Win or lose on your own terms. The problem of losing on your own terms means the eradication and likely extinction of your own race. Not much choice there. The Protectorate thing has to be temporary. The protected aliens would revolt eventually. So it's in the Terrans interest to build them up then release them.
This sounds eerily like how OUR diplomats go into waring, backwater nations to “negotiate”…same promises too… 😬
Win or lose on your own terms. The problem of losing on your own terms means the eradication and likely extinction of your own race. Not much choice there. The Protectorate thing has to be temporary. The protected aliens would revolt eventually. So it's in the Terrans interest to build them up then release them.
Space Opera. Beware the Humans! Great tale. Written well. Thanks.
Shouldn't it be 'stellar forge', not Solar. The term solar refers to our own star, not an alien star.