The Blue Gem

Hive-Mother, Suh-Joh, leads the once-decadent world of Hool. Her scientists detect a faint EMP of a fusion weapon, which they believe comes from a habitable planet. Suh-Joh sends a ship there by jumping through a space-time gate. It blunders into a space battle between humans and the Qu'uda and is damaged. Trying to communicate, the humans give the Hoo-Lii water who regard it as a symbol of submission.