Production Of Anti-Matter

Harvest The Fire, CHAPTER 3.

The Federation stops production of anti-matter on Mercury because it has stockpiled enough for foreseeable contingencies in its stable economy. 

Unlike in other fictional futures, including some by Poul Anderson, no living being has been on Mercury, only specialized armoured machines. Installations on the surface and in orbit captured and focused solar energy. Photons striking nucleons caused quantum convulsions that generated new positive and negative particles which magnetic lines of force conducted to separate destinations, thus creating masses of anti-matter. 

Lunarians took anti-matter to Proserpina but their supply has become low and they have no way to generate any more whereas "...a single large consignment..." (p. 68) from the Federation would enable them to:

"'...build a fusion-powered factory to make more...'" (pp. 68-69)

Proserpina's iron core is rich and a source of industrial wealth but difficult to hollow out for habitations so more energy is needed.

Venator, representing the Federation, is appalling:

"'Do you feel we owe you access?...Your folk chose to go live on the fringe of deep space because they wanted no part of our civilization.'" (p. 68)

Sure. Having been made different, the Lunarians wanted to live differently. Is that a reason not to help them? Is their request not an opportunity for rapprochement?

Even worse:

"'Have you then concluded that altruism is, after all, a virtue?'" (ibid.)

Well, it is, isn't it? In the following volume, a representative of the cybercosm compares that entity to Jesus and the Buddha. (The cybercosm dominates the Federation despite Venator's denial.)

Venator continues:

"'You want this Federation that you loathe to supply you, when you have nothing to exchange that we need.'" (ibid.)

The Federation supplies its own needs and can afford to give, whether "loathed" or not. (Surely beside the point?)

Venator again:

"'I ask you again, why should we? You're not dying of hunger or cold.'" (p. 69)

Is that the only time when the Federation would help them? Indeed, would it help them even then?

Lirion's reply is that the Federation would gain a new and strange society shaking it out of its stagnation. Anderson's readers think, "Yes!" Venator thinks:

"Yes...that is exactly what we fear." (ibid.)

It has to be made clear to readers why this is feared. Lirion remarks that the cybercosm has:

"'...its own ends, which are not remotely human.'" (p. 72)

Venator thinks:

"How could they be?" (ibid.)

What are they then?