Rene grinned at Solae in a fashion which would have made the instructors of the Imperial diplomatic corps wince. Well what were they going to do force him to join the Marines? The thought made him chuckle to which Solae raised a quizzical eyebrow.

“I was just thinking,” he told her, “that being a disgraced former aristocrat who was forced to join the Marines before going on the run with my fiancee who happens the Duchess of a sector in open rebellion against the Empire currently hiding out on an alien world is not without its advantages. To which end...” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately full on the lips, an act which seemed to draw the howls of all his former etiquette tutors forth from the ether. To hell with it, let the Kalderi see that humans lived and loved as much as they hated and calculated. Rosaria made a strangled sound of shock at the display and after a moment he reluctantly released Solae and straightened up, the ghost of a grin on his face.

“I believe we are ready,” he murmured to Lithyll. As though on que a fanfare, clearly meant to be Imperial but evinced from alien instruments commenced, adding its own rhythmic shimmers to the rainbow coruscance of the undersea hall. Solae stepped out as Rene hastily adjusted the crimson sash that covered his sword belt which had been disturbed in his impromptu display of affection. Lithyll preceded them and took a place off to the side. He spoke at some length in his own tongue before switching to Galactic for the benefit of his guests.

“I present Solae Falia, Duchess of the Eastern Cross and Ambassador Plenipotentiary of her Serene Majesty Mercedez Villantre Monarch of the Stellar Empire and her fiance Colonel Renard Du Quentain of Her Serene Majesty's Imperial Marines. They come before our community in peace to seek understanding and common purpose with our people,” he intoned formally. There was a beating of wings from the gorgeously clad Kalderi answered the pronouncement. There seemed to be two or three score of the aliens, each bedecked in silken garments similar to Lithyll’s although no one other than their host wore a head covering. Some of the more slenderly built Kalderi wore gowns that were more sheer though they seemed to lack obvious breasts as a human would understand such things. Instead their gowns seemed to accentuate hips with elaborate tracery and cut aways to smooth golden flesh. Given the human capacity for sexual inclusiveness Rene imagined there were humans who would find the aliens attractive but he was not among that number. 

“I Lithyll of the community of Ranal Pindi stand as their host and guarantor,” he added after the noise died down. Another Kalderi a male if Rene was any judge, stepped forward. He was draped in a bright almost metallic red with silver and black threading woven through the cloth that made Rene think of the scales of a tropical fish. He too spoke in his own tongue and was received with somewhat less applause. He turned and bowed formally to Solae.

“I Andalyll of the community of Ranal Pindi stand as their adversary and guardian,” he said in halting Galactic that was understandable if lacking in Lithyll’s polish. He gave Solae a toothy smile and then drew a head covering of black lace from a pocket and draped it over his head. If this development was unexpected Lithyll showed no sign of it, offering the other Kalderi a congenial smile. Andalyll gave them both measuring glances. Rene once again found himself frustrated to be part of a game of which he didn’t know the rules. At least he thought, no one was shooting at him. The thought brought a grim smile to his face which seemed to startle the new comer.

“Let the dance begin beloved friends,” Lithyll intoned and soft music sprang up from some unseen source, the vibrations seeming to mellow the timber of the room and mute the rainbow colors into soft gorgeous pastels.