am I in trouble?" "Just go back to work, we can talk later." Juliet quickly scampered away while Olivia observed Michelle. After a few minutes of thinking she walked over and interrupted the diplomat. "Deputy Secretary, my name is Olivia. I am Governor Sparks's secretary. Do you have a minute?" Michelle put a few papers in an envelope and sealed it shut. She could be any older than twenty-five. Olivia didn't remember Michelle being nominated but then again not many people know who the Deputy Secretary of State is. "Oh hey Olivia. Be my guest, I was just going through one of my intern's work he did on the governor's of the other States. It must have been mind-numbing but he actually did it all. Is there something I can help you with?" Olivia nodded and brought her head closer to the deputy secretary so that she didn't have to speak too loud. "The governor is having a... social problem that he's trying to get over. I was wondering if you could talk to him?" Michelle put down what she was doing and looked concerned. "I'm... I'm not going to be asked to resign will I?" Olivia resisted the urge to giggle and shook her head, "No no, it's not that but it is something serious. I can't really tell you about it because it's.... personal. But he must have liked something about you if he appointed you. It has to.... do with racial issues. Do you think you can handle that? I wouldn't ask for a favor like this normally, but I haven't seen the governor in this type of mood before. It's effecting is ability to govern so I-" Michelle got up and made sure her clothes looked sharp and smooth. "Anything for our governor Olivia. Is he free right now, or would you rather me come by later? I'm free for thirty minutes." Olivia pointed at two large doors at the end of the hallway, "He's in there right now just thinking. That's his office. I'll let him know that you are here to see him. Just talk about that governors thing you were looking over and pretend like you notice he's being distant. He should open up to you, he has a soft spot for, well, women." She knocked on one of the wooden doors and heard a weak, "Come in." Olivia saw Anthony staring out of one of the windows in his office. "Deputy Secretary of State Dupre is here to talk to you, I told her you were free." Anthony just nodded. She popped her head back out of the door and signaled Michelle to enter. "Governor Sparks, its very nice to see you again sir. It's been a while since we have talked." Anthony composed himself the best he could and turned around. "We're both really busy, sometimes too busy. What can I help you with Miss Dupre?" She took out a folder and offered it to the governor who set it down on his desk and ignored it. "You're from Houston, right Michelle? Do you mind if I call you Michelle?" "I don't mind sir, and yes I grew up in the Third Ward. Why do you ask?" He avoided eye contact. "You aren't an old woman, of course, so you didn't go through the sixties like my parents did; but how much racism did you have to deal with in Houston? Was it bad?" Michelle was blindsided by the question but it didn't take much time for her to formulate an answer. "No matter where you go there'll be racists sir. There were some in Houston, but all-in-all everyone got along. It's just a fact of life that some people don't like other people who are different. You can't hate those people, because then you're hating people who are different in a way too. You can either try to show them how you are normal and not some anti-white, FEMA where's my check black person or you can just go on with your life - but I just tried my best to get along with people. My high school was almost entirely black, so most of the other kids there couldn't afford to be racist but every now and again you'd get a girl who was just trying to entice another girl into fighting or you'd get a boy who was from Vidor... Is something on your mind governor?" Anthony took out a cigar from his desk reached into his pocket for his lighter. He flicked it once, and again, and again, and again but it wouldn't light. He flopped it down on his desk in frustration, but Michelle picked it up and lit his cigar in the first strike of her thumb. "Thank you Michelle," she nodded with support. "I have to do an interview about equality this week and I'm not going to lie to the people; but I'm afraid that I might have a few racist beliefs. I'm worried I might have to admit that." Michelle didn't really show any emotion, but she maintained support in her voice and put her hand on the governor's. "Governor... Sir, if you are a racist then you should be given an Oscar. You're the only Republican governor outside of Reconstruction that won a majority of the black