TAG: Captain, we have engaged or been engaged by hostiles five times in as many hours.

I've added data from Commander Foxworthy's delivery run to my strategic and tactical analysis, and it is starting to look ugly.

Assuming marginal competence on the parts of those impeding our efforts, I estimate at least six factions with competing interests.
Captain Tagon: Competing interests? That's fine. Figure out a way to play the ends against the middle.
TAG: Poor aphorism choice, sir. At the moment, we are in the middle.
Captain Tagon: "Burn the candle at both ends?"
TAG: Better, but we are still in the middle.