Yamina stood and looked again at each person still present in the room.  There was no condemnation or anger in her eyes, or even sadness.  She simply looked at them, taking in the body language and facial expressions of each person, then gave a short nod and left.<br/><br/>The die had been cast, the Rubicon crossed.  There was no going backwards.  Only the final rush towards the precipice remained and no one could yet predict if they'd drag each other off of it or stop short and regain their wits.  It was this bickering, this difference in cultures and attitudes towards slights and glory and even the basic worth of human life that had so long kept the Great Houses apart and likely ever would.  Yamina understood it intimately.  Even on her own planet, fairly homogenous in its peoples and traditions, silly honor and custom kept them at each other's throats long after the sensible thing was to retire, to end the enmity and to live together.<br/><br/>Yamina intercepted Erich just outside the hatch to his room.  She nodded towards the interior and raised an eyebrow, wordlessly asking permission to come inside.