Paul emerged from the en-suite and took in her appearance. Tight jeans with black heeled knee boots pulled over, a fitted black sweater that looked expensive, a fitted black Prada coat and a Prada handbag, finished off with perfectly applied make up and straightened hair. He grinned.

"You scream 'I have a credit card and I'm prepared to use it'. I like it."

Rihanna laughed. "Well that is the general idea is it not?" She took in his appearance. "You on the other hand look very 'Yeah I'm military but who cares' are you sure that's the right look to go for?"

Paul turned and studied himself in the mirror. "Well I don't want to appear too eager and I also don't want to appear too disinterested."

Rihanna gave him another once over. "I agree its fine."

They made their way downstairs and left the cabin arm in arm. The other wives were already waiting in the limousine parked at the end of the drive and Mark was waiting for Paul. Paul pulled her in for a long kiss and then murmured in her ear suggestively and loud enough for Kristy, who was hanging out of the open window, to hear. "Make sure you pick up something for later."

Rihanna laughed and blew him a kiss as she got into the limousine and waved as they headed off.

Paul smiled and turned to Mark. "Now tell me that isn't worth all this aggravation?"

Mark chuckled. "I concede your point." They began to walk towards his cabin. "So what are you planning to do now that you've fallen out of favour?"

"Oh I don't know, I'm open to offers. I mean I've given years of my life to the USAF and if this is how they're going to repay me then I have no qualms in scamming them for all they're worth."

"An interesting perspective. You think you'll get away with it?"

"I know enough to get by, besides I have a lot of favours to call in. It's amazing what a few well timed and well placed phone calls can do."

Mark stopped and looked out over the lake. "I've got to tell you Paul that a lot of people here don't trust you. They think this is all a well planned scam, laid out so that you can worm your way in and sell us all out. We've seen it before and no doubt we will see it again. Mainly from the Washington bigwigs who feel they've been passed over for some reason or another… but never anyone from the SGC."

Paul looked at him. "What do you think?"

Mark met his gaze. "I don't know. But I intend to find out." He held his arm out indicating for Paul to enter the cabin.

Paul held his gaze for a moment longer and then entered; taking a seat on the vast couch that occupied the main area. He watched Mark sit down. "You think I'm a spy?"

Mark laughed. "A spy? No I wouldn't go that far. A mole maybe."

"Now why would they need a mole? They already have more than enough information on the various rogue units that operate within the NID to make their move if they so wished."

"And yet they don't."

"Of course they don't. They'd get buried in red tape for months by the appropriations committee. It's no secret within the Pentagon where Kinsey's loyalties lie… with the highest bidder. It's not a bad attitude to have."

Mark leant back against the couch and studied him. "My wife seems to think that you're genuine. You know how women are, all into this 'touchy feely' crap. What bothers me 'Major' is that you have nothing of value to bring to the table, and without that, I'm curious as to what makes you think you would have anything to bargin with."

"My extensive knowledge of the SGC, its staff, allies, enemies, procured technologies. I can remember various gate addressees', I have many encrypted documents containing mission reports and mining locations… not to mention of course, the location of the new Alpha Site."

"You'd betray your colleagues?"

Paul smiled. "For the love of a beautiful woman… without question."

Mark narrowed his eyes.

"General I have risked my life in situations that most can only dream of and for what? For the SGC to play God and decide 'how' we should form alliances and gain technology? At first I believed in their reasoning, we'd made a powerful enemy and we needed as many people on our side as possible. But then when more and more of our allies held advanced technology and were unwilling to share… well let's just say I'm far more concerned with my own planet to be worrying about who's feet we tread on in the meantime. I'm done with playing nice 'General', I'm done with considering millions of other people before Earth, I'm done with trying to fit in with 'their' cultural beliefs and bend to their will. I don't care how we get the technology anymore, as long as we get it."

"What does your wife think?"

Paul shrugged. "She's not as well versed in all this, she knows some but… she's mainly oblivious to the whole thing. You know how woman are… show them great sex and money, they'll do anything you want them to."

Mark smiled. "Well… we are going to be late. And whilst I usually enjoy making a late entrance, I think this time, I want to enjoy the looks on their faces when they see you sitting there."

Paul nodded and followed Mark out to the car. Leaning back in his seat he hoped he'd been convincing enough. He had never been any good at these power games, it was one of the reason's he'd taken the job as the SGC liaison. It enabled him to play the parts he needed to but stay well outside of the risk area. Now, he was well and truly stuck in the middle of it. But when the President personally calls in a favour – you can hardly say 'no'.

"What do you drink?"

Paul glanced at Mark. "Anything with a high alcohol content."

"Excellent."