K. Lomer, a former professional diplomat himself, created an amazing story of the adventures of the interstellar “diplomatic emergency worker” Retief. It seems that on the planet Yill the earthly embassy is not at all welcome: they are not welcomed, they are transported in an old garbage truck, they are fed dog food... And although the head of the diplomatic mission, Ambassador Poser, believes that “a seasoned diplomat is obliged to take these minor insults for granted,” Retief is not satisfied with this state of affairs.