"Without any help?" he tipped his head, staring him down like he couldn't believe that he was asking that. His lips pursed, even while he shifted, his arms still crossed even while his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Look, I don't think imports are going to be able to help much, do you?" he asked. It was true, too. They were in a sad state of affairs, throughout the country. Bad, actually. They were dropping like flies, and fast. He couldn't expect their support, and he couldn't chance moving for it.

"I have the help I need in contacts through the country. It's not conventional, but it's something that I needed to build, if I want to get anything done for us."