If 9G remained unfederated, the company or companies engaged in mining or other business under local license could continue to operate in almost any way they chose as long as they kept the local officials happy. They could strip the whole area of its mineral resources, pile up incredible fortunes, and leave the native worlds with nothing. But if 9G became a member of the Federation, Federation law would immediately step in, and Federation enforcement of same, and if there were any abuses of native rights, the people responsible would suffer for it.
Postulate a company. Postulate a connection between it and Hawtree. Postulate and postulate.
At around three hundred miles an hour the taxi plunged into the twilight zone. Light sprang on automatically. Outside it became dark very swiftly, and the darkness roared, and glittered with a million lamps.
"Who," asked Durham, "is principally against your two worlds uniting so that the treaty can go through?"
"All of us," said Wanbecq fiercely. "Shall we give up our rights, our independence, our human institutions, everything our race has stood for—"
Wanbecq-ai cried out, "We will never unite, never! No one can force us to betray our species!"
Susan began to cry.
"Please," said Durham. "Baby. You're all right."
"You hit me."
"I had to. I'll apologize later. Be quiet now, Susan, please." He turned back to the Wanbecqs. "Everybody on Nanta Dik feels that way?"