Chapter 4: Corridors of Power
All together, Sam wasn't looking forward to the trip to Washington. However, being stuck in a small commuter jet for a few hours with Jack and Hammond turned out to be not as bad as she imagined. Hammond slept through most of it, and Jack had brought a travel chess set and there was always the dvd players…
They landed in Washington and immediately were taken via limousine to the White House where people were already gathering for the meeting. The President himself came over to greet them.
"George, good to see you," he said, shaking Hammond's hand before turning to Jack and Sam. "Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, glad you could make it."
"Always a pleasure." Jack replied, beaming.
The president turned to Sam, then, shaking her hand. "Major, I just wanted you to know that we've got someone looking in to the security breech. The project's been scrapped, anyway, so don't worry too much."
"It what?" Sam looked up at him, her eyes wide and slightly surprised.
"It's too dangerous if they know about it." The president shook his head slowly. "Takes away the whole point of it and it's only a weapon they can use against us then."
Sam nodded. "Right…"
A few minutes later the doors to the large conference room opened and everyone began filing in. Sam took a seat between Jack and another man who she didn't recognize. The large table was filled by the time the secretary of defense stood up and called everyone to order.
"All of you probably know the reason for this meeting, the recent requests and threats made by the Russian government. We have joining us three representatives from the Stargate program, and our goal here today is to work out a plan to deal with Russia's demands." He shuffled his notes around a little, looking uncomfortable. "On a much graver note, their threats have increased. Koranov has passed hints that they'd be willing to take this to nuclear war if we do not meet their demands."
"Well that's crazy!" Jack said suddenly. All eyes turned towards him. "I mean nuclear war would be suicide. Both countries would get destroyed, not just ours."
"Right now, Colonel, I don't think Koranov cares." The secretary of defense replied, looking almost remorseful. "The way Koranov sees it right now is that he can either die at our hands, because we have these nukes in space, or he can bring us down with him and die on his own terms."
The man sitting next to Sam snorted, then muttered quietly, "like the colonel said; crazy." Sam couldn't help but nod in agreement.
The consensus was eventually reached that Koranov was probably just bluffing; Jack's point was valid, it would be a fairly insane thing to do. The president had met with Koranov on several occasions and didn't think he was the type to do something quite as irrational as starting a nuclear war.
A few hours later a break for lunch was finally called. They still had some more to cover, but everyone was getting restless because of hunger, so the president dismissed them for a couple hours.
Sam had just stood up when the man next to her turned and held out his hand. He was a little taller than Sam, though about her own age, and with dark brown hair and large, chocolate colored eyes that could probably get any girl to swoon with the right expression. "Lt. Colonel Dryden Anderson," he introduced, shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you," Sam smiled. "Major Sa-"
"Samantha Carter." Dryden finished. "Yeah, I know who you are. I work for the secretary of the defense intelligence agency…so I know all about the Stargate program and the geniuses behind it." He chuckled as Sam blushed and rolled her eyes. "Care to join me for lunch?"
"Sure, why not."
They fell into step together as they left the White House, chatting about nothing in particular. They went to a little restaurant that Sam remembered from her days of working in Washington, a place with good sandwiches and where they wouldn't be the only two in air force uniforms.
"Ah, this game makes me so hungry," Dryden remarked while looking over the menu.
Sam raised her eyebrows. "What game?"
"Politics." Dryden smirked.
"Oh, right. Well, I'm far more at ease alone in my lab with a bunch of alien devices to study," Sam said. "Politics isn't really my thing."
"But you're in one of the most politically debated programs in the government…"
"Yeah, just my luck." She grinned.
Dryden laughed, taking a sip of water. Their waitress came over a minute later and they ordered, then Dryden rested his elbows on the table, leaning in a little. "So, I already know you on a scientific and professional level, but I'd be fascinated to get to know you on a personal level, Major."
"Sam. Please."
"Ok, Sam." Dryden smiled. "What are you like?"
"Uhmmm…" Sam thought a moment. "In between fixing alien technology I repair motorcycles…I have a brother that lives in San Diego and a father who's an ambassador to the Tok'ra."
"What about your mother? It must be hard on her."
Sam's expression darkened and she looked down at the table. "My mom died when I was 16."
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know…" Dryden's eyebrows raised in a worried expression.
Sam smiled reassuringly at him. "It's ok. So what about you?"
"Well…despite the fact that I spend most of my time behind a desk, I'm far too dedicated to the military for my own good. My favorite show is 'Family Guy', I've never ridden on a motorcycle, and my parents and younger sister live in Boston. As you see, Sam, I'm a very simple person."
"Who none the less is well versed in the game of politics."
"Right." Dryden smiled at her over the rim of his glass. "So…the Stargate program. Must be pretty exciting to work on that."
"Oh, it's beyond any of my wildest dreams." She shook her head in slow amazement. "It's…I can't even begin to describe it."
