"Patricians." The Speaker of the Senate declared imperiously. The hubbub of noise continued unabated despite this.

"[b]Patricians.[/b]" The speaker insisted again. A hundred and twenty years old, but looking like someone in their sixties at most, the steel-haired woman slammed her fist down onto her podium, sending a screech of feedback through the entire auditorium. [b][i]"PATRICIANS."[/i][/b] She finally barked out, at last bringing the cacophony to silence. "Quite right." The Speaker finally declared. "I expect this sort of racket from our younger members, but it is [i]quite[/i] unseemly for the Upper Senate to act so raucously. Now then, to business." She smoothed her clothes down, and indicated across to another podium. "Speaking now, the Venerable Chancellor of Matuvista, Condel Julianus de Aqualius." 

"My thanks, Speaker." The Chancellor nodded respectfully. Younger than the speaker by several decades, the de-facto President of the Grand Republic adjusted their medals a little, then begun to speak. "Friends. Patricians. Countrymen. The time that we have long since considered would never come has finally arrived. Above us, where once three stars burned, a fourth has sprung to life. We know not why or how, but a probe sent through has returned unharmed." He paused for emphasis.

"For the first time in three centuries, we now are reconnected once again with the rest of the galaxy." Polite applause broke out throughout the auditorium. "We are now able to return to Earth. To find out what happened to our fellow colonists, strung through the stars like glistening pearls of hope for our race. To understand our place in this wonderous universe. It is a privilege, and a pleasure, to be the Chancellor who, by the grace of the saints, has been given this opportunity, and I hope each and every patrician will feel the same way."

"To those who are not here today, the patricians and plebians both, understand that this is a most momentous occasion. Each and every one of us is now no mere citizen of the Republic: We are [i]representatives[/i] of it. Of our people. Our fine culture. Our honourable legacy. This is a great burden, yes, but also an honour no past generation has had. With God as my witness, let this day begin a renaissance for our people, our planets, and our Republic!"

[hr]

Alfonso Leoncio Alvarez De Caravajal had been assigned to his most difficult mission yet. Harder than handling insurgencies. Harder than interstellar combat. Harder even than not making a fool of himself at the debut gala. No, his mission was to head through the Gateway, and see what was left of Earth. His new flagship- an extensively modified patrol corvette re-christened [i]La Introducción,[/i] sailed through the empty space that connected solar systems, plotting a course for the home of humanity- Sol System.

When he emerged, he wasn't entirely certain what he [i]was[/i] going to find, but it certainly wasn't this. A swarm of vessels, of many and varied designs shuffled to and fro through the gateway, all heading towards a lump of steel that hung above a... 

"Dios Mio." Alfonso paused there for a moment, staring at the remnants of a home he had never owned. The planet... It was [i]grey.[/i] Ashen. No blue. No green... Not even the white of clouds. "Head for that station," he declared. "And try to figure out who all these people are!"

He had a messanger drone to send back to Matuvista.