The deal is between the provincial utility, which provides the electricity, and the state utility. In the USA, the federal government controls most resource rights. In Canada, it’s the provinces. Comparatively, provinces are a lot more powerful than states are. As I understand it.

I imagine he’ll throw one or more of the kids under the bus.

Gav. Cameo from Nukees. Dude ends up outnumbering quite a few species. As the author notes, you have to be dinka-cho careful with tokjith.

Schlock Mercenary is pretty great, I reread it every few years.

If you like military scifi it’s worth a look.

https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-07-14