When Two Governors Meet

[Governor Mike Davis]

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The governor straightened his jacket and sat back down in his chair, resting his hands on the desk before him. He listened attentively to what Doctor John Holliday was saying, occasionally nodding to signal that he was engaged.

When it was his turn to speak, he merely shrugged, as if the matter was already straightforward in his mind.

"The Militants will attempt to strike at anyone they see as a real or imagined enemy -- myself, my children, our soldiers, Liberty civilians, Zoners, and even someone like you or your colleagues, Doctor Holliday. And they do so most often with bombs that make no distinction between victims. That is precisely why negotiation with them or appeasing them is pointless. To legitimize such barbaric methods is simply impossible, and from a moral standpoint, every one of these actors must be brought to justice."

"As for the possibility of a Zoner administration, there is already overwhelming pressure from our citizens, who form the vast majority in the largest cities. Their safety and their interests must be protected. What do you think the Militants would do to them if we withdrew, Doctor Holliday? They are already trying to kill them, and that’s with most of their attacks being foiled by us. The same would be true of the Xenos or the Liberty Rogues, who would move in here after our departure. They would make your lives difficult, just as they have in the past. We cannot abandon our people, nor can we forcibly relocate them for their safety. That'd ruin their lives, lives they were building here for years, if not decades."

"At this point, the most humane solution is for Erie to become a fully integrated world within the Republic, with the choice for any local resident to claim Liberty citizenship. This would grant them the ability to freely engage with the wider Republic without administrative barriers. For those who choose not to pursue citizenship, their lives will continue much as before, provided they respect the law."

"I have already noticed that many among you have become Liberty citizens and are now defending your interests within our administration. I see this as a positive development -- and a vital foundation for peaceful and mutually beneficial coexistence.", Governor Mike Davis smiled faintly, nodding toward Doctor John Holliday seated across from him. "That is a good sign. Wouldn’t you agree, Doctor Holliday?"

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