Dead Star Dockyards

The most important day of her life.

Titanyana's father always said her coronation would be the most important day of her life. A collection of other instants might challenge this importance by way of sentimentality, marriage and the birth of a child among them, however in terms of overall impact on her life and how she lived it the coronation was unmatched. It was the point at which she officially assumed responsibility of her people and their future. It also represented his passing from her life.

To be coronated was to grow up, to graduate from the protection of her father and face the cruelty of the world head-on.

So as she knelt and tilted forward her head to receive the crown, heart thumping wildly in her chest, a single tear rolled down her cheek. She could offer no more for the occasion, not one as momentous as this.

"I present to all of you your Queen." With the crown firmly in place between her ears, Lasse made the announcement to the gathered mass. Titanyana rose while the audience assumed a kowtow row by row, starting with Lasse himself. Four individuals were excluded from this display of fealty, Donovan and Diana stood on either side of the throne serving as officiants while Cayzi and Kayes observed the proceedings from the back of the room.

Titanyana took a moment to survey the room and prepare herself for the hour to come. Each attendant would offer the monarch a gift, usually a tool, ornament, or article of clothing, however such proceedings would only occur once they were told to rise. For now they would remain in this position as tradition dictated, a tradition that specified neither a minimum or maximum length. This was the first test for her, one to measure how she would weigh the deference of her subjects. Commanding them to rise too early could come off as holding their loyalty with little value, while keeping them in a submissive position for too long would appear overbearing.

In truth, there was no pass or fail for this 'test', at least not on the whole. It was judged by the individual, and went both ways. Each person had their own estimation of how long was appropriate, if they possessed one at all, and were expected to pit this estimation against the length the new monarch judged appropriate. Displeasure was unlikely to be voiced in private much less publicly, however one might fashion their coming interaction in a manner indicating their interpretation.

Five minutes would be enough, not because her father said so but because she decided as much. So Titanyana waited, counting the seconds in her head as she engrained this image as a vivid memory. The napes of necks usually covered by hair, the twitching of ears waiting for her first command as queen, the gentle rising and falling of their backs as they calmed themselves for the momentous occasion, all of these stood out so much more than she thought they would have.

"Rise." Her first command. Though she would like to rule with politeness and consideration towards her subjects, the ceremony required she exercise her authority. "I thank all of you for attending today, and look forward to a fruitful cooperation with all of you. As I am certain you all have assumed, this is to be the last coronation ceremony held on Nekh. However, I vow this coronation will not be the last."

Chances to address the cumulative authority of the Nekh were few and far between. Being able to do so without a chance for them to interject was rarer.

"The individuals behind me are the authority to which I demand you all submit. Not as slaves, though I imagine the work we have ahead of us will erase such a distinction for some time, but as citizens. They offered me, offered us, an opportunity we would be fools to refuse. A new home, vibrant and brimming with life, as well as the means to evacuate our suffering masses by the thousand. In return they have asked us to be their arms and legs, their hands and feet.

Will this represent a degradation of our status? An infringement upon the independence and autonomy we have carefully shepherded since time immemorial? A forfeiture of our ability to decide the course of our future? Perhaps. I will not deny that our position, while incredibly generous compared to conquered peoples of other realms, will still be one of subservience. In response to this I pose a question, one I suspect may make a number of you uncomfortable, challenging the values we hold so dear and threatening to trivialize the struggle of our predecessors."

"Are we not living as slaves already?"

"I ask all of you, to what end do we pursue autonomy if our actions are dictated by our perilous position? What freedom do we possess if we do not have options to exercise this freedom with? What use is independence if we cannot seek greatness with it? Are we not deserving of a life beyond subsistence? Do our children not possess dreams of a life better than their forefathers? Have our ancestors not fought tooth and nail to provide for that dream?"

Titanyana sighed, taking a moment to gauge the reactions of her audience. Many were confused, some outraged, a few wore expressions of defeat.

"I do not mean to antagonize you or do tarnish the efforts of those who came before me, but I have ventured beyond this cruel planet we call home. I have witnessed the working conditions of slaves, spoken with free men, and lived among both lesser and greater nobility. I say to you all the conditions we find ourselves are the worst. Well, the second worst. In truth, there are a people who were thrust into a situation far worse than ours. Our decay may be painful, slowly killing the lot of us as hope fades, but we still have our lives. We, as a people, are complete in spite of our suffering.

The same could not be said of the Terrans, the race to which the people behind me belong. As bad as our situation may appear, theirs is far worse, for they are but two. Indeed, they are survivors of a fate we were soon to succumb. Their people are dead, their planet gone, their star dead. Little remains of their glory except that which they brought with them, a glory I have had the honor of peering into.

