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�So� who are we trying to wow today?� Jack asked. Though Elizabeth knew that Jack had been told who they were meeting with, she knew that he hadn�t exactly been focused on the conversation at the time (there had been some kind of accident with the X-302 manufacturing process that, apparently put them behind schedule, and that had take up most of his attention until he had figured out a way to resolve the problem� which, as far as Elizabeth could tell, was simply to just keep cranking the fighters out as fast as possible and the deliveries would be in two parts instead of all at once. She understood the problems that came with being in charge�often times she spent hours, even days, having the same conversation with someone over and over again because her mind had wandered to other crises (concern for off-world teams, mental reminders to check on injured personnel) for a second and she had missed critical information that she needed to be made aware of.
�Representatives from the nuclear powers of the Alliance countries,� Elizabeth replied. �And I doubt we�ll be doing much �wowing�, Jack, at least not for the next few days.�
�Oh, I don�t know �bout that. Just make sure that you give a good story of someone from their country saving the lives of ten or more people and there will definitely be� wow� type stuff� going on,� Jack said. �You�ve got good stories on quite a few, don�t you? Like, their people saved the world or something, right?�
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at the General. �You�re saying I should, what? Accentuate the heroic actions of their people to convince them to give us more support?�
�Something along those lines,� Jack said. Elizabeth frowned and Jack nodded reluctantly. �I realize that flattery doesn�t get you everywhere, especially in international politics. But it certainly can�t hurt, right? And, who knows. Maybe it�ll grease the wheels a little, to utilize another clich�.�
�Yeah, maybe,� Elizabeth admitted. She finished her coffee in one long sip, still not loving the taste but feeling much more energized than she had when she arrived at the hotel. �We should go,� she said, knowing that they had a fair length drive ahead of them and a lot of traffic to get through. From where she sat she could see that the cherry blossoms were in bloom in the Capitol and, therefore, the influx of tourists would be massive, especially around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Jack nodded. �We should,� he agreed as he got to his feet. He looked at Elizabeth carefully. �You okay? We can probably push this thing back until morning. I�m sure everyone�ll understand.�
�I�m fine, Jack,� Elizabeth said.
�The dark circles under your eyes say differently,� Jack pointed out as he dropped a few bills on the table to cover Elizabeth�s coffees.
�With charm like that it�s almost hard to believe that you�re not in a relationship,� Elizabeth said dryly.
�I know,� Jack agreed good-naturedly. �One of the great mysteries of the universe.�
�So, how long are you back for?� Sam asked.
�Assuming the Powers That Be don�t pull me off the expedition, the Daedalus should be back here in a little under two weeks. Caldwell�s people get a few days leave, then we�re heading back to Pegasus,� John said.