Disclaimer: I don't own "Voltron," but all original characters are mine.

House of Cards

Prelude: Coup d'Etat

It had all been a surprise to Allura.

It had begun late at night, when Coran received a coded transmission from an unknown ship seeking to land. By early morning they were all called to the council chamber for an impromptu meeting with the Illyrian prime minister. Allura's stomach lurched at this; she'd always regarded the Illyrians as an unknown quantity-and a potentially dangerous one at that-since their grand duchess had married King Zarkon and brought their kingdom into his fold.

Ancelin Fosco was as well-dressed as ever, with a fine doublet and a gold chain about his neck signifying his rank. He reminded Allura of a hawk on the lookout for prey, though she was certain that he had come to Arus for a different reason.

"Your Royal Highness," he said, bowing deeply to her. Yes, he was well-versed in all of the courtly manners. But underneath the veneer lie a cunning, resourceful political tactician. It was Ancelin Fosco who had arranged the marriage between the late grand duchess and Zarkon, and it was also Ancelin Fosco who had been able to persuade Lotor to take one of the grand duchess's cousins as a first wife. Allura gestured for him to rise, and he surveyed her with cool, steely eyes.

"How well you look!" he went on. "The Queen will be most pleased to hear of this!"

"Don't you mean the Crown Princess?" Keith interjected, and here Ancelin smiled and shook his head.

"She is now Queen, for her husband has made himself King," he replied.

Allura sucked in her breath. So it was just as they had feared: Lotor had finally gotten restless enough to overthrow Zarkon. "What's the reason for your visit, Prime Minister Fosco?" she said evenly, motioning for him to sit.

Ancelin settled into a chair, eyeing each member of the Voltron force and then Coran levelly. He doesn't trust us, either, Allura realized, seeing his lips quirk at Hunk's scowl.

Fosco folded his hands on the table in front of him, his expression sobering. "The Queen," he began, "has fled Doom with her children and her ladies. She sent me ahead to speak with you. She asks for sanctuary, and she seeks to treat with you."

"A likely story," Hunk scoffed, and Lance rolled his eyes and glared at Fosco. Coran held up his hand to still them.

"I've spoken with the Queen herself," he told them. "She has her children with her, and she seeks an alliance."

An alliance. Sophie Beatrix, now Queen of the Drule Empire, sought an alliance with Arus and Galaxy Garrison. "Why does she seek an alliance?" Allura asked Coran.

Coran's face grew grave. "Princess, she seeks help in putting her son on the throne."