General Don Cort squared his shoulders. He was almost getting used to these spot promotions.
"Now negotiate," Fogarty said. "You hear me, Mr. Gizl-Rezar? The United States of America stands behind General Cort." There was no audible objection from the White House. "Who stands behind you?"
"A democratic government," Rezar said. "Like yours."
"You represent them?" Fogarty asked.
"With my council, yes."
"Then we can make a deal. Talk to him, Don. I'll shut up now."
Don said to Rezar, "Was it your decision to burrow under New York and Magnitogorsk and Heidelberg?"
"I agreed to it, finally."
"But you agreed to it in the belief that the Earth-people were a warring people and that your old prohibitions did not apply. But we are not a warring people. Earth is at peace."