*She lines up another shot, not sinking it this time, but trapping another pocket.*

It's difficult to fight a diffuse criminal organization with conventional strategy. The pirates favor guerilla tactics, lightning raids, and will do anything to get an edge. Up against that, the Federation needs to keep peace in about a third of the galaxy, without terrifying its neighbors or its own citizens with the level of force it brings to bear.

*She sniffs, then takes a sip of her own drink.*

If only the problem were some indifferent bureaucrats somewhere.