TA51

==Chapter 51 - The Armada==
Unity City
Sol Star System Star System
Wolf Empire
3170
----
"It's like watching high-stakes poker." Nikol Marik commented.  
Alaric Ward glanced to the visiting Captain General seated in the VIP suite with him. "Pardon?"
"I said, this is like watching a high-stakes professional poker match-Karen Ngo there, she's working his nerves and calling every bluff." Nikol noted, "Watch her body language-she's not giving away anything, but she's also using subtle provocation. See how erratic her timing is?"
"Erratic?" he asked.
"Asymmetric.  He considers a move for more than a minute and she counters in seconds. When he tries to push her with speed moves, she slows down.  She is working his nerves, especially how she's not showing any anxiety over how her team is doing.  By now, most pros would be at least checking progress to incorporate the advantages or deal with deficits. She's letting her team take the initiative, that's really pretty ballsy for Winter-style team-chess."
Alaric turned to the monitors, and thought about what the Free Worlds leader said.
It made a strange sense.  Part of the trial, after all, was selecting a good team.  Karen trusting her subordinates made sense for a Naval commander whose main duty is delegating glory to others.
"Poker, huh?" he murmured.
"Did you just have an idea?" Anastasia Kerensky asked from his right.
"I think I might...what progress on the investigation?" he asked
"we have been approached by LIC with a request to assist in the investigation." the SaKhan said disdainfully, "I think we should accept it."
"You say the words, but your tone suggests otherwise." Alaric commented.
"The evidence they have supplied for the 'why' is compelling, and damaging to my bloodhouse." she said, "If it pans out.  I dislike the thought that there is an internal traitor, but..."
"Be gracious when you accept their offer." Alaric told the fiery-tempered warrior, "It will confuse the hell out of them."
This got a chuckle from Anastasia.
-----
Previous Story Arc - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
Category:Works by CannonShop
Category:The Armada Chapters