+++Epilogue+++

Quentin was shuffled from Charabidian ship to Charabidian ship so often, that her staff rarely bothered fully unpacking. Just as she began to wonder if she would go mad from the constant, high speed transfers, her surviving crew and herself were moved to the armoured cruiser Exemplar. An old Lyran warhorse, it had been crippled, boarded and captured mostly intact in a skirmish in the rings of Chalce. Rather than scuttle it, Clan Hybran had repaired it and impounded its crew on the homeworld of Hybran itself. It was this prize crew, all Lyrans, who escorted Quentin the rest of the way.

Three weeks after Janessa woke up, Quentin was shuttled down to the surface of Throneworld. She was going down in a Lyran shuttle, which she hadn't expected, and she didn't pass through Pinnacle Station, the Royal Clans customs port. The shuttle was directed on a tight flight path down to the main continent of Daysun itself.

She wondered what was coming. Even the Lyran crew aboard the Exemplar had been tight lipped.

Finally, she and a small honourguard disembarked on a landing pad set amongst a vast decidious forest that flowed like a sea of green to a soaring range of white tipped mountains. They were led from the landing complex, which she spotted had a Terran shuttle and a Kel'cyre shuttle as well, and spent the next few minutes winding along a path in the woods until they came to a palatial, rambling house in the pre-spaceflight Charabidian style. Her guard were asked, politely, to wait, and she was led by an immaculately pressed major-domo through the house, past sombrely dressed Charabidian men and women who seemed to silently glide as they asked after her desires for drinks, food or company.

Her guide led her to a garden courtyard. She could hear laughing, and voices. As she stepped around a hedge, she saw an older Charabidian woman, sitting on her haunches with a woven basket next to her filled with garden cuttings, dressed like a gardener, on one edge of the lawn. Sitting on an ornamental stone bench were two Terran men, both older than Quentin. One was an imposing, square chested, dark skinned and straight shouldered man with a heavy african accent, while the man sitting next to him was slighter, paler and european, with a long blond ponytail. Both were dressed quite casually, in clothes you might expect to see on a marine on his furlough days, simple cotton jumpsuit trousers, worn branded T-shirts. Both had drinks in hand and a plate of food sitting nearby. Sitting across from them on another bench, looking quite awkward in a formal dress, was Taionna.

As Quentin entered the garden, containing not only her lover, but Laris Daysun, the most powerful woman in the galaxy, and President Muzikayase, she brushed past a metal statue. As she did, it whirred into life, and bowed slightly.

“Quentin Sinclair-Clarke, a pleasure.” The not-a-statues face reconfigured in a blur of mercury into a smiling human face. “I am Echo, and here, I speak for the Sentinax.”

The others looked round, and became somewhat more sombre. Laris stood, and brushed her legs down before extending a hand.

“You've arrived at last.” She smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, my dear. Let me do the introductions.” She nodded to the couple sitting on the stone chair, who both stood and nodded. “This is President Muzikayase, and his husband Alek. You already know Queen Emylyna.” She smiled wickedly. “And I am Empress Laris Daysun. You've already met one of my daughters, who had some very interesting things to say about you.”

"My brother, Sentinax Beta-Unit 1 - though I am sure you would know him as Primordus - also reported many interesting things to us about yourself." Echo spoke for the entirety of her synthetic people - including the God-Machine itself - and referred to Quentin and Primordus' confrontation before the Battle of Rykuss Prime. Of course the Omega-Units inside of Primordus' physical form had been reporting the events all throughout the Bornstellar Server; it was only natural that every Sentinax would know of the differing opinions between Primordus and Quentin.

The last three weeks had been a bit of a blur moving from ship to ship, but at least she wasn't a prisoner or they kept her cage glided. Information had been very limited and ending up on a Lyran ship had really thrown her off. It was a nice ship if not old and a little beaten up but still it made her miss the Octavian's Maiden and the simpler times. When she was just a merchant and not a traitor, war criminal or whatever she was now. To be honest Quentin didn't know what her fate was. She hadn't been able to physically be near Taionna much since the last battle but they talked daily on the video comm. Taionna kept telling her that everything would work out and she would see to it that she was alright. Having always been a woman of action it was hard to sit back and let someone else take care of her. Oh how much she just wanted to take her ship and disappear into the stars.

