<div class="floatleft">(http://th02.deviantart.net/fs42/PRE/f/2009/071/4/2/Star_League_Banner_by_sauronmrc.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">The doors of the massive central chamber opened, with a woman wearing a black cloak to cover most of her nude body stepping forward and speaking in a high falsetto, "<strong>Jal falduna l' Nei, Jabbress d' jal.  Xal ilta zhaunil mrigg udossa 'zil udos harl'il'cik wun onhir d' ilta ib'ahalii.</strong>"<br/><br/>Across the hall, all knelt down and bowed their heads as the Empress entered the room.  Her long copper hair flowed like the blood red cape that hung from her armored shoulders, her body nude from her breasts down to her knees, where armored boots made soft thuds against the polished stone floors.  She swept past numerous women in exotic finery from across the universe, displays of wealth and power, yet still kneeling before a woman who wore the armor of warriors.  She had bested them all, had decapitated leaders with her own blade and clamped a collar around countless necks.  Seating herself on her throne, she rested her arms on the intricate, carved stone.  Her body rested on silks and fine cloths from across the planet, and she peered at the numerous women that made up her court.  Here, in this room, she commanded all.  <br/><br/>The room was large and spacious, made mostly of stone though secured with metal and wood.  Banners of the conquered tribes lined the hall, creating a rainbow of colors and symbols.  Behind her throne hung the Imperial banner, that of a stylized eagle resting atop a star.  The symbol had flown before her armies across the planet, a symbol of the imperial might that she commanded.  It now served to unite the entire world, and she felt secure sitting below it.  She turned her head to a nearby slave, nude save for a pair of black boots and black gloves that covered her entire arms.<br/><br/>"<strong>Rothe.  Jhinrae</strong>," she commanded.<br/><br/>The slave jumped up and scampered away, returning shortly with a glass of wine for the Nei.  She took it and sipped, before regarding the kneeling tribals before her.  "<strong>Ku'lam.  Ori'gato l' chaon d' nindol tullus cot'rhea</strong>."  She had given permission for the women to rise, though the slaves must remain kneeling unless commanded otherwise.  She settled in and prepared for another day of squabbling, deal making, betrayal, and probably death.  Assassinations were occasionally dealt with and there was always someone whose head needed to join the others in the Nei's personal study.<br/><br/>Around the room, she witnessed her Ssin'urn Elghinn, literally Beautiful Death.  They were hers, the soldiers who had pledged their lives to her.  They were the warriors who had served her for the longest time, facing combat in the harshest conditions.  Their armor was never to be removed except to save their lives or upon the order of the Nei, and each had personally knelt before the Nei and pledged to defend her until death.  They watched impassively as the Nei made love to her slaves, bathed, and received the pleasures befitting her position.  Their reward was the warm bed of their combat sisters, and occasionally sharing the bed of the one they defended.  The Nei slept soundly at night knowing the beautiful women whose bodies were on display protected her.</span>