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Of course, there was also the matter of having some sort of media entourage following his men around the battlefield. Unless the senator had some other strategy in mind. Jackson supposed he needed clarification on that point before anything else.

“How, exactly, would you intend to go about ‘showing the truth of this fight’ to your people?” he asked.

“Oh, I had various ideas in mind. Camera crews, for one. They would be key in capturing what is really going on out there. And I think enlisting the help of a number of skilled documentarians would be quite helpful, as well. Someone needs to not just see what is happening but also piece it all together into a coherent message. And thirdly, I would ask that you appoint someone to become the new face of your organization. Or perhaps more than one person. A small team of public representatives who can regularly meet with average citizens and answer questions. Do television appearances and so forth. Might you have someone like that in mind already? Individuals who handle themselves well under spotlight and scrutiny?”

Indeed, several names came readily to mind. He was not about to bring them up so quickly, though. “And what if you go through all this trouble, set all these things in motion, only for the war to suddenly end, a week from now? Or even tomorrow, hypothetically?”

Jacobson broke for a laugh. “Well, that would hardly be cause for disappointment, now would it? Such a quick resolution to the hostilities? Why, a celebration would be in order, I should think! In which case, what better way to go about it than to give very public credit where credit is due?”

Ah.

Yeah.

This fellow was definitely a politician alright.

The man paused for another mild laugh before continuing on. “Forgive me if I am presuming overmuch, but I am getting the strange impression that you, sir, do not fully realize just how curious the general public is about you and your people. But surely, I must be mistaken, yes? I can only imagine the countless offers you must have gotten over the years from the folks out of Bellvine or Windreach to make motion pictures out of various legendary Vanguardian exploits. I always thought it curious how there weren’t more of such things. Have you been turning them down? If so, then I must say, that is a shame.”