"We can't figure out the intention of this Insect Swarm."
"Is there really an Insect Swarm? Could it be a ploy by the New Federation playing the victim, using the annihilation of a planet to clear themselves of the suspicion of planting the bugs?"
"How does that clear anything? They've already admitted to it. The difficulty now is that we've always proclaimed the Insect Race as humanity's enemy, urged to think from a human perspective to criticize the New Federation. Now that the New Federation has encountered an infestation, should we save them or not?"
"Don't save them! Why bother? They brought this upon themselves."
"Even if we don't save them, we must make a show of doing so. Now is a once-in-a-century opportunity for the Empire..."
"Cough!"
Admiral Thomas, seated at the head, coughed dryly, and the sounds of discussion quickly faded.
"Captain Hanton, Captain Catherine, Captain Griss, please take a seat."
