Randall Garrett: In Case of Fire

Summary

The peace negotiations between Earth and the Karna were plodding along slowly and the earth seemed to be coming off a poor second best. The war had been horrible but the peace could either be a big boon to earth or a disaster depending on how the treaty was finally worded. Unfortunately the quality of men available to the diplomatic corps had been going down and down as the war continued. Now he had to use the dregs, those with serious mental defects and psychosis to do the best Earth could. So that is exactly what he did. He used their paranoia and obsessions to not only confuse the enemy but to maneuver them without really trying, into a fair and equitable treaty they originally had no intentions of signing. A half beer bottle can be much better in a fight than a whole one. If you know which half to hold tightly. And which to point towards your opponent.