"It's about the neighbours," Representative Blann said, his vibrissae quivering with agitation.

Official Third Class Marduk raised a manipulatory appendage in acknowledgement. "Case number, please?" The official waited for Blann to stutter through a sequence, entering it into the data terminal. "Oh yes," Marduk said. "I see that you have made multiple complaints in the last three budget cycles. What do we have ... ? Complaints about noise?"

Blann bowed his head in affirmation. "They broadcast across the EM spectrum, with no controls on the magnitude of their emissions. Worse, they have been directing narrow-beam signals at us, trying to get our attention."

"Indeed. I perceive that you have also registered your dissatisfaction with the environmental services department."

"Yes. I have. Their planetary system is a mess. It's bad enough that they contaminate their own ecosystem, but when they start dumping their rubbish on virgin worlds ... ? I mean, it may only be their moon and some of the neighbouring planets, but what if they start doing it in other systems?"

"Indeed." Official Third Class Marduk hummed distractedly as it scrolled through the rest of the complaints. "Domestic violence?"

"Look," Blann said. "I know it's not really any of our business. As we say on our world, what happens in Secundus stays in Secundus - right? But this has gone beyond a joke. They commit acts of genocide and broadcast them - glorify them, even! I mean, we have probationary Class III civilisations within range of these mammals! That sort of thing can really ruin an impressionable society's integration."

Marduk tried to placate the irate representative. "I can understand your frustration. Did you try talking to them?"

"Binary codes. Infoglyphs. We sent autonomous software agents into their data networks. We even tried sending a physical representative."

"And?"

"They dissected him!"

"Ah." Official Third Class Marduk inhaled. "That is ... awkward. So, what would you like the Conflab to do about it?"

"Well, I know that this place is a Class IV civilisation. I mean, they are only going to wipe themselves out in the end. But they will make it messy for the rest of us. I don't suppose ... ?" Blann left the question hanging in mid-air.

"I understand perfectly," Marduk said. "Well, there are procedures for this sort of thing." The official produced a datatab and handed it over to Blann. "Approval granted for your government to take whatever action they deem necessary against - ," there was a swift glance at the data terminal, " - this Ground place. Or whatever the natives call it."

"My government shall be most grateful," Representative Blann said, and hurried out of the office as fast as his slime-covered limbs could carry him.