Yup, there is a bunch of them playing Rodian Nines, Lyle. (It's like regular Nines, but you have to name your Pairs before you declare the first farthington).
They're always up for another hand to fleec... err... to join in this gentlemanly game.
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Nidar is talking about the current situation.
"With the breach of the blockade I would ordinarily be confident of the case for military intervention," he says, "but the presence of the Senate is still the deciding factor, and with the blockade under an irritating assault from the Senate, it isn't much of a pretext for us."
"We're two days in," says Atar. "My forces will have to make forward process soon, or we won't be there by the time the Emperor's deadline expires. And I cannot answer for how long it will take to secure the city."
"Lomax tells me that everything is going to plan down there," speaks a relaxed Jarek. "He's not really a man to take the initiative. If you want forward progress, someone is going to have to make the decision to get moving, and shoulder the responsibility for getting away with it."
"Excuse me," says Nidar, "Why can't you answer, General?"
"The supply of weaponry to the Osokans is not a factor we anticipated. And sooner or later, if there is a Rebel cell down there, they will make their move. I need more information on which to make a judgment."
"This is a war, General," says Nidar. "Not a simulation. Make an estimate on what you know."
"Six hours," says Atar. Nidar looks unhappy at that.
"Against a bunch of savages?"
"Extremely resistant savages on home ground inside a fortified city, and with an unquantifiable amount of Rebel aid. And that's not counting the time it might take for the artillery pieces to destroy the shield generator. That will also be our point of maximum vulnerability. I'll need heavy air cover."
"Inside the shield?" asks Nidar.
"Perhaps not. General Coll can secure the ground inside the shield, and the enemy will have no space for air attack. But the artillery pieces themselves will be vulnerable as they move into position. That's when I would attack if I were Drakkon; before they bypass the shield."
"I want it faster than six hours," says Nidar. "Coll, that will be your responsibility as well. Besides, we have seized a lot of those weapons."
"I estimate that in our ground seizures, and the taking down of the Last Laugh, we have accounted for about one third," says Atar. "Osokans are not natural users of blaster weaponry but in a urban environment, every single one they can get a gun to makes our job much harder. We must ensure no more come through. One way or another, the blockade must be kept in place. They won't dare try again after last time, so long as we are making the effort."
"It's worth more than that, Atar," says Nidar. "A recognised blockade makes subsequent invasion a more natural step. Well then gentlemen... our Agents are working on the blockade issue. The way I see it, we have severalk other areas to worry about. Being ready to neutralise the expected Rebel attack. Ensuring that our weapons of war are secure all the way through te attack plan. And making a deicison whether to advance the army in advance of a declaration of war."