Commander Jack Reese looked around at the pub that the group had ended up at.
It had taken a couple of years, but he had finally overcome the stigma of being sent off to the hinterlands because he had followed an order of his Commander in Chief.
Immediately after the newspaper report had come out (and wasn't that worth a few curse words), Jack had immediately called Leo McGarry to explain and to apologize. He hadn't thought he was on the record and he had been pissed when it was reported.
Leo thanked him and told him to be careful – reporters were even worse than teenagers about gossip. He had ruefully accepted the mild rebuke.
The Secretary of Defense, Jack had finally admitted to himself, had been a bit of a dick about him providing the requested force depletion report. Not that he would ever say that out loud.
Still, he had been shipped off to Arctic Radar and languished for two years. It was sheer chance that his station had picked up the Chinese military activity at the edge of their equipment range.
As a member of US Navy, he understood how important it was that the Navy, Army and Air Force had up to date intelligence on both weather phenomenon and foreign military or civilian presence. Arctic Radar ensured that the US Navy had accurate information as regards the surface, and the US Air Force had accurate information on the air space. The Army just wanted the same intel, as little as they actually needed it in that area.
During one watch, the radar man under his command during the watch had noted some inconclusive readings which seemed intermittent on the very edge of their scopes.
A discussion with the radar man and the station chief had sent the report up the ladder despite the inconclusive nature of the readings. Word had come back that satellite imagery had confirmed that the unknown activity was a Chinese military exercise in International waters.
From his time in the White House, Jack understood that such things were all about politics and a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) game of chess between the two governments.
The fact that the US had caught the activity had given them a leg up in the game and the station had been commended.
That was the first hint that his exile was going to end.
And so, here it was only a couple of years later and he was one of the US officers sent to this NATO event for military officers from each government.
After a particularly grueling day of briefings, several members of the different militaries had collectively decided to go out and have fun. And so a group of officers comprised of US, British, Canadian, and a smattering of other nationalities had come to the British pub (this conference was in Britain) to socialize.
One of the Brits, after a couple of drinks, had loudly called, "Coin Check!"
"Really, Nigel?" one of the Belgian officers asked.
Nigel, a British Air Captain, grinned. "Sure. Let's see what everyone's got. Next round on whoever doesn't have it."
The Canadian Colonel, as he fished his out, "Or on you if we all have our coins." Nigel nodded and grinned.
The group, about 20, each fished coins out of their uniforms and, one by one, they slapped them down.
In the US military, coin challenges were usually between members of the same squad and it was a matter of unit pride that everyone carried their unit coin. Highest ranked coin was a less common challenge, but Jack always won that when it happened. Jack himself had several coins (not uncommon) ranging from his unit coins all the way to his Bartlet coin. Considering it was international, he thought it best to use that one.
Nigel groaned. "I guess everyone's got theirs. Let's see them, then."
Each coin was read off by another member of the group. The Belgian had a unit coin. The Brits each had their own coins, a couple from various members of the British nobility. Nigel's was from the British Chief of the Air Staff. His fellow Brits ribbed him for showing off.
Jack Reese said nothing. Finally, the Canadian sitting next to him read his to the crowd. "Nigel? I think Jack here has you beat."
"Really?" he asked. Everyone was paying attention.
The Canadian said, "I think so. This one reads US Commander in Chief, Josiah Bartlet."
There were whistles around. The American Air Force Colonel, a Colonel Simpson, asked, "When did you get that?"
Jack picked up his coin and put it away. "I did a stint attached to the White House. President Bartlet asked for help on something and I could provide. This was his way of saying thanks."
All of the military officers had been impressed. Nigel, a good sport about it, paid for the round because everyone had their coin. Jack had even been bought a Macellen, a very expensive whisky, in recognition of having the highest ranked coin.
Jack mused that while he had preferred to stay at the White House and he missed Donna Moss (even if the grape vine reported that she had had finally ended up with the man she really loved), bucking the Sec Def that one time had provided its own rewards.
