“It’s not our business to get involved in local squabbles,” the military attaché reminded them perfunctorily. “We’re here uninvited. Our presence constitutes a dangerous provocation to the Thranx government There is also the Project to consider. We could not assist the local colonists without revealing our presence, and that in turn would surely spell an end to our highly promising experiments here.” He gazed coolly down toward Ryo.

“Personal feelings must not be allowed to divert us from our principal reason for being here. We have no formal relations with the Thranx. The same is true for the AAnn. I have no basis for initiating hostilities against a neutral and uncontacted alien race.”

“You’ll pardon me if I disagree with that.” Sanchez gave him a wan smile. “I’ve established to my satisfaction that it was the AAnn who, deliberately and unprovoked, attacked the Seeker. I had many killed and several wounded. I’d call that ample provocation for, at the minimum, an instructive reprisal.”

“The attack on your ship could have arisen from misunderstanding,” the attaché argued. He didn’t enjoy the position he was forced to take, but he defended it admirably. “We could be jeopardizing any future relationships with the AAnn race.”

“Your pardon, sir.” One of the xenologists at the far end of the room raised a timorous hand. “If these AAnn conform to the psychosocial pattern diagrammed by my programming, then we stand the best chance of making a peace with them by showing a willingness to fight.”

“That’s crazy,” the attaché snapped.

“An apt AAnn adjective,” said Ryo, whose knowledge of Terrangio speech had progressed to an appreciation of alliteration.

“Their profile fits, however,” the quiet specialist said with some conviction.

The attaché, outgunned, withdrew into silence.

“You must, of course, make your own decision based on the knowledge you have and your own customs,” Ryo said gently. ‘T am under no such restraints. I must take my harvester and render whatever assistance I can, regardless of personal risk. Besides, there is little you could accomplish. For one thing, you have no satisfactory ground transportation. For another, you do not have—”

“I’m afraid that we do, Ryo,” Sanchez informed him. The Thranx made an instinctive gesture of fourth-degree astonishment.

“I know this was designed to be a wholly peaceful mission,” she continued, “and it should remain so with regard to human-Thranx relations. But considering our former imprisonment, surely you can understand that we wouldn’t set down on a Thranx planet unarmed.”

“No.” Ryo tried to conceal his considerable upset. “I do not understand that.”

The captain shrugged. ‘I’m sorry. Regardless, it remains that we have weapons.” She gazed around the room. “I propose that we use them to demonstrate our mental constitution to the AAnn, and to aid our newfound friends. Informally, it would seem.” She focused her attention on the attaché. ‘‘Of course, I cannot give the order to release weaponry for use here.”