The Senior Officer looked thoughtful.  All six of his eyes came around to stare at the young officer before him.  "Ha!"  he finally grunted.  "You thought they were giving terms of surrender!  Yes, I suppose their offer could be considered in that light. Did you ask them if they were willing to surrender their fleets?"
"Yes sir," the younger Officer answered. "And this they refused to do.  Nor, would they let any of our warships enter their space.
But they would permit our freighters to use their commercial lanes to travel from system to system among their suns, with the full protection of their warships even to the loss of the lives of their crewmen.  They would protect our ships to the death if we would promise the same protection for their ships flying between our suns, with the full protection of their warships even to the loss of the lives of their crewmen.  They would protect our ships to the death if we would promise the same protection for their ships flying between our suns.  The peace would be maintained because each of us would have colonies of the other race under their protection so if either side broke the treaty the other could seize these colonies."
The Senior Officer sat back drumming the tips of his walking tentacles nervously on the floor.  "They are willing to become our surrogates,"' he announced with some vigor. "They are a trusting people, at least!  And the trusting CAN be trusted. Give us a moment to conference, young man."
The five officers rose and disappeared behind a curtain. A few minutes later they reappeared, and took their places.  The Senior Officer banged his sword.
"This court martial is back in session," he announced. "It is the unanimous finding of this board that in accepting the primary surrender of this race, this officer has not violated Imperial Law.  We return him to his duties with a condemnation and our sincere apologies for the embarrassment these procedures may have caused him.  We will recommend to The Emperor that the treaty he had begun be verified by a member of The Royal Family, and that the fine details be worked out."
The officer picked up his shield and put his sword in its scabbard.  "Glory to The Empire!" he cried.  "May it last forever!"
"Glory to The Emperor!"  all the assembled officers answered.
Commander Min returned home, his wife very glad to see him. They had just finished eating when the door chime rang.  The Commander rose and opened the door.  An Imperial ambassador stood there.  "I am Shark," the Ambassador announced.  "I am to accompany you to the rendezvous you arranged, Admiral Min."
The Commander bade the Ambassador enter.
"You are mistaken, Ambassador," he announced.  "I hold only the rank of Commander."
"An Imperial diplomat is never mistaken"  Shark answered, "ADMIRAL!  Now if we may, we have much work to do.  You are one of the few among us that has had any extended conversation with these Hu-mans.  You must tell me all you can of your impressions about them.
This agreement will be beneficial to The Empire, and your part in it will not be forgotten."
The new Admiral bowed politely.  In time to come he and this Ambassador would learn much of these Humans, much that would benefit The Empire.  And The Empire would give this race a few things of advantage , too.  All in all, their surrender would be good for the universe.  As an old Imperial proverb went...."It is just as important to know when to fight, as to know when NOT to fight."  And this was a time when fighting would have benefited no one, no one at all!

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