what works

That works every time.

Your higher-ups say that this bit of the system may be a problem, and you do your research, and you don't get a response even two weeks later? Write back saying that you'll assume that they do not consider this a problem after all.

smug check

I probably need a smug check.
Because I feel quite smug right now.

Our system is made of subsystems, each with their own servers. One of those subsystems will soon migrate to new servers. The coordinator of that subsystem (the only higherup in the team who treats me with respect) asked me to join a meeting that he and other folks were having, and they had some questions about our job scheduler, which is my area of expertise. One of them then said that they'd opened a request for the scheduler's most recent release. I pointed out that our system uses an older release, and they kind of went "crap" about the wasted effort, but at least the error was caught early enough. I then explained why we use an older release instead of the most recent one. What I didn't say publicly, but said privately to the subsystem's coordinator is that, if our team's higherups had consulted me one year ago, I could have set up a way to use the most recent release.

So.
Once again, I saved the team's collective ass.
I should casually mention that to the people who have authority over me.
No, not the donkey part.