The Empire has many external and internal problems. The Emperor is infallible and always right. But above him there is a force capable of keeping him acting within strict limits. And these limits prevent the Empire from making contact with underdeveloped civilizations until they reach a certain level. But what if, on a border planet, eight billion people who are just beginning to explore space are threatened by rapid and guaranteed destruction? You could simply sacrifice them and forget—because the law is the law. But if you really want to, you can find at least a narrow loophole in any law where a couple or a few hundred warships can squeeze through.