Found this little gem re quorum and recess appointments...

[monmouth]

From the US Senate site...
quorum - The number of Senators that must be present for the Senate to do business. The Constitution requires a majority of Senators (51) for a quorum. Often, fewer Senators are actually present on the floor, but the Senate presumes that a quorum is present unless the contrary is shown by a roll call vote or quorum call.

Further...

quorum call - A call of the roll to establish whether a quorum is present. If any Senator "suggests the absence of a quorum," the Presiding Officer must direct the roll to be called. Often, a quorum call is terminated by unanimous consent before completion, which permits the Senate to use the quorum call to obtain a brief delay to work out some difficulty or await a Senator's arrival.

It looks like your suspicion could be correct. A handful of Republicans could show up and without any dissent proclaim a quorum by unanimous consent. They could pass military funding, vote on judges and make mayhem. How delicious.

[RC]

1. Hopefully it is not that simple or they would be doing just that already.

There are rules as to who can call the Senate to order, I believe, to prevent that.

[Bitwit1234]

2. Reid is in charge and no other republican or democrat for that matter

can call the senate in session.

[monmouth]

3. I am relieved. Many thanks to you both...