The Ambassador's Pet

"The Ambassador's Pet" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction story set in the late 1950s, where Earth navigates a fragile relationship with Aldebaran VII through diplomatic channels. The story kicks off when Captain Johnny Martin is assigned the task of transporting Ambassador Quelf Tharkol and his cat-like pet to Earth. As the narrative progresses, Captain Martin becomes increasingly suspicious of the ambassador’s pet, suspecting there's more to the creature than meets the eye, ultimately revealing a deceptive twist. The story explores themes of communication and intelligence across species, questioning surface appearances.