Conner Zink

        Conner Zink was a Federation military officer, tactician, and Politician who served one term as the 7th President of the United Federation. He was previously a decorated military commander who served as the Captain of the USS South Carolina in the Battle of Castle Rock Lake; his actions in which earned him the Federation Honor and Valor Medal, the nations' highest award for gallantry. He was also the Senator for the Republic of Conner, and later it's President when it became independent. Zink was the first President of the United Federation who had not been a Founding Father; in fact, he joined the Federation in the waning tenure of Ainsley Wall, but after it's great population boom in her first term.

 During his time in office he saw the formation of many new nations and was often openly hostile to them. A brilliant military commander who frequently led troops and fleets personally as President, his tactics have remained in use to this day. He is most known for his failed economic policies however, which ended with the bankruptcy of several Federation States, and stunted the Federation's Military potential in an era of renewed Great Power competition.

         His economic policies are often criticized, as they forced States to individually contribute to the Federal Budget which caused several states to go bankrupt. In addition, 5 Wars were fought during his Presidency, the most by far of any President. For a time, he was widely considered the worst President of the Federation, though many historians and citizens strongly dispute this notion. 

       After the end of his tenure he and his state declared independence as the Republic of Conner, and they eventually joined the Broalition against the Federation in the First Great Prairie War. During the war the Republic of Conner was invaded and annexed by Despa. Following this Conner Zink officially resigned from politics and military command and moved to South Carolina, United States. 

       History's judgement on President Zink has started to lighten up as time has followed. Many people have come out and said that he was one of the best military commanders in the Federation's history, but a poor economical president. John Banks-George said of Zink, "A great man, and a good person. Just not one who made the best choices in office. It's an office with many responsibilities. And he was my friend, and I am sorry for how he led." 

President Zink's economic policies, while failed, are generally considered to have come from a good place. He believed that, after many states and citizens left the Federation, the country no longer posessed a strong sense of unity in the face of international challenges. His policy, known as State-Side Economics, were designed to increase interdependency between the states, but failed to account for a number of factors which primarily revolved around the spread of companies and industry across the states, and people's willingness to participate in the broader economy. In point of fact, the majority of Companies and the distribution of willing members of the international economy were almost diametrically opposed. 

Nevertheless, his personal leadership and persona was undeniable, and his passionate speeches and statements freqently rallied the public, and even those who opposed him recognized this force. Some have even noted that Zink's attempts at unifying the Federation were successful, even if that unification was expressed by the election of his Vice President, Nicholas Lapord, over himself.