Character Interview: James Davis

Today's interview will also be the first of at least three parts. I still don't know how long things will take. This interview is with James Davis, the Prime Minister of The Republic of Ansdale, and you just can't snag a juicier interview. Like an interview with the President of The United States, you want to cover as much ground as you can. I still haven't decided if this is another military or a government interview. Things sort of overlap in the Republic of Ansdale. Far from a military dictatorship, the overlap allows each group to serve as a check and balance to the other, allowing the Constitution the Supreme Role.

CG: I never knew Americans were into all that King and Country stuff. Prime Minister.

JD: We came up with the idea as soon as we rebelled. It just sounded more important than President. I am no more powerful, though.

CG: Alaska is cut off from the rest of the Republic. How has that affected the war effort.

JD: It hasn't. As soon as the war began we established a War Capital at Reno, also called Republican Capital South. Reno is linked with the mainland republic via Telegraph and Railway. Second Minister Graywolf commands the Alaska front.

CG: Tell me about the Pacific Alliance.

JD: The Pacific Alliance is the baby of Captain Rachel Semmes, so to speak. She's on station at Kamehameha Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. You should talk to her about it.

(Oh the hardships we journalists must go through to get a story. Hawaii. I don't know if I'm up to the task.  Hey, Quiet down in the peanut gallery - Who knew there would be so many volunteers?)

CG: I will attempt to schedule an interview with Captain Semmes. Meanwhile, mister Prime Minister, what can you add on the Pacific Alliance.

JD: To hear Captain Semmes tell it, The Pacific Alliance was born when King Kalakuau wanted assurances that the Republic was not simply a band of Pirates before signing a treaty with us. She left Hawaii with the purpose of creating a loose alliance of nations in the Pacific which would give the United States Navy pause before attacking us. The First to sign up was New Zealand and then Tahiti. Not really naval powerhouses, but it was enough to convince Kink Kalakuau to sign a treaty. The United States of Colombia was next, and it was their addition that got the United States interest because of their interest in the isthmus of Darien (That's Panama, folks) for use as a Shipping Canal. Canada joined last year. That surprised me, considering we took British Columbia and the Yukon from them as part of the war.

CG: What is the Republic's issue with Canada?
JD: Nothing. Negotiations with Canada allowing free travel of Republican troops through those two provinces to Alaska had broken down. We needed the access, so we invaded.

CG: I would've thought that would have brought Great Britain into the war on the U.S. Side.
JD: It didn't. Perhaps Canada realized we were right. Joining the Pacific Alliance makes it seem so.

CG: The war is now entering its sixth year, and it seems no closer to resolution then when it commenced. How do you judge its success.
JD: For a war which has gone on longer than the War for Southern Independence, it may seem strange for me to say that it is going better than we had ever dreamed. Considering the population imbalance, Washington could have ended the war quickly by coming in force, but they feared being drawn in and ambushed, and so have not risked a full engagement. I do not anticipate any Gettysburg's in this war.

CG: The United States may not be willing to risk a full engagement with Republican Troops, but there have been plenty of engagements.

JD: The Federals have made their strategy to conduct a proxy war against the native tribes. It is a war of extermination. There is no reason for it except they know of the mutual defense pacts signed by General Anderson.

(I'm making this part one, folks. We will take a turn in the interview in our next part. Until then Happy Presidents Day.)