"State your business."
The driver of the blacked out Crown Victoria pulls out an ID card, flashing it to the security guard.
"Very well. Theres a takeoff at fourteen-oh-two. You'll be cleared to cross the runway after that time." The guard backs away as the gate in front of them opens, the car pulls forward.

"We'll be..." the driver checks his watch. "...a minute thirty, Mr. President."
"Thank you."
The window between the driver and the back seat raises, slowly coming to a stop as it fully closes. Sam turns to his wife.
"Are you sure you still want to come, my love?"
"Why wouldn't I? I always have loved a good shindig."
"That you have. But this one could get very ugly, very fast. We're one of the only nations ignoring whats going on in Reizen. Its surely going to be brought up, and we're very likely to get pressure from both sides."
"Oh, Samuel. You always have mistaken me for a woman who couldn't hold her own." Sam's mouth opened, but words failed him. "We've been married for more than thirty years. You know me better than my own mother. Do you really think I can't spend a few hours ignoring politics and enjoying the company of one of our closest neighbors?"
The car rolled to a stop, and the driver side door opened. Jessica looked at her husband, who looked like he had the weight of the Commonwealth on his shoulders.
"Lets go enjoy our time in the company of the Peony, and worry about politicking as it comes." She took the hand of the driver and slid out of the car. Sam slid to the open door, pausing to take a deep breath, then exited the vehicle before making his way to the plane.
 

---

The plane landed in Lian, and much was still going through Samuel's mind. Jessica walked up behind him placing a kiss on his right cheek, which seemed to snap him out of his trance.
"Relax, Love."
"I'm trying. This is my first real delve into anything outside of Rebeltopia. I wasn't built for this."
His wife sighed. "Don't knock it 'til you try it. Now lets go strengthen our ties to our northern neighbors, and continue to ignore what we've been ignoring for months now."
Sam got up, hugged his wife, giving her a peck on the cheek, before straightening his suit coat and taking a deep breath. "Let's do this. We're probably running late." Sam checked his watch, then made his way down the steps to the awaiting car, waiving off the driver. He helped his wife into the back, took another big breath, then entered the car. As he shut the door, the car took off toward the exit of the airport.