On the ride down in the shuttle was when she first realized she was on the Throneworld, she had figured she was in Charabidian space but hadn't known what the destination was until now. Why she was here was simple yet still complex. She was here to discuss her fate, what that was Quentin didn't know. She was guided until finally she reached the garden with the others in it. Looking around she noticed all the major races were represented here. Well except the Lyrans but she figured the conquered nation wouldn't have a say in whatever this was. Were they finally to pass judgment on her? Whatever it was would be a welcome relief to not knowing and waiting.

Scanning the people around Quentin nodded to each of them though her gaze lingered on Taionna longer than the others. At least until she reached Echo. It was hard for her not to jump when the statue came to life and spoke. All she was able to do was take a quick step back, no doubt still managing to look awkward. After the introductions Quentin looked around once more seeing the informal dress of everyone but her and Taionna. Quentin was wearing one of her customary suits though it was not as proper as something she would wear to a formal affair it was out of place much like Taionna. She unbuttoned the jacket on her suit then took it off meaning to set it on the last remaining empty chair but as it left her hands a servant appeared out of seemingly nowhere taking the garment. "It would seem I'm a little over dressed." She said, then continued to stand rather than take a seat. She had a feeling her fate would be decided here and she would rather take the news standing.

After having to sit around and being escorted by her guards several times. Taionna or she had been known to her people as Emylyna, finally arrived to her destined location where she had was called upon for a meeting with another royalty. But despite her novice of her new role and at a young age. Taionna felt confident in her abilities and done her best to led her people back to it's former glory and restore order.

She was in her room at the time, watching a recorded video of Quentin's message. Talking about it felt to be in a new and yet old relic ship. She smiled every time she would mention their time together and how much they missed being near one another. Still Taionna had her duty and Quentin with hers. She looked through her window and observed several ships that orbited around the planet. Admiring the beauty of the planet, she felt like she was home. Though the planet was not hers, but someone else's. She takes in a deep breath and relaxes after watching her servants finished with her new clothing. It had felt odd for her to be wearing gowns and dresses. She felt more comfortable wearing a uniform of some kind or at least a appropriate uniform to wear. Her mentors and advisers still recommended it would be fitting for her to be wearing such odd clothing. Once the final piece was finished, her adviser, a young elven female walked in through the door and cleared her throat. "Your highness, the royal escort is ready." She announced.

It did not take her long to find the hanger bay, she was actually being led by her royal guards to the shuttle and joined her to the surface of the planet. Not only the royal shuttle had left the ship, but two fighters followed along as protocol, but kept their distance. Minutes passed, Taionna was tapping her fingers on her knee that was over her leg. She was nervous about meeting the Empress of the Charabidians. She heard they were quite persuasive, even better then the Kel'Cyre. When the shuttle landed, she stood up and takes in a deep breath. Her royal guards were the first to step out and checked the perimeter and stood in a escort formation line. Taionna finally set her foot on the surface of hard ground and walked out gracefully. There were servants whom greeted her and led her to a garden where other's had waited for the remaining guests to arrive.

She sees the pair of Terran soldiers, a Sentinax and the Empress herself. She smiled and allowed her adviser to give the introductions. Taionna gives a slight bow towards the Empress and takes her seat, her guards followed behind her and then marched close to the bushes and remained at attention. She started talking with the others and enjoyed a few good laughs. She even noticed Quentin had arrived and as usual preferred her suits like she had before. Taionna could not remove her eyes away from her, more beautiful then ever. When the Empress started speaking once more, even mentioned about Janessa's praise. She cleared her throat after chuckling from Quentin's comment about the clothing issue. She stood up from her seat and smiled as always.

"I don't think suits and dresses are the important issue here." Then she torn her gaze away from Quentin's and finally looked to the Empress. "We have indeed an important matters to discuss." Then takes her seat, and suddenly her eyes moved back towards Quentin, but kept her smile. "A few that will become important in the future."

Laris and Muzikayase fell silent for the moment, watching the two young women. they exchanged glances, and Muzikayase almost imperceptibly bobbed his head.

"I hope the two of you will forgive this indulgence of mine." Laris said. "In my long years, I have developed a few foibles, and one is a desire to assess those I would place in a position of authority. That the rumours of your two's relationship are true makes this decision much easier."

