"I was equally shameless this morning.  The administration wanted Mike's 'Larkin rights' and was scared silly that we might make a deal with Kung or somebody.  So I used their greed and worry to wring out of them that ultimate logical absurdity of their fantastic legal theory, a public acknowledgment in unmistakable diplomatic protocol that Mike was a sovereign equal of the Federation itself - and must be treated accordingly!" Jubal looked smug.