Two Bar Conversations

The Game Of Empire, CHAPTERs ONE-TWO.

Imhotep and Daedalus are the two colonized planets of the star, Patricius. The Imperial sector defence command has been established in Aurea, the capital city of Daedalus. Sector Admiral Sir Olaf Magnusson lives a hundred kilometres north of Aurea. 

Bars are good places for characters to converse and divulge.

On Imhotep

In the Sign of the Golden Cockbeetle at Olga's Landing:

six human miners, drinking, talking and playing dice;

with them, two joygirls (one shrieks at Axor's crocodilian smile);

one Tigery, sipping through the chowlock of her helmet;

Diana Crowfeather;

Axor lying on the floor;

the proprietor, Hassan, serving Axor beer from a bucket.

Two nonhumans. Diana and Axor exchange stories. He tells her of his quest and she agrees to help.

On Daedalus

In Ju Shao's inn on a lane along a cliff outside Aurea:

Ju Shao, a Cynthian;

Targovi, a Tigery;

four human Navy personnel, praising Magnusson but bitching about the Empire.

Again, two nonhumans. Ju Shao offers Targovi cowbeef and Winged Smoke. The human beings include Janice Combarelles of Intelligence who does not know that Targovi the trader is an undercover colleague. He gathers intelligence from the conversation. Ju Shao likes Targovi because he stays quiet till he needs to kill, then does it without fuss.

Falkayn's team had a Cynthian. Diana's will have a Tigery. It as if Ju Shao, on behalf of Chee Lan (now long dead, of course) passes the baton to Targovi.