Metafire

"No. You are entitled to your opinions, but Erisa may report a somewhat different story. There is not one person here who intended for any bomb to explode. We will not admit to have intended this crime."

"Whether you admit to the crime or not, we must have an assurance. Do you remember the principal of mutual-assured destruction?" He paused, then said, "We are putting a bomb on your colony. If you retaliate on us, on anybody, we will retaliate on you. You have no choice. If you want to destroy yourselves right now, be my guest."

George was entirely undisturbed. He had anticipated this move. "John, I was waiting for you to figure that one out. Of course. We have no objection to your putting a remote controlled bomb in our proximity. We will not object. Where is this bomb?"

John also was not surprised, at least in the initial moments. Then he realized how smoothly George had taken this. It seemed too smooth, but he didn't know why. He simply said, "We have a killer satellite approaching your location right now. It uses an adhesive and will literally stick to your colony. We are going to stick it to the one thing you cannot afford to lose. Your tug."

"When is this going to happen, John?"