[ WP ] There 's an old adage in the galaxy about humanity : roughly translated , it means `` Never push the pink-skins to the thin ice . ''

`` Never push the pink-skins to the thin ice.'' 
 
 President Sharma listened as the universal translator emitted laughter at a dozen varying pitches; polite chuckles that hid both nervousness and scorn. The ambassador of Phi-S-1069 who had made the joke preened under the councillors' approval, multi-faceted eyes not quite managing to hide their victory against the savage before them. 
 
 For his part, the President gave a thin smile, as if the words had not set his diplomatic mission back a rung or twenty. 
 
 Ten years and they were still trying to live down the stigma of the now-notorious Captain Deirdre `` Flash'' O'Connell. Ten years for the story to get twisted and blown so far out of proportion that it did n't even matter any more who was in the right. One failed first contact and the Humans seemed permanently labelled as short-tempered thugs. 
 
 The Centuri Circle was the most respected, influential, and above all /selective/ council of races in the explored galaxies. Getting the United Federation of the Solar System into the circle would secure their tenuous place in the galaxy for generations to come. With the population expansion as it was, with new moons and dwarfs being colonised every year, soon they were going to need to expand past the natural border of their territory. 
 
 `` Does that saying cover only the pink-skinned humans, or are we all to be equally mistrusted?'' said Senator Chon, eyes flashing with uncharacteristic anger. 
 
 Ambassador 670.50THz gave the Phi-S version of a shrug; light rippling along their carapace. `` You are all pink underneath the epidermal layer.'' 
 
 President Sharma forced himself to laugh, which he was pleased to see startled several of the council members. He understood Senator Chon's outburst; it had been a frustrating morning and the Ambassador's quip in response to a perfectly reasonable inquiry into diplomatic resolution methods by the Senator had been a tipping point. It was clear they had been brought here to be humiliated, nothing more; there was to be no alliance, no entry into the council for the barbarians of the UFSS. 
 
 `` That's true enough, ambassador,'' he said pleasantly. `` If my people had the same sense some centuries ago the industrial cybernetic revolution might have come a great deal sooner. Perhaps space colonisation might have happened a lot faster, even. As a species which identifies and classifies it's individuals by the exact hue of their carapace, I'm sure you can sympathise with the ideas of separatism that might arise.'' 
 
 Ambassador 670.50THz's violet colouring increased in intensity as they flushed with anger. 
 
 `` We are not alike,'' they said curtly. 
 
 `` The saying is originally Bashorn, I believe,'' President Sharma said, ignoring the protest. `` A squabble over mining rights on an asteroid belt.'' 
 
 `` -- Rights legally purchased by Captain O'Connell through the Aire Mining Corporations,'' Senator Chon added. 
 
 `` Indeed,'' said President Sharma. `` It was on that day that the Bashorn discovered Human proficiency in unarmed close-contact conflict resolution, and the efficacy of teeth when applied to areas of a personal nature.'' 
 
 `` -- and to speak with more tact in regard to a person's parentage,'' Senator Chon added. 
 
 President Sharma leant back in his chair, steepling his fingers and widening his smile to expose his teeth. If the council wanted barbarians, they sure knew where they could find some. A whole solar-system's worth, and more every day. Enough to conquer the universe, given the right motivation. 
 
 `` So I'm just going to repeat what Captain O'Connell said on that day, Ambassadors. `` You're skating on pretty fucking thin ice there, buddy''.'' 