"I've read about the Stargate and how it works…I'd love to see it someday." They both fell silent as the waitress brought their food over.
After the waitress left, Sam turned back to Dryden and said with a grin. "You'd have to get the right security clearance just to set foot in the base."
On the pretense of reaching for the saltshaker, Dryden leaned a little closer. "And what security clearance would I need to take you out for dinner?"
"Cute." Sam gave an all-mighty eye roll. "Did I mention how much I hate cheesy one liners?"
"Sorry…" Dryden held up his hands, grinning sheepishly. "No more, I promise. Let's try that again. Would you go out for dinner with me?"
"I'd love to," Sam replied earnestly. "But I have to have dinner with my CO's after the meeting."
"A drink afterwards then?"
She shook her head. "My flight back to Colorado is pretty early tomorrow."
"Oh." Dryden looked down at his sandwich despairingly.
"Some other time though," Sam said. "Maybe the next time I'm in Washington."
"I'll hold you to that." A faint smile crossed Dryden's face.
The afternoon portion of the meeting went very slowly and uninterestingly. Sam glanced over more than once to catch Jack doodling on his clipboard, and she was more than tempted to nudge Dryden under the table just to see what he'd do. But what he'd said about being devoted to the military was obviously correct, for he seemed to be hanging on to every word the secretary of defense or chief of staff or president said.
It finally let out as the sun was sinking behind the buildings of the nation's capital, and Sam blearily walked out into the hallway. She looked up, her eyes landing on a man in a dark suit standing by the wall talking to another man. Her heart skipped a beat. The man in the dark suit was wearing a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and when he turned and met her gaze, she could clearly see the scar running down the side of his nose. He smirked, shaking his head threateningly, then discreetly held a finger to his lips before turning away.
"Sam?"
She almost jumped when someone touched her arm. It was only Dryden, however, peering down at her with a concerned expression. She shook her head. "What?"
"Are you alright?" the colonel's dark eyes widened slightly.
"I'm fine." She smiled. "I'm just tired."
"Ah, right. Here…I'll walk you out to your cab."
Later that night Jack and Sam joined Hammond in his suit at the hotel for dinner. All three seemed a little agitated, even after the slow pace of the afternoon portion of the meeting.
"Sir, you don't actually think Koranov's going to go through with this?" Jack asked. Hammond had been the one most ready to propose coming up with plans for what to do if Koranov made good on his threats. "I mean this guy sounds like all bark and no bite…he's new to the game."
Sam frowned slightly at the analogy. That's exactly what Dryden had called it.
Hammond sighed, setting his napkin to the side with a little more force than was necessary. "I really don't know, Jack. It seems like a crazy thing to do, yes, but the threat of nuclear war isn't something to be taken lightly either."
"Sir, I'm not taking it lightly, I'm only – "
"Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis." Hammond looked hard at them both. "The president doesn't really want to deal with something like that. With today's technology, who knows what would happen."
"Koranov would have to be absolutely insane to actually do something like this, though."
"Then let's hope he's sane," Hammond said in a manner that indicated this topic was closed. He turned to Sam. "Major, how are your niece and nephew doing?"
Sam found it hard to sleep that night. She'd gotten used to sleeping in hotels long ago, but her mind seemed to be rushing around at a pace that was incredible even to her. Koranov's threat mingled right up there with Dryden…
That's just what you need. She told herself. Getting involved with another military man. Hadn't Hansen been bad enough? But Dryden was nothing like him. Dryden seemed…genuinely nice. There had to be a catch.
Listen to me! Sam thought despairingly as she fell back against the pillows. Worrying about a boyfriend when we could be on the brink of nuclear war. She closed her eyes and spent several minutes trying to remember some of the meditation techniques Teal'c had taught her. By the time she remembered them she'd stopped worrying about all the other things, and sleep came easily.
She was awoken all too early by Jack pounding on her door and telling her it was time to get up. After packing their things, the three of them had to hurry back to the White House so Hammond could have another brief word with the president before they caught their flight.
While sitting in one of the waiting rooms with Jack, who had his face stuck in a magazine, Sam looked up and was surprised to see Dryden entering, a folder clutched under one arm and the drowsy look of someone who'd been awoken far too early. Sam got to her feet and hurried over.
"Dryden!"
He turned and grinned. "Sam! Hey, I didn't expect to see you…"
"General Hammond had to talk to the president again."
"Mmm." Dryden tilted his head to one side. "So you're leaving soon then?"
Sam nodded. " 'Fraid so."
"Well," Dryden set his folder down so they could shake hands. "It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope this is a 'see you later' and not 'good bye'."
"Yeah." Sam sighed heavily, turning to look as Hammond came out of the oval office. "But I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again soon."
"Good. Until then." With one last smile they both turned their opposite ways, Dryden heading into one of the offices and Sam walking over to her two CO's.
"Ready to go, Major?" Hammond asked, turning.
Sam nodded, and with that they left.