Achille’s typically exoteric smile tweaked up a degree as he noticed the ever-increasing number of punters drifting around the Sylvania dome. In any other environment they would be killing each other, natural apathy, but here? He grinned wryly. He had to hand it to the man, Lucky’s renovations had truly justified their expenditure. Besides... Achille wondered darkly, Any enterprise which steals into the Baffinites influential sphere is hardly injurious. If this perpetuates there’ll hardly be room to stand... A tall man brushed Achille, nearly dumping his drink over his shoes. ...Or breath to breathe.
“No harm done, I’m sure my friend”. Achille smiled like a sabretooth, before returning to returning to his rambles. ...And I came here to have a break... Deu, I feel like I’m stuck in an zoo where all the animals are perpetually pissed. And to think Robert’s in here... He shook his head. No doubt conspiring to overthrow the Sector, or the equivalent. Well at least some people don’t feel like an Outcast on Crete apparently...
A wisp of nearby conversation between three figures froze him tight. Sacre, a Collonial? Achille was immediately rapt. Certainly the man in the G-suit bore no resemblance to the gnarled savages which adorned some of the Gallic Royal Navy’s more creative recruitment posters.
“Excuse me my friends...” Achille nodded to the nearby Aurigae “...I’m loathe to interrupt your already convoluted dialogue, I’m sure, but I couldn’t help but be drawn to your conversations...”
"...Oh yes, I'm Achille Augustin Nadeau, but you don't really need to remember all that nonsense. Just call me Achille."
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
![[Image: XTF1d6x.png]](https://i.imgur.com/XTF1d6x.png)