Two bedraggled traders entered the Lounge. The Tekagi Maru and the Hexagram 23 had each taken a turn at running the gauntlet from Omega 49 with fat loads of deuterium. They were soon followed by another pilot, the new Ensign commanding the Haiiruguma, a brand new Chimaera, who had escorted both vessels on the northern half of their journeys through Edinburgh and the Taus.
"Haiiri-san! Please join us." said the Fool. "Thirsty work, eliminating those BAF Templars, and eluding those ice chunks in 31. I managed to tractor in a few to cool our drinks. I hate warm Sake!"
Captain Nebotuda merely stared at his drink. "I find it inconceivable that neither of those two SF vessels in Leeds ever entered range and tried to engage us! We were plain as the noses on your faces, Chijin. Are we not moving slowly enough for them? Should we dismount our cruise engines comletely? How can we get any decent target practice from these dunderheads??"
"Not to worry, Seiji-san," said the Fool. "I know a few more routes to Canaria that will show them we are definitely poaching on their territory. They will eventually have to engage our deuterium convoys, or they will lose much face!"
"And what of that rust bucket parked on Canaria, the Harlequinn?" queried Nebotuda. "Has it been overgrown with dung and those Banasteria vines those Zoners chew for insight? If we could put together an even larger convoy, the SF would either move upon us, or be totally humiliated."
"I cannot say, Sensei. I once heard rumor that its pilot might grace the Trader Corp with her presence once again; but she is as the wind through the Fields of Gold. Now here, now there. I fear we must taunt these SF lackeys by ourselves."
"I am honored to escort the KNT, even if our poor traders must fly Dromedarys to present more enticing targets!" said the new Ensign. "They will face the Haiiruguma's guns eventually!"
"Hai! Mama Dis, another round for these brave warriors. Put it on deLuna's account! What she doesn't know won't hurt her."