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Baron (sipahi) Robert Omalley is a ruddy-faced man, age about 40, with short dark hair. He was coeptir to a Hammer Lord elsewhere in the League (not in this sector) a couple of decades ago; that Hammer Lord's world was overrun by the Vaylen a few years ago. Omalley has become convinced of the worm menace; he tried to convince Count Abnaya that (a) tourism will just draw the Vaylen to Burano, (b) much, much more effort needed to be put into quarantine, and (c) more money must be put into the Hammer and Anvil. Count Abnaya and most of the other lords were unconvinced.

Omalley had long been aware of the Count's dealings with the Kerrn -- Burano was being used as a fuelling stop on a secret route into the Vaylen worlds. Omalley knew the Kerrn hated the Vaylen, but he also began to feel their actions would draw the attention of the Vaylen.

Eventually Omalley and his main supporter (Baron Henricus Wong, a local Anvil lord) sought off-world support; initially at the court of the Earl, Matsushita-Kun. While the Earl's councillors were sympathetic, no funds were forthcoming without the cooperation of the Count. A faction of "not in favor" courtiers brought Omalley and Wong into contact with some nobles -- Lord Tweesdale, Lord Mogvor, both minor Hammer lords -- who agreed to assist Omalley in exchange for a share of the Kerrn's fleet.

Four mercenary ships, led by Lords Porimoko, Dimicheck, Rogers, and Delopez, were brought in for more share (mostly at the expense of Omalley and Wong). The current share structure is:

• Omalley: 9%
• Wong: 7%
• Tweesdale: 12%
• Mogvor: 12%
• Porimoko:   20% + 30,000 Σ per month
• Dimichek: 20% + 30,000 Σ per month 
• Rogers: 10% + 15,000 Σ per month 
• Delopez: 10% + 15,000 Σ per month 

The mercenaries have been "under contract" for 61 days as of 71 Rising; their contract calls for 90 days minimum; so Omalley can expect to owe them 270,000 Σ "on the meter". The archcotare of Burano, Ommomun, was approached by the plotters; he did not agree to openly support them, but was not opposed. Omalley made various bribes and offers to some "neutral" lords on Burano (totalling about 600,000 Σ); he needs his shares to be of some value in order to not be ruined by debt.

The three Kerrn ships were worth (new) about 30 million Σ; first evaluation gives a total of about 10 million Σ; Omalley's share (presumably 900,000 Σ) will barely cover the bribes and payments to the mercs. The plotters hope to keep at least 0.5 million Σ on Burano, to start the payments on another Hammer vessel and other security improvements.

Today's meeting is determining how to split the value of the Kerrn ships (ships' engineers have been looking them over for a couple of days). The mercenaries are making a not-too-determined argument that the remaining value (after damage) isn't enough to cover their costs; but 1 or 2 million Σ per mercenary will buy a new ship for each!

Besides Omalley and Wong, two other local pilotry are part of the Council of Barons -- Murmaki and Hosse; both elderly men, neither seen in Iron for a decade or more, neither with any combat experience.

Thus, present actually in the palace:

• Baron Wong, in Iron, representing the Council of Barons
• 2 bodyguards in Anvil gear
• Lord Murmake, unarmored, present as color
• an unarmored bodyguard
• Lord Hosse, unarmored, present as color
• an unarmored bodyguard
• Lord Porimoko, in Iron, representing the mercs
• 12 Anvil, with armored utility sled
• Lord Tweesdale, in Iron
• his stentor, armed

   

• 10 palace security, unarmored
• several hundred staff
• the 3 captains of the Kerrn ships (ransom is also being discussed)
• Krant, of the Spirit of Retribution
• Ervnn, of the Spirit of Victory
• Bront, of the Spirit of Hope

   

Near the palace:

• Wong's HQ section, 17 men (3 in Anvil) with utility sleds (MG equipped)

At the spaceport:

• Lord Tweesdale's frigate Jugenthi; the captain and his stentor are at the palace

   

• Lord Porimoko's corsair Battancade; he and the ship's troop are at the palace

In Alpha City:

• 16 police including reservists and port security
• 20 armed Kerrn -- the ghetto protection unit. No armor, but good small arms equipment.

There we go ...