Before either Taionna or Quentin could protest, Muzikayase held up his hand to forestall any objection they might raise.

"As young leaders, you may be operating under certain misconceptions about what your jobs entail. Its unpleasant, but we spy on each other. Constantly. Its part of the game. As you grow into your roles, you will understand it as a necessary evil. Neither of you started out as career politicians. Neither did I or Laris. But we both entered onto this path with our eyes open to what it would cost our sensibilities."

"In short." Laris interjected. "You are both going to have to learn to make difficult decisions. Taionna as Queen of the Kel'cyre, and Quentin, as our choice for President of the Lyran Alliance."

When Taionna spoke it took everything in Quentin not to rush toward her and embrace the young Queen. They had never been secretive about their relationship with the exception of on her own homeworld but then again they didn't exactly advertise it either. This just wasn't the place to show such affection. Laris commented on it and Quentin just looked at the Terran president and his mate then nodded. She was taken back at his next statement about Taionna being Queen but more so at the proclamation of her becoming the Lyran President.

The nation had never had a President before, always having been lead by Warmaster and their council. Only twice before in the history of Lyre had that Warmaster been a woman. The Warmaster wasn't elected like the Terran President was. It was usually selected by the most powerful military leader and they often took that position by force. By the Concert appointing a President it really was no different except it was an outside force that would have done the choosing. Would the Lyran people accept the Concert selecting their new leader? Choosing a Lyran was smart on the part of the Concert the people would never accept anything else, never would they allow themselves to be ruled by an alien or worse yet a Terrain.

From the Concert's point Quentin was a good choice, a Lyrans who actively fought with the Concert. She may be half Terrain but had been raised on Lyre and was more Lyran than Terran. A war hero in more than just the current conflict and from a prominent family. There still was the matter that she had betrayed the last Warmaster though it Could be spun that Warmaster Dominic had betrayed all of the Lyrans leading them into what could have been destruction. To choose Quentin though, she wasn't sure. Like the Terran had said, she wasn't a politician and never had any desire to be. "No thanks, like you said I'm not a politician, I'm soldier. Hell I'm not even a good soldier." Quentin said, she was in the sense that she knew how to fight and would fight until her dying breath but following orders was a problem for her and a bad trait in a soldier. "If you think you can appoint me as your puppet so you can control the Lyran Empire under the guise of Lyran leadership then you haven't been paying attention."

As she spoke the thought of the Concert using her grew in her mind sending a flash of anger though her. She shot each of the leaders present a glare until her view ended on Taionna and it turned to a look of disappointment wondering how Taionna could possibly agree with this. She merely shook her head and started to leave the garden until she realized the path was blocked by a Charabidian guard she hadn't noticed before. She could have fought with them but there no doubt were others here she hadn't seen and she would lose before she even started. So she turned back to the Empress recalling that she still was a prisoner. "So what now? Plan B you turn me over to be tried as a war criminal?"

"Please hold for a moment." Echo spoke, her face rippling as her features changed from human, to Charibidean, to a multitude of other species - some that had come across the Sentinax and no longer existed - appearing to be having a serious software malfunction. "I apologise for my facial displays errors, but Birth is using me as a conduit to speak." Echo shook for a moment, as though Birth's shifting consciousness was too much for her, but very quickly settled down. "I am trying to find a face that would make his presence comforting, but...I can't seem to." Instead, Echo took on a prismatic pattern over where her human-like face had once lingered, her body shaking occasionally as her omega-units and her own Sentinax consciousness were brushed to the side.

Within a few moments she settle down, face remaining prismatic and unknowable, small sections of the pattern shifting off and moving on their own. The pattern was vast, unknowable and yet...somehow comforting? "Greetings Concert." Birth spoke through Echo, her kindly voice being replaced with a gravely, purely robotic voice, feeling ancient as he spoke using Echo's mouth. "I have not addressed mortal, organic kind in eons." Birth spoke slowly, every detail intrinsically pronounced and punctuated. Each time he spoke, he did so with Human, Charibidean and Kel'Cyre languages all at once. "I have of course been ingratiated with the knowledge of this meeting, as this Unit speaks for me, and speaks for the whole Bornstellar Server."