vote, you fought the poverty and unemployment in Houston for your first year and half in office, and you made me the first black woman to be Deputy Secretary of State of Texas. I remember you went door to door in the Third Ward during the election with Reverend Stanhope and Father Washington. You're a champion of the African American community in Texas. You're not a racist governor, I'm telling you that you're not because I know, but we can talk about why you think you might be, if you'd like to?" "Interracial marriage," he said coldly like the words had robbed him of his childhood. "What about it?" she said. He puffed his cigar a few times and reached under his desk to grab a bottle of water. "I am not sure how to explain it to you Michelle. I'm not sure if you can understand or relate to how I feel about it. It's really conflicting..." He puffed his cigar some more and dashed the ashes into an ashtray at the corner of his desk. "My stance, on that subject, is conflicted... It's just conflicted. I-.... I will tell you right here that I believe anyone has the right to love whoever they want. I don't care if they're gay or black or Asian. I don't care if she's twenty-two and he's thirty-five. I really don't. But what I feel is different than what I think, if that makes any sense. When I see it in public, it just bothers me. It doesn't ruin my day, but I feel that it is wrong. I feel that it shouldn't be. It doesn't look right, it feels wrong, and it almost frustrates me. Do you still think I'm not a racist?" She didn't know what to say. She cupped his hand with both of his hands and shook her head. "Things happen to us that make us think certain ways. I've never met your parents, or your friends and family in Amarillo, but it might have just been the way you were brought up. When everyone around you believes something, it can be hard how you feel about that subject when it was drilled in your mind to feel a certain way. You've changed the way you thought, governor, but whatever made you feel this way is probably just a fact of your life that we can't change. I can relate - my dad is the same way. I married a white man, and he hasn't talked to me since then, over four years sir. My dad still thinks the way that he feels, but you don't. You know the difference between right and wrong, even though there is some backwards feeling that tells you to follow emotion instead of logic." He puffed his cigar again and again. "What do I say when they ask me what I think about interracial marriage?" She squeezed his hand and then let go, "You tell the truth. You don't believe it is wrong, governor. You just told me that, you just have some quirky feelings about it that you can't explain. You will be honest if you say that. Alright?" She reached over and patted his shoulder. He puffed his cigar in contemplation. "Are you just trying to show me that you're a good, normal person Michelle, or do you really believe I'm not a bad person for... feeling the way that I do?" She organized her folders and left them on his desk, "You're a good person, sir." She got up with the rest of her things, "I remember when you were considering me for this job there was that red head who was in the top three. We all know you love red heads, sir, but you still gave me the job. I say you're a good guy." She left the governor to his cigar. --- "Can I come in governor? I wanted to talk to you-" she heard excessive female giggling from coming in the room. Olivia swung open the door and saw Juliet sitting on the corner of the governor's desk with her legs crossed and her back bent so that her eyes were only twelve inches from his. He was writing something down and she was dragging on about something about Sam Houston. Anthony loved history. That bitch, Olivia said to herself. She cleared her throat loudly to get the attention of both of them. Anthony sat back in his chair and actually moved it back a few inches like his desk were on fire. Juliet kicked her legs back and forth like a schoolgirl. "Oh hello Miss Olivia. I was just talking to the governor about-" "Go get me a coffee, now." Juliet sighed and got up. Before she walked past Juliet she turned around and blinked her eyes a few time, "I'll be back later, sir. I'd love to hear some more stories. I'm free tonight, if you want to talk some more." "Coffee," said Olivia almost dumbfounded. Juliet left the room. Anthony had evidently recovered from his earlier conundrum. His hair was slick, his tie was straight, and his shirt was spotless. "Olivia I can explain-" "I don't like the little brat." "But Olivia she knows so much about Texas history! She could be a valuable part of the team." "I meant bitch. But I'm a lady so I said brat."

