To Choke an Ocean

A customs officer detains a commercial traveler on a rain-swept polar world and narrates how a ceremonial banquet between Confederation representatives and natives spiraled into crisis. His recollection traces a well-intentioned but ill-judged prank at a mixed diplomatic meal, where introducing unfamiliar Terran fare and the accidental placement of a bomb—unknown to him to be armed—triggered distrust, disruption, and draconian entry controls. The story examines cultural miscommunication, the fragile balance between commerce and local customs, and the bureaucratic, security, and ecological consequences that follow when outsider behavior collides with native sensibilities.