All warfare is based on deception
"I really can't understand why you always look so cheerful."
She looks at me from across the table, her glass of iwine still untouched. Fine, high class red wine, directly shipped from Earth. I can afford it, after all.
"Well... I understand I am not the one in charge of an entire system, so just maybe I might feel a little less pressure than you. But I already accomplished the impossible so far - somewhere, on another plane of existence, Leonidas is telling Xerxes he can stop feeling stupid now, he was surpassed by far. And, most of all, I told you I had planned everything. In fact, right now, Phase II is being activated. I even found a fancy, martial name for it, as in the best military tradition."
"Knowing you, I am not sure I want to know it"
"Oh, come on. You will like it. It's a good, martial, Latin name!"
"And that would be...?"
"Operation Biggus Diccus"
"...I don't know if I want to talk to you anymore."
I smile at her while I rise up from the table. "Oh, come on, you know you need to smile a little. Now, let's go - there is serious work to do. I have a Biggus Diccus to deliver."
"I hate you."
And it's golden, too