......Yes it is?

Do you promise to wait at least two weeks before starting a biological/chemical war that will kill millions in some disgusting, puss-filled way?

Do you promise to wait at least two weeks until you start an unnecessary nuclear war?

Short Interactions During the Day With Texas Governor Anthony Sparks Location: Austin, Capitol Smoke Room "I'll put down the cash. What do you have Sparks?" The freshman state senator eagerly watched the governor to see what his next move would be. The joint-chiefs of staff, the Texas secretary of state, and the lieutenant governor were all in the game. The state senator, William Booth, was invited as a welcome to the congress by the lieutenant governor. Once a week all of these important men met to play poker down in the bowels of the Texas capitol building so that they could catch up on the internal happenings of the State and national politics. It was actually quite the operation to keep the weekly games secret and for the Texas Rangers to maintain security for all of these important people while they are all in the same room of the same building. It was easier said than done, but it was done. "I don't know Booth. You could have a very good hand there," said Sparks. He dabbed his cigar in his ashtray and took a breath of smoke. He let the white fog slowly escape his lips while he contemplated his next move. "You're down fifty-bucks, my friend. I think this is just a very good bluff." He took another puff of smoke into his mouth and the back of his throat and then released it to the room again. "You're bluffing," he called out. Anthony showed his cards, "A full house senator. You're down, what, seventy now? We wouldn't want to bankrupt the only senator from Waco now would we-" Booth had a very big grin on his face; Sparks didn't like it. "Four of a kind, Governor Sparks. Maybe I'm getting some beginners luck here." Anthony held his hands to his face and sighed while everyone in the room cheered the senator. "Congratulations Booth, the governor usually wins on the first Monday of the month. Looks like you have lost your winning streak sir," joked the governor's chief of staff. Sparks sighed and turned over his money. Booth happily took back some cash and posed a question to the room, "Why don't y'all invite any women here? Just circumstance or?" The room fell dead silent. Anthony seemed uncomfortable and the secretary of state patted the senator's back, "We involve women in a lot of things, this is just a guy's night to get away from it all. Besides, Olivia will join us occasionally. She's a woman." Everyone in the room nodded in agreement as if they had to defend themselves; everyone except for the secretary of public safety. "I mean she's a woman but she's not...." he didn't finish. It was a pretty awkward way to end a discussion, so the chief of staff raised an eyebrow while he lit Anthony a new cigar. "She's not a what?" The secretary of public safety stretched and spat the words out quick, "She's not a babe.... She's just Olivia. We need some hot women-" Anthony blew a gust of smoke into the secretary of public safety's face. "How do you define a babe?" he said almost sarcastically. Olivia and Anthony were known to have a "relationship" but this was only public news among the governor's staff and it wasn't something that was talked about often. The secretary of public safety thought for a moment and pulled out his phone. "I'll give the the definition of a perfect babe.... let's see. Tina Fey said it pretty good, 'every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll !@#$.'" "Who is Michelle Obama?" echoed someone in the back of the room. Everyone else in the room was too busy laughing at the direct quote the secretary gave. "You're right, that doesn't describe Olivia. She's not all of those things. I'm not that picky though. I mean you can't just expect the perfect woman to fall out of a tree can you?" Most of the men shook their heads. Anthony started dealing out cards. "Well what do you look for in a woman, governor? Be honest. We're all men here." Anthony puffed his cigar, "Well if she can stand me - because I think you can all agree there are a few things I do that women might find.... annoying like smoking these cigars or being a little blunt - I'd look for a woman with a nice, sweet personality that isn't bossy, a good pair of !@#$, and a cute face. There, now you know." Booth shrugged off the short response, "It doesn't sound like you are picky at all governor. Are you sure you're being honest?" Anthony looked over his new hand of cards and took his first sip of whiskey for the night, "How many women have you met with those three characteristics? Almost every woman in the city of Austin is a %&$*#. That's why I like Olivia-". The room fell silent. Anthony looked around and understood what he had just said. "She's just a good secretary, is all."

I'll vouch for this British slob.

Sorry Eva, don't mean to reply to your poll but if you vote "no" then you are still forced to choose one of the options in the second question. Just wanted to point that out.

Mascurian Siberia seemed like a worse version of North Korea :P

I'd live in Sleepy Hollow.

Cent would you want to live in the Athenian federation? It seems everything that happens there is either a mass-protest, an official being arrested, or the military devolving new gadgets.

​I was actually thinking the other day that perhaps there should be a rule that when a war is being conducted, the participants only have 48 hours to respond to each other. This means that if there is a question in someone's post, a GM reviews it and makes a decision - that's it. There is none of this arguing for three days to make one post. I think that would help keep things moving along. Not everyone would get their way every time, but it sure would keep the ball rolling. What we have right now is some type of disgusting bureaucratic crap that is most certainly not deserving of being called RolePlay, let alone CyberNationsRolePlay.

Royal Proclamation To Inform The International Community October 30, 2237 The existence of the Kingdom of Antarctica may come as a surprise to the international community. In order to relieve any curiosity that the international community may have about Antarctica's armed forces and military capabilities, I wanted to explicitly state the position that this Royal Government holds on weapons of mass destruction. Antarctica is, and has been for some time, a nuclear capable kingdom. Nuclear weapons are not currently being produced, and the kingdom does not and will not ever have any interest in selling or giving nuclear weapons to non-nuclear states. These weapons are held by Antarctica as a deterrent and will only ever be used in the event of a nuclear or biological attack on the kingdom itself. Antarctica will not ever use nuclear weapons as an offensive weapon. The kingdom has no interest in acquiring biological weapons and maintains the stance that they are immoral and wrong to produce, sell, own, wield, and use defensively or offensively. The kingdom does not have chemical weapons such as mustard gas. The kingdom also maintains a standing army, navy, and air force including reserve forces and other armed forces ready to respond to any attack or disaster at all times.

Some pretty shade of blue would be nice Cent. If that could work.

http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?/topic/124704-the-kingdom-of-antarctica-doe/ Claiming all of Antarctica that is not claimed. I haven't been here for a while. I'm assuming I haven't done anything wrong yet?