“And what of the AAnn? They are as masterful at diplomacy as they are at slaughter. What if they were to realize their error in attacking this first ship and contact these people before us and instead of attacking them again, forge an alliance with them against us? What would be our position then?”

“All unlikely and all a problem for the future,” Wuu replied, though it was obvious the scenario Ryo presented concerned him. “For all we know they may lie on the other side of the galaxy and we may never encounter them again. The universe, my boy, is vast.”

“If, as the military observer says, their ship’s propulsive system is not very different from ours then they cannot dwell very far, in interstellar terms, from Hivehom.”

“We know nothing of their life spans,” the poet pointed out. “Indeed, we still know little about them. That ignorance is yet another reason why we cannot let them leave.”

“Such a position is morally indefensible,” Ryo insisted.

“I beg to differ with you, my earnest young friend. It is eminently defensible, from a moral as well as military standpoint You would feel differently if you had seen them fighting among themselves, much as our distant ancestors used to do. A group of Thranx placed in a similar position would be mutually supportive and calm, not hysterical and violently combative.” He made a gesture of disbelief. “It is quite unbelievable. They possess dominant-internal traits they are not even aware of. Such ritualized combat is a part of their basic nature. How could we possibly be allies? Mentally as well as physically we are nothing alike.”

“Don’t you see,” Ryo argued, “doesn’t anyone see that that is precisely what makes such a union worthwhile? The differences would complement each other. What is there to be gained from mating with someone exactly like yourself? There is never anything new, never any surprises.”

“Surprises are delightful,” the poet agreed, “in art and music. Surprises are wonderful in science. When the destiny and survival of your entire race are at stake, I am not so sure that surprise is welcome. Even were what you say to be so, what of their psychoses?”

“Every race has its distinctive problems,” Ryo admitted. “We are not perfect, either.”

“No, but neither are we inherently homicidal, as these creatures appear to be. While they might act quite sanely as individuals or even in small groups, it is en masse that we would deal with them through treaties. There is simply too much at stake to take such a chance.

“Besides, I disagree with you when you say they have something worthwhile to offer us. From what I have seen, an alliance between us would work largely to their advantage. They are a clumsy, primitive people whose technological achievements have outstripped their moral evolution.”