I will not lie to you, oh brethren of mine, the marvels I have seen put the most ambitious accomplishments of great empires to shame, and I know I have only scratched the surface. Theirs is a history of struggle and strife, a contest against both themselves and forces of nature we cannot begin to comprehend. In that we are similar, and they have expressed their agreement of such. Kindred spirits - this is our relationship. Though our origins and history differ, we find ourselves in a similar situation. Neither are the same, but we have something to offer each other.

They possess knowledge and an all but empty planet to inhabit. We have naught but people and the determination to survive. So I ask you all to cast aside your aspersions and follow me into our future. We may be subordinate, but we will not be slaves - not to man, and certainly not to nature. Salvation has offered its hand to us, I have decided to take it."

With that, Titanyana bowed before the congregation. This was her first address to her people, the speech most monarchs laid out their plan for the following years and the goals they wished to achieve during their reign. Ambitious sermons were customary, every generation promising to push further towards their goal of prosperity, however formatting this address as a demand was unheard of. The fact she ordered they submit to another power was doubly concerning for the gathered people.

If only she could see the expressions of those standing to her rear.

- - - - -

Daggers, boots, incense, ornaments, Titanyana accepted all of the gifts presented to her with a great deal of care and grace. The brief exchange of pleasantries with each offering was responded to with politeness fitting her station while their mannerisms were measured. Each gift was then placed on a small table to the side as the representative kowtowed and cycled back to the main body of the room, assisting the castle staff in setting up for the convention to come.

To say they were happy about her decision would be a lie, however the majority did not express anything approaching the hostility she anticipated. Perhaps they had been moved by her speech or maybe they had recognized the gravity of their encroaching doom, but very few openly expressed a negative mood before her.

"It is my greatest hope that you will deliver us from the evils of this world with the authority of your station." Lasse, the final person to present a gift to her, took a moment to get on his knees. "In aid of this end, I offer to you an ornamental sword worthy of ceremonies."

He held the sword by the scabbard, directing the handle towards her sword arm. Nodding, Titanyana grabbed and unsheathed it in one clean motion.

"It's beautiful." As a sword, it was an abject failure. Horrendously balanced, overweight, and engraved in such a manner that would weaken the blade, the only saving grace was the embroidery and patterns across it's length. Were the purpose to kill, it might only do so once. "Thank you, Lasse."

"I do not deserve such an honor, my Lady. I only presented that which is customary." He turned his kneel into a kowtow one he was relieved of the scabbard.

"Even still, I can tell you put your heart into the design. Please offer my thanks to the craftsmen."

"Your will be done." Titanyana watched in silence as the giant struggled to his feet. As much as she wanted to help this grandfatherly figure, ceremony would not allow her to. Favor could not be shown here, not even to one ailing from immense physical pain. "With the presentation of gifts to the new monarch completed, we shall begin the convention. Your majesty, to whom shall you grant the honor to lead the proceedings?"

"I have decided to grant this honor to Leno, scion of the Red-Striped Clan. Does anyone object to this decision?" While it wasn't a necessity for the Red-Striped Clan's representative to be the proceeding leader, they tended to possess a commanding presence desirable of such a position. Scanning the rows of people seated behind neatly arranged tables, "Very well. I would like to begin this session with a formal introduction. To my left is Diana Helmsguard, and Donovan Strauss stands to my right. As they are coordinating the evacuation and colonization efforts with their own technology, I have seen it necessary to offer them a voice in these proceedings. I expect them to be offered a similar degree of respect as you provide to me. Am I understood?"

""Yes, your majesty.""

"Thank you." Titanyana curtsied before taking her place on the throne, sweat forming on the back of her neck. "Leno, you may begin."

- - - - -

Donovan would not call this meeting an efficient one. Topics were addressed seemingly at random, interruptions were tolerated beyond productive limits, and many delegates clearly did not care for a good portion of the subjects discussed. He wasn't blind to the reality this was more ceremony than business, but there was still business involved.

Movement of people, evacuation locations, food distribution, evacuee selection - all of these things were discussed at great length with his own input guiding the conversation, however he did not feel as though much of substance could be done before shifting to the next. Much more could have been done if they just stayed on task.

"Does the assembly have another topic they wish to discuss? If not I will suggest the convention come to a close." Leno's voice was becoming hoarse at this point, the reason for a procession leader growing clearer to Donovan by the minute.

"The convention believes there is one last matter in need of attention, one we had discussed prior to this convention." An elderly gentleman with graying hair stood up from his seat. Were it not for the orange tint to his ears, Donovan would have struggled to identify his clan. "May I be granted the honor?"

