The Stand off.

"Chancellor," Captain Locke urged, "I don't think they mean to answer!" she pointed a finger at the alien vessel on the view-screen. Chancellor Raymond Courtney was a delegate from Earth's Syndicate; clueless of the way things operated beyond the boundaries of the Sol System, in the Outer-Reaches. He said, "Do not think that you will force me to choose a military solution, Captain," his sharp nose wrinkled, "A fight is all you marine types think about!" he sniffed. "Need I remind you, Chancellor, that the Amethyst is a civilian cruiser, not an Syndicate Warship. And that we have logged more than 30 systems explored, and benefit from the experience of 4 first-contact situations, 2 of which ended in conflict," Locke smiled patiently,"Forgive me for saying so, sir, but we've written the book on this kind of situation, and if you ask me, you haven't a damned clue what you're doing!" "They will reply," the chancellor was smug. The Ion arc of weapons fire struck the Amethyst! "Return fire," Locke grit her teeth.