The Minister of Foreign Affairs looked at the King as he drank. He was thirsty too, but refrained from drinking, knowing that there was a great chance of disgusting the Terrans with his tube. It was a huge blow to his pride, but no Terran needed to know.

"The subject worlds have autonomy in most matters, under a light Treecuu hand. We intervene if, say there was a risk of a nuclear war, or a genocide. And we do not allow them to construct or use interplanetary communication systems or spacecraft."

"How about you?"