A chorus of approving grunts and hums responded to him.

"Very well." He straightened his back as much as his frame would allow whilst adjusting his vest to remove the creases. "My Lady, I am fully aware this subject will be uncomfortable for you, however your loyal subjects are incredibly concerned about the integrity of the Strapper line. I have no doubt you plan to resolve the issue on your own, myself and many others are well aware of your desire to resolve this independent of our interference, but we need some assurance that you will find a mate. We propose a series of matchmaking ceremonies with promising prospects of the various clans. Will you give this plan your blessing?"

"I will not." Titanyana responded immediately, Donovan understanding some degree of pushback being necessary to exert authority. "If your concern is the security of the Strapper line, then I must assure you it is already secure. Petunia, my maid and wife of my uncle in the time before his death, is pregnant with his child."

Shock rippled through the crowd, not all of it a positive response.

"Is this true?"

"You may speak with her if you wish, but we have confirmed she is with a child." Bishop Kayes addressed the question from his position near the door. Unwelcome an interjection it might have been, his position as a third party of repute meant he could not be admonished.

"Even so, the matter of succession cannot be ignored. You must bear a child, my Lady." Lasse was not accepting this as the resolution of the conversation.

"I will not engage with this matter further."

"Those in favor of continuing, raise your hand." Leno immediately attempted to defuse a conflagrating situation with a cessation vote. Unsurprisingly the majority elected to continue, however he had succeeded in brunting a shouting match. "The convention will continue on the subject until a resolution can be achieved."

"Will you accept a matchmaking meeting?"

"I will not."

"Will you search for a partner on your own?"

"That is unnecessary."

"How will you find a husband if you will not let us offer candidates for your consideration, and will not search for one yourself?"

"I have no need for either."

"No need? Preposterous."

"Leno."

"I cannot do anything until a resolution is achieved, my Lady."

"As you are busy, we will accept the scheduling of a single meeting. We decided in advance that Leno would be the most suitable for you."

"I have already told you there will be no need."

"But there is a need, my Lady. The people cannot be left without your heir!"

"I said there's no need for matchmaking dammit!" Titanyana snapped, expressing an anger Donovan had not witnessed before. "Do none of you understand subtlety? Did you think I was ignorant of this problem? IDIOTS!!!"

Silence descended upon the room, the wrath of their monarch evidently not a response they had anticipated. Resistance was a given, nobody liked having their lover decided for them, but her aggressive admonishment to innocent concern for the future of the people confused them. Only a few seemed to have an inkling of what she meant, but it would take courage to push her to clarify her meaning.

"I do not understand, my Lady. What do you mean by this?" The grandmaster of the Candled-Ears clan broke the tense quiet, resolved to accept her anger to reveal the truth. "Have you already arranged a meeting?"

Titanyana glared at him, foot beginning to tap in annoyance whilst her tail writhed in anxious fury. She was mad, unwilling to engage with this conversation further, but a quick shrug from Leno told her she would not be able to avoid it. Tension leaving her body, Titanyana sighed and turned to Diana.

"May I?" Get full chapters from N()velFire.net

"Do you have a choice?" Diana smirked, giving Donovan a brief look of mischief that left him confused. He wasn't blind to the possibility they had discussed a response to this topic, but he didn't know why he would have been left out if his involvement was required.

"I suppose not . . . Donovan?"

"Yes?" If it was Diana's idea, he was probably better off going along with it regardless of his awareness of the details. It almost certainly relied on his being ignorant, which was annoying.

"Can you please come here?"

She stood up from the throne, beckoning him to occupy a position in front of her. While he kept his cool, a part of him became incredibly anxious. This situation was somehow familiar to something he experienced in the past, but he knew not how.

"Would you mind kneeling?" She whispered this time, keen to keep the room from hearing her. ". . . and maybe close your eyes?"

He hesitated for a moment, her aversion to eye contact and reddening cheeks furthering his own nervousness. Furthermore, the perspective of her face from slightly below was not one he remembered seeing. The only time he had been this close to her face was during her resuscitation, and she looked much prettier without the sweat and grime of battle or the pallor caused by poison. Still, he closed his eyes - deciding his questions were not worth derailing the plan to which he was not privy.

"I'm sorry." Donovan was not given the time to respond before a soft, warm pressure was applied to his lips. Mildly surprised, he managed to keep both his eyes and mouth closed despite audible expressions of shock to his left. A few seconds passed before the pressure was removed and a pair of arms wrapped themselves around him. "I love you."