"Maybe hostile. Lindrew, just because the Patrol prevents inter-planetary wars, it's the only deep space fighting force humanity has. But with no wars, and support of the Patrol voluntary, it isn't very big. Not big enough for galactic war."
"Will it ever be?"
"We hope so. We add a new ship for each new planet. We increase as the cube of the radius and our frontier only as the square, as long as we enforce the sphere of settlement concept."
"The Patrol enforces it?"
"Yes, by denying sponsorship and protection to non-treaty settlements. We can't actually use force against a sovereign planet, except blockade under certain conditions."
"Do settlements ever defy you?"
"Not for long. They give up and we move them to a settled planet that wants them, wiping out all traces of their stay."
"Oh. Stephen, do you approve of that policy?"
"No, Lindrew, I never have. It's—it's unimaginative. But they'll tear their beards at Prime Reference about your planet."
"But you'll help us, won't you Stephen? How must we change the standard treaty?"