Taataani's ears swung back and forth as she nodded at the truth in Alexi's metaphor.

"jI'd ssajy that maxjimjizjing prrofjit jiss sstjill queen, asss jit werre. But the uncerrtajintjy."

Her full lips turned up in a smile, fully appreciating the difference illustrated.

"We'rre all trradjing jin djifferrent currrencjiess, and trrjyjing to fjind the exchange rrate. The rreal tesst comess when jyou ssorrt out who beljievess jin ssjynerrgjy, and who beljievess jin the zerro ssum game."

Turning to Lucia in the framing of an analogy, Taataani continued.

"Sso, werre jyou to one dajy become Ssenatorr of jyourr homeworrld, jyou mjight look at the competjitjion between majorr sshjipbujildjing jindusstrrjiess jin the Alljiance and decjide how to courrt them. Lantjilljiess dependss on the flow of sstarr trraffjic, sso do jyou beljieve that a rrjissjing tjide between competjitorrss ljiftss all boatss, orr do jyou ssettle the matterr morre forrcefulljy, notjing jyourr ssoverrejign jinterresst."