"Regulus was admitted to the Federation only recently. This will be the first election in which it has taken part. Their admission to the Federation was vigorously opposed by the Achernarian planets. It is the Achernarians who represent the greatest threat to us in the coming election."

"So I'm to pull political chestnuts out of the fire for you?"

"In a way. There is an Acruxian agent on Regulus and we have no idea what he is planning in the way of sabotage. But Regulus has very lax laws about political candidates and the Acruxian agent is also running for the office of Senator from Regulus. As an independent. Because of opposition to Regulus, the only other candidate for the office is a Republocrat. A native named Xelia Zon. In order to defeat the Acruxian, you may have to do something which will help the Republocrat candidate."

Manning frowned. "So that's why you can't use the cops," he said. "It's illegal for any government official, in that capacity, to help one candidate over another."

"That's it," J. Barnaby admitted. "If we used the police, it might provide the Achernarians with enough ammunition to defeat us. On the other hand, if we do nothing, the Acruxian agent may succeed in throwing us into war—either civil war or war with Acrux. That leaves it up to you, Manning."

"Okay. Do I have any kind of authority, or do I go merely as a nosy citizen?"

"I've arranged for you to go as an election observer for the Republocrat Party. That's about the best I could do."

"Great," Manning said dryly. "Do you have any other helpful little hints?"

"Just a reminder that it's only a couple of days until elections," J. Barnaby said briskly. "I'll expect you to have the whole thing cleaned up before then. And, Manning...."

"Yes?"

"When you've got the problem whipped into shape, if you can think of some way to give the solution wide publicity, it would be appreciated."

"You don't happen to have a short-handled star-duster, do you?" Manning asked. "We could tie it on the back of my ship and I could dust off a few stars while I'm doing the other things. I wouldn't want you to think I have too much spare time on my hands."

"I'll even laugh at your jokes," J. Barnaby said sourly, "if you clear 

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