"Where," he ground out angrily, "is General O'Neill?"
"He's on a mission." She replied at once. Macmillan was taken aback.
"Surely he was notified that I'd be arriving soon?" he asked. Carter nodded.
"He was. That's why he took the mission." Pierce stifled a laugh as MacMillan's face went red.
"Well," he said after a moment, "He doesn't need to be here. Colonel, I need a meeting with the Colonial representatives."
"They aren't here right now, Sir." Carter replied, Macmillan's jaw dropped for a moment before he composed himself.
"And where did they go?"
"They had an impromptu meeting arranged with the President."
"The President of what?" Macmillan demanded.
"Of the United States, numb nuts." Pierce drawled, kicking her foot up slightly.
"With General O'Neill," Carter added. "That was the mission."
"You just missed him." Pierce finished gleefully.
MacMillan's face turned a magnificent shad of puce. "Dial Atlantis. NOW!" he roared. Carter nodded, then turned to Walter. "Master Sergeant, dial it up." The gate's symbols flashed and the chevrons lighted, until the wormhole finally established. "We have a connection. Transmitting IDC," Walter said over the mic, then turned to his console. Quietly, he sent a message to Weir stating that Macmillan was coming back. She replied almost at once, and Harriman had to hide his smile. "Sir, Atlantis is reporting she's still having problems with her gate force field. It's stuck on. Dr. McKay is working on it right now."
Carter smiled blandly at the IOA leader. "I'm sure it will only be a few minutes." She said. "After all, Rodney is one of the best."