The Foreign Minister smiled in his insectoid way, not knowing if the humans would be able to see it.

"Indeed. Even though it does not happen often, we encounter civilisations about to achieve interplanetary flight as we expand our borders. If it happens, it is one of the prime directives of the Remote Fleets to quickly and forcefully persuade the civilisation to end their efforts. We cannot accept the possibility of rogue elements roaming our space and stir up disorder. But of course we do not use more force than necessary."