British Porn and the Plains Federation

[PresidentDavid]

"Olivia can you come in here? I have a question to ask." Governor Anthony Sparks had a concentrated look on his face. He stared into the computer screen before him deeply while he kept his legs neatly crossed below his desk. Olivia, the governor's new assistant, had been trying to get her head around how to handle her new job but she had already learned that the Governor of Texas was a... special character. "Come take a look at this porn, I'm confused as hell." Olivia blushed and wondered to herself how much she could sue the State for violating some redundant sexual-harassment law.

 

"Um... I'm not sure if that's in my job description sir," she said awkwardly. Admittedly, out of the hundreds of applicants Anthony narrowed down the final three by using beauty and brains as the two deciding factors. Olivia so happened to have both, even though she was only twenty-two and only had an associates degree. She was use to men trying to take advantage of her because of her looks but this was something new. "The city will stop picking up your trash if you don't come see this; just get over here." Anthony was perplexed, flabbergasted may even be a better word. 

 

Olivia quickly felt the same way. "No one is having sex in this video..." she said. Anthony rubbed his hand on his freshly shaven face and nodded, "I know. It's British porn. This one's titled She Has a Leak. The guy walked in and there was this... attractive woman in some tight clothing. But then she pointed to the sink and blew him a kiss and he started working on the sink. And now... he's still working on the sink. He found something in the ring-trap about ten minutes ago, I think it was a marble. The woman said it belonged to her son."

 

Olivia set down her clipboard and took off her glasses, "What? How long has this video been going on?" He moved the mouse furiously for a few moments until the timer showed up at the bottom of the screen. "Twenty-seven minutes. The British have taken twenty-seven minutes of my life and none of it had to do with sex. Call Congressman Coin, I think I just found the most asinine reason to declare war. I have to tell him this." Olivia blinked and remembered she had to hand the governor something from the Texas National Guard headquarters. "Sorry sir, I forgot to give you this. Admiral Teach said it was of the utmost importance." 

 

Ten Minutes Later

 

"Coin you're never going to believe this - what? Who told you?.... I know I was literally sitting at my desk watching- well never mind but I thought I had come up with the most ridiculous reason to declare- yeah and then I read that! Like talk about defending honor. I have to say I'd consider doing the same thing but I mean come on- no yeah I gotta go.  I think we might be involved in this. Teach is raising all kind of hell. I'll keep you updated."

 

Anthony hung up the phone and looked over to Olivia. His face suddenly dropped from a boyish glee to a very somber, serious, thoughtful focus. "Jesus Christ, the Federal Fleet is doing some exercise up there aren't they?" He put his face in one of his hands and thought for a few moments. "One way or another someone is going to try to pull us into this... Christ. Olivia get me Maritime command. I don't want Galveston to be in the cross heirs of anyone." Olivia rushed over to her desk and got the Admiral of the Texas Maritime National Guard on the phone. "He's on line one sir." 

 

Anthony picked up. "Governor Sparks, any word from the North Atlantic?" He was at a loss of words for a few moments but picked up his composure, "No Admiral I haven't, but I fear our boys in the north are going to get banged up. I don't want Galveston to be a strategic target of anyone. Deploy the entire fleet to the Gulf, just play it off as a defense drill. I'll make sure the ambassador to Tikal knows."

"Aye aye sir." 

 

The Port of Houston and Port Galveston came to life while thousands of seamen went aboard their ships earlier than expected. Any of the ships that weren't in port began heading towards a point nearly in the middle of the Gulf where they could better defend themselves and not make any cities strategic points of attack. Anthony's attention was now focused on the intelligence he was just handed by his Chief of Staff who fearfully stood next to Olivia. "We weren't told by the President this was going to happen sir. No one told us this... We're in the dark." Anthony kept his eyes closed and shook his head. He crinkled a piece of paper in his hand and let it fall to the floor. It was from the National Guard HQ, stating that the Plains Federation Navy had opened fire on the British fleet without being fired upon. 

 

He picked up his office phone and called Congressman Coin, the Speaker of The House of Representatives, back. Coin was a Texas native and good friends with the governor. They talked often, especially while congress was in session. "It's Governor Sparks. Listen, I have a source that says we shot first at the Brits.... I don't know if the President ordered it but if he did I sure as hell hope you can do something about it..... Thank you Mister Speaker. I'll get Air Guard One to fly me to Oklahoma City if I have to. Whatever game someone is trying to play, it isn't right.... Yeah I'll talk to you later." 

 

After about twenty minutes, Speaker Coin had already filled in the Texas Representatives and Senators about what had happened. Word started to spread among the other representatives as well. The Navy had attacked the British fleet without (at least seemingly) proper authorization from the President. And if the President had authorized such a move, then it was done without authorization from congress and done in such a way that it would almost be forcing them to declare war. To many, an explanation was needed. Because this was unacceptable. 

 

Speaker of The House Coin made a call to the Vice President to ask what her take on the situation was. He wanted the details, because things were starting to get ugly in the House chamber quickly. 

 

OOC: You can respond to this Mara. I figured it'd be better to do it here than in the Congressional thread.

[Mara Lithaen]

OOC: You should have cleared this up in PM with me. This thread will receive no response until that has happened.

[Mara Lithaen]

Vice President Anna Kennedy picked up her personal phone, fumbling the quick-release catch on her chestplate in the privacy of her office. "'Ello, who's it? Oh hello, Speaker Coin. What's the situation?" she asked, and the information got relayed to her. "Sounds like someone's stoking the rumormill with no facts to back it up with. I wouldn't worry about it. Tell you what, Speaker, I'll phone the President and see what he has to say about it. I think he's actually about to go into his weekly meeting with the Joint Chiefs. You're welcome; yeah, I'll get back to you as soon as I hear something. Or maybe the President'll call you; either way, you'll know what we know. Good day." she said, and closed the connection, sighing and rubbing at the rather massive bruise developing under her bodysuit. "I need to spar more often."

 

With another sigh, she dialed the President. On the other side of the White House, President John Reese excused himself from the Joint Chiefs for a moment. "Hello, Anna. I know you know my schedule, so this must be important."

 

"It is, Mr. President. Well, maybe it isn't, too; have you heard anything about some sort of attack made by Federal Navy ships against the British in the Atlantic?"

 

"No, I can't say I have. I'll ask the Chiefs, but they typically start off with the big news and move into the details. An incident like that would qualify as 'big news'. Why the curiosity?" he asked, curious.

 

"I just got a call from the Speaker of the House; apparently the Texan Congress is getting worked up over a rumor that we had attacked the Brits." Anna replied.

 

"Call him and tell him I'll speak to him when I get out of this meeting, but do tell him there's no substance to these rumors of an attack. There are tensions in the area, yes, but so far as I know nothing has yet occurred." John replied, truthfully.

 

"Will do, John. Enjoy your meeting." Anna said, slightly teasing.

 

"I always do, Anna; I always do."

 

After that, Anna called the Texan Speaker back, and explained the situation as the President knew it, informing him that the President would call him after the meeting.