Act IV: Deuteronomy
Chapter 7: The End of the Confederacy
Part 1: The Empire on Which the Sun Never sets.
"A power which has dotted over the surface of the whole globe with her possessions and military posts, whose morning drumbeat, following the sun and keeping company with the hours, circles the earth with one continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England."
-Daniel Webster.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8zs0p9h1zk7rh20/worldmap18802.png?dl=0
Sir?
*Sigh*. Yes?
They've returned from their journeys, sir.
Thank you. Send them in.
You're president? President Kirby Smith?
In the flesh. Though I am uncertain why the Lord would choose this unworthy servant to replace our honourable Breckenridge. 4 years he served, and 10 our forefather, Jefferson Davis. Would it be that I would serve as long. Davis was re-elected to his second term in '66, if I recall correctly, and Breckenridge in '70.
It's your turn now?
Yes, I've been in office since Breckenridge stepped down in 1874, during the war with the Imperials - for health reasons. I was Re-elected in '78 and am now in my second term. As the years pass more of us have passed away.
So how are we doing?
As you can see - our domains span the world, we have a presence on 4 continents, and a dominant position on two. Only 7 hours of daylight separate the port of Mombasa from Santo Domingo. We have a few minor rebellions, but other than that we are faring extremely well.
As you can see, we have finally paid our creditors and began the mighty task of exterminating the thieves and robbers that suckle themselves off the blood of the citizenry. We still turn a profit of 300 pounds a year.
Shouldn't we open some schools?
We fear that the Imperial Empire of America would strive to regain what they have lost when our peace treaty expires in December. So we should prepare to meet their challenge with our own arms.
We have regained our great power status, and remain the 5th largest in prestige, while attaining the second largest military behind only the British Empire. We have slid to the FOURTH largest industrial power in North America, behind Brazil, Canada and the Imperial Empire.
Hey the people need to work and have good jobs. We should build more factories.
We should prepare for the immediate invasion danger first. It does us no good to build factories we cannot preserve.
We do have the largest empire, but by default as the British have released their Dominion of Canada. Although we also have Mexico as a satellite. So all in all, we are roughly on par with the British Empire.
Whoa. We're number 1!
Save the fact that our navy lags, yes. The British cannot defeat us and we cannot successfully assail them. So the wary peace continues.
What about the rest of the world? There is a possibility that this senseless conflict between Spain and the United Kingdom would erupt into a general war - the peace treaties between Germany, France, the North German Federation, the South German Federation, Prussia and Russia will all expire later this year. The world has had 5 years of a robust peace. Which may soon be shattered in a general European conflict.
Is it possible we might be dragged in?
Unlikely. Whichever side we side on will tip the balance.
