(THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION IS REPRODUCED FROM THE AUTO-TAPE RECORDING OF THE MEETING)

Earth Spokesman: We will grant that your act of aggression was not premeditated, but resulted from a misinterpretation, on your part, of the friendly intentions of our forces. Nevertheless, our vessel was destroyed. Twenty-three of our men were killed. The government of the World Federation demands that your government make suitable reparations.

Ser Alaga: Mr. Cartwright, we respectfully deny the allegation that our forces were guilty of any act of aggression.

Cartwright: The Morning Star was destroyed by your men, was it not?

Ser Alaga: In self-defense, yes. As we have explained, the captain of your ship threatened our welcoming committee with....

Cartwright: None of your men were harmed!

Ser Alaga: They prevented their own imminent destruction by their action in self-defense. It was this action which resulted in the unfortunate....

Cartwright: Our ship and our men were attacked before they had fired a shot. Therefore, your action cannot be deemed to have taken place in self-defense.

Ser Alaga: Your reasoning confounds me, sir. If the prevention of aggressive action is termed aggression, then we are guilty of it. I bow to your logic.

Naturally our government wishes to express its regrets over the impulsive act of its representatives. We want to meet with you in peace and friendship. We want to prevent any future incidents such as the one which has brought us here today.

Cartwright: On behalf of the World Federation, I accept your apology. We, too, would like to prevent further strife between our worlds. There is much to be gained by a useful and cooperative alliance between Earth and Venus. But, to insure this, we feel that your government should make certain ... payments in reparation for our losses.

Ser Alaga: Although I am in sympathy with your views, our delegation has not been empowered to offer any reparations. However, if you will indicate what your government would consider a suitable payment for your losses, we shall convey your request to our Council.

(END OF AUTO-TAPE RECORDING)

Yttrium was the reparation asked by Earth—five 

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