She stared in the large mirror, her dull blue eyes facing back at her as she ran her hand down her waist, admiring her golden gown that shimmered as she turned in her large walk in closet giving herself a final once-over before walking out. Her heals clacking on the polished marble floor of her room as she walked upstairs to the main floor where Aria stood where she always stood, looking down at her subjects. E'nea watched her briefly before she took a deep breath, checking the time on her omni-tool not that it mattered considering the gala didn't start until her mother left the casino elevator. E'nea knew in the back of her head that Aria wanted to be called, not knowing exactly why E'nea tilted her head to the side looking her up and down. Never in a dress, Aria sported black pants and a loose fitting blouse, a platinum band around her neck that rested on her collar bone almost like a piece of armor. She was striking as always in her looks but more so in presence, E'nea always knew when Aria T'loak was in the building even before her secretary would tell her she only hoped that her mother would enjoy herself tonight...if only for a little while as she made her way to the large window that over looked the fifteen floors of the Pantheon Casino and resort with the center of the building being the encompassing circular balcony's that connects each floor via two glass elevators that let you see the Pantheon as you ride up and down. The design of the circular balcony also allows E'nea to see all the way down to the concierge desk.

"Hell of a view." Aria spoke, her eyes on the floor below, above the fifteen floors was the ballroom which unlike the other floors it only has a half moon shape instead of circle the rest of it was out of sight and underneath E'neas pent house, where once again one could view It from another window. The ballroom overlooked the Cordial ocean (Horizon's largest) with the ballroom sporting its rather enormous glass wall facing east where the sun sets on Horizon as well as a rooftop bar, E'neas favorite spot as it looked over the resort-half of the property.

"We know how to pick them. The human councilor has arrived I see."

"And who's with him?" Aria asked, half curious and half making sure E'nea knew.

"His son, Lt. Thomas Alenko, he's acting as an attaché in the northern region, near Kriek. Our best guess is they're only at platoon strength, their ships in orbit are scrambling any transmissions to or from the entire Gerallos Continent."

"The Alliance never owned this planet, the fact that the original colony was set up deliberately away from central Alliance space seems to escape their memories. And for some reason they think they can just waltz in?"

"For free no less."

"That's the real issue isn't it? It seems they want Horizon, but the Alliance never fought for it. I did...you even more so. Shepard fought here a long time ago and for some reason that's enough to make a claim."

"Dead heros make the most annoying arguments." E'nea said seeing her mother smirk through her reflection. She took another step towards the window looking down into to ballroom so she could see more of the guests.

"The Volus congressmen, Korta-Kon, the Batarian Ambassador; Bellac Gondari, who might I add seems to be speaking to Maron Vanipol the mayor of Kriek- I had a feeling you'd want to speak with him. A few well-to-dos from around the planet. Notably Jana Ba'deri she does everything high stakes and is rather demanding about it. Nearly choked a dealer when he told her the table limit."

"And she was invited?"

"Someone has to convince the others to play. The house always wins after all."

"Good girl, I see your sister sent an envoy."

"Addas to Horizon is a bit of a trip." E'nea replied, knowing that her mother was already disappointed. She liked her daughters together, while Na'ari was down below, Vyn'tea Had remained on Addas a fairly lawless mining planet prone to raiding and at least one rebellion, E'nea knew that their mother wouldn't be happy about this or rather that Vyn'teas absence would be duly noted.

"She should know better, these kinds of things while they may seem trivial are important for the Federation, but most importantly me."

She stepped away from the glass window heading towards the elevator door with her heals clacking on the marble, getting in the elevator next to her mother E'nea hit the button for the floor below.

"You know, when we were building this place I thought about a staircase to the ballroom. But that seemed a bit ostentatious even for me." E'nea glanced over just in time to see Aria rolled her eyes with a sharp breath from her nose.

The door opened as they hit the lobby entrance to the ballroom, where the two stepped off the elevator and walked through the small lobby that led into the ballroom where E'neas omni-tool blipped. She swiped over her left wrist and an image of a grey haired human appeared.

"E'nea."

"Townsend."

"We found a couple of cheaters, I thought you would like to deal with them personally." He paused, "what would you like to be done?"

E'nea glancing to Aria for a split second before focusing on Mark who awaited her instruction, she didn't flinch when dulling out her verdict. "Unfortunately I'm preoccupied however they don't walk out without a reason not to come back."

"Got it boss."

"Everything ok?" Aria asked.

"Nothing to worry about now, shall we?"

Aria nodded and motioned with her arm extended for E'nea to enter the ballroom first, the doors slid open revealing the ornate chandelier and white walls that filled with music and voices of the guests. E'nea kissed her mothers cheek before linking her omni-tool to the speakers as she walked in-sight of the band and motioned her hand across her throat causing them to they stop. With a cordial smile she spoke into her omni-tool.

"Excuse me? May I have your attention, please? The commencement will begin shortly as we're still waiting on a few guests but in the mean time I'd like to welcome the honored guests that are here, to the twenty-fifth annual Terminus Systems Federation Gala."

She paused for a short applause, taking the time to step onto the stage with the band so more people(and the cameras) could see her. Most places would have a vid-screen but E'nea found it a bit tacky she wasn't a prize fight announcer no, E'nea saw herself more as a host. She felt the warm stage light casting against her dark, purple, skin with her form fitting, golden gown shimmering under the light.

Smoke filled the room as Townsend approached the gambler, while the he was being pinned by a rather large krogan who had his hands behind his back pinned against a wall with one giant hand and the other pulling his hair to make him face Townsend who took a drag before pointing with his cigarette to the table at the center of the room. With the gamblers friend already sitting down with a blackened eye and holding his shoulder.

"Listen." Townsend took another drag.

"And here at the beautiful Pantheon casino and resort as we welcome one of our most prestigious guests, Councilor Aiden Alenko, and his son Thomas."

E'nea knew that most people would hate being up under the heavy spotlight (she was really hoping a waiter would walk by with a glass of something cold) but it was all apart of her job, host, governor, general, being a T'loak meant that you hold the world in your hand and everyone wanted a piece, and they would get their piece as long as you didn't break one little rule.

"You two really should've picked a different place to try and screw, now I have to do something unpleasant to one of you." One of the armored guards next to him handed Mark a bat, he gave it a few swings watching the salarian sweat as Townsend stood in front of his friend. And eyeing the one that looked particularly worried Townsend approached him.

"You see your kind comes in here and thinks they're so fucking clever." He swung, hitting him in the nose. The krogan knocked the salarian out of his chair and began working on him while the other watched with blood pouring from his nostrils. With another drag Mark dropped the bat and knelt down next to the man on the floor while the salarian screamed, blowing smoke in his face.

"But you forgot who owns this place son, so let me tell you something. Horizion is a big beautiful world and you can do pretty much whatever your little heart desires barring one exception."

With the ballroom filled with the thunder of clapping E'nea began to speak over the crowd, "and from both me and my mother, Aria T'loak President of the Federation we both hope that you enjoy the food, enjoy the music but most importantly, enjoy the people tonight as we celebrate our success and continued cooperation throughout the galaxy. Thank you all for coming lets have a good night!"

A thunder of applause followed by the band resuming, E'nea caught a waitress as she passed by with a tray of asari rosé, with the pink bubbly calling to her E'nea, glancing side to side as she took a sip. She looked over the crowd, oddly enough they all looked about the same as they did when she was in her pent house looking down, small.

"You do not, under any circumstances fuck with E'nea T'loak."