This little morsel of a story follows the extraterrestrial members of the Thranx and their run-in with members of the human race. Seen from the POV of the Thranx people, the plot is about two different species trying to work together to create mutually beneficial diplomatic cooperation. From what I observed reading about the Thranx culture, they operate in the same way the Roman Empire functioned during its peak. There are descriptions of Thranx art that called to mind the frieze panels of Trajan’s Column.