Echo-Birth turned slowly to Quentin to regard her. "I do not believe there is a second plan; it is the most logical of conclusions to place within the Lyran Servers a strong mantle of leadership." Birth continued speaking, his ancient voice drawing out his words long and long, like a tired god preaching to the whelps of his worshippers - not to say that his voice was disrespectful however, as his very addressing of the Concert was a mark of pure admiration; he had seen Quentin fight through Omega-Units within Primordus, he had warred gloriously with the Charibideans, he had heard and respected Muzikayase's straight-edge politics, and he acknowledged the rightful Queen of the ancient Kel'Cyre. This was a meeting for the greatest peoples of the concert, and whilst Birth allowed Echo to speak for him, he felt it was only right to reach out to touch the minds of the Organics with his own words.

"Whilst the Lyran Servers are made up of multiple Organic Units - which I, at my awakening, realized are difficult to bring together under one enlightening goal - to bring them into the Galactic Fold further, it only makes sense to establish a strong ruler who aligns with overall Concert policy." Birth drawled, each word feeling like a clap of thunder in their serious tonality and nigh-on brooding state. "In this, you are the greatest choice for this goal of achieving a working relationship between all Concert races. Whilst Primordus and my other Ten Beta-Champions have been away governing the production of three new Server Worlds within unknown space, I have put great thought to this." Birth hmm'ed for a moment, before starting up again. "With experience fighting alongside us, joining us against your own people, loving us," He now, unabashedly referred to Taionna. "You lay claim as the most obvious choice for leadership; whilst yes, I might admit that your political thought processing might not be up to scratch, but being a soldier is a perfect reason to become the leader of your people." Echo began twisting and shaking again as Birth released his hold on her, like an octopus sucking itself away from a finished meal. He spoke a few final words before allowing Echo to return to her own consciousness, no longer piloting her body.

"After all, did you not tell Primordus before the Battle of Rykuss Prime that everyone in the Lyran Servers are soldiers?" Echo shook once more before her face returned to normal, her eyes downcast in what appeared to be both holy reverence and fear. To have such a consciousness pierce her own must have been traumatic.

For a moment silence lingered. Laris spoke first.

"Pass my thanks to Birth, Echo." She said, unsure. Births direct involvement in this was unexpected. And spoke to momentous things, the turning of history.

"There is no plan B, Quentin." Muzikayase said. "We won't force you to do this. It will be difficult, even dangerous. But if you turn us down, we will simply turn control of the Lyran Alliance over to the Colonial Council and their corporate allies. They will elect a Warmaster in due time, but that is unpredictable. Lyran politics are a mess. There is a faction calling for you, or someone like you, to be instated. And you would have our support."

"Perhaps more importantly." Laris interjected. "Is that you are as close as we will ever come to the old system of arranged political marriages. Can you imagine turning on the Ke'Cyre? Can you imagine the Kel'Cyre turning on YOU? Combined with your Terran heritage, you represent something the Lyrans have never had in a leader: a citizen of the galaxy."

"Empire." Quentin corrected not liking how Birth referred to her people as a server. True, it was a natural term for the Sentinax. She didn't like her people being compared to the Sentinax. They were living breathing beings, not robots. The Sentinax still confused Quentin how they were a single mind yet still had a hierarchy in them. It wasn't just her people's xenophobia that caused her to be uncomfortable of them she couldn't quite place what it was that bothered her. Birth did have some valid points that the Lyrans needed a central leadership. Laris spoke next pointing out several key points as well. "There are those that would oppose me being president. I wasn't well liked before the war and my actions in the war didn't win me any brownie points." Though if she didn't take the position it would be up to the Colonial Council to decide, or rather the corporations as the Council really was a joke, they were so far deep in the corporations' pocket. If they were left to pick they would choose whoever was most profitable for them and let's be honest war was very profitable. Her own family had made its fortune on making weapons.

Neither of them however addressed Quentin's concern of being a pawn for the concert. If she did take the role would they expect her to do as they say? Quentin knew the Lyran people would never allow themselves to be run by a puppet government. They were a prideful people and it would only lead to a revolt. That and Quentin herself was too full of pride to be used like that. "If I were to take the position, and I'm not saying I am what would happen if I lead the Lyran Empire against the wishes of the Concert? I'm not talking about military campaigns but what if what I feel is best for the Lyran Empire isn't in line with what the Concert thinks is?" Quentin asked curious to see their response.

