The Art of Negotiation

A group of ASTRAL entrepreneurs formed a PERNICIOUS ENTERPRISE. The group would TRAVERSE the universe in search of worlds comprised of mealy-mouthed, self-serving, indecisive cretins. They believed the cretins, foul as they were, would be easily controlled. They also wanted to steal the VISAGE of the more attractive cretins, believing that they would be able to use this visage on one of their own to act as a SENTRY in each of the worlds that they wanted to include in their conglomerate. They believed the sentry would spy from within and DAMPEN the defenses of their adversaries during negotiations. They were thwarted, however, whereupon coming to Earth they discovered that their planted sentry had become a double agent and had warned the Earthlings of their plans. The Earthlings easily defeated the entrepreneurs’ and placed a BLEMISH on their list of targeted acquisitions, sealing Earth’s autonomy.