Once the Queen of the Kel'Cyre had sat in her chair, she listened to what the others had said. Most of the words had did concerned her, but most of the time, she kept her focus on Quentin's doubts or expression of worry about taking the role as the leader of the Lyran home world. She takes in a deep breath and stood up from her seat and walked over to the refreshments that was nearby. She poured herself a cup of tea and another for Quentin, walking over to the woman and placed the cup on the table in front of her, she stood there with a smile on her face. She lifted up the cup and takes a small sip.

"I was not asked to take the role of becoming the Queen of my people, it was given to me because of a certain statues." She releases a soft sigh, "However, the people have been looking up to me since I started the war campaign with Janessa, and since I had seen the eyes of hope shining upon me...I know I had to do what is needed to be done." She sits on the chair next to Quentin, "It is as you said...I was once a soldier...and now..." She chuckled and looked at her cup, "I am the Queen of my people, who are now counting on me for our survival." Her eyes looked over to the Terran's. "And also only my closest friends and family call me Taionna....you can call me." She stood up from her seat with the cup still on the table. "Emylyna, Angelic of Faith, Queen of the Kel'Cyre." She felt a slight breeze waving her hair and again'st her skin. "And the concern of our relationship is not a priority of this meeting, if it becomes a issue, Quentin and I will deal with it, not by your opinions." She picks up her cup of tea and slightly turned to Quentin, "The Empress is right, we cannot force this upon you...I know how it must be difficult for you, but I know deep in your heart...you love your more people more than I, so please....take your time to think about this." She looked at the others for a moment, "But think fast, I think they want an answer soon." She smiled slightly.

Laris shrugged at the question.

"Then, we would hope, you would take those desires to the Concert, and it would do its job. We would talk it out, negotiate with words and sanctions and trade agreements, or as a final resort, warships and armies. Don't get me wrong, I'm not keen on sending more of my sons and daughters to die. But, the concert works because it has these release valves. Because we can, sometimes, resort to violence."

"As a last resort" Muzikayase interjected. "War still drives development, stimulates economies and spending. The loss of lives and waste of materiel still stings, as it should." His partner nodded. "But, if you disagree with us? Then you disagree with us, and we work on a solution together. We don't want a puppet running the Lyran state, Quentin, we want an equal. We want the Lyrans to be our friends rather than our enemies."

Muzikayase's husband spoke up next.

"I'm something of a historian, Quentin. Are you aware of the fall of the German Kaiser Reich, and the rise of the Third Reich in its place? Ruinous war reparations, driven by a desire to hobble a nation and a misplaced sense of justice, created a true monster and blight on humanity. That is what we seek to avoid. How different would the world, our species be, if the treaties of the time sought to make Germany a friend, rather than a crippled and defeated foe?"

Taking a drink of the tea, Taionna smiled the young Queen always making her tea just right. She had never really been fond of tea before, coffee was always her drink. Taionna had changed that, no one made it quite like her. She listened to everyone around them, glad to see Taionna coming into her own as a leader. Muzikayase talked about Terrain history, she was vaguely familiar with it. Lyran schools didn't really focus on old Terrain history, choosing to focus more on the Lyran Empire. Old Terrain history was briefly covered in primary school but if someone want a more detailed class they had to take it as an elective. Quentin hadn't taken any and didn't really remember what Muzikayase was talking about. She wasn't about to admit that before the leaders of the universe.

She made a mental note to look it up when she had a little free time. Giving Muzikayase a quick nod she looked back to Taionna thinking about how she had no choice but to give up her life and dreams to help her people when they needed her most. Taionna was right Quentin really did love the Lyran Empire even if she often disagree with their ways. She knew the Lyran Empire could be great but they needed someone to lead them there. Only time would be able to tell if that someone was her. Quentin stood up setting her tea down. Her hand briefly brushed Taionna's hand then she looked over to the Empress. "I'll do it but know that I will do whatever is best for my people. While I hope that it will align with the Concert, I will always be a Lyran first." Quentin said, letting her position be clear if she hadn't already.

"I don't think we could ask for anything else." Laris crossed the garden and took Quentins hand. "Congratulations, Madame President. And good luck."