MAGISTRAL PALACE, CRIMSON CITY, CANOPUS IV

MAGISTRACY OF CANOPUS

12 AUGUST 3014

Sex was political, which was why I made a point of conducting most of my business afterwards.

I reclined on my lounge chaise, savouring both the afterglow and the exquisite view of my planet. The enormous windows of my bedchambers showcased Crimson City's bejewelled skyline, sparkling against the dusty rose twilight. To be honest, the only view more magnificent in the entire Magistracy was my own reflection, which I could admire in the mirrored ceiling panels I'd had installed last year.

In my bed, Tsumugi—my sweet little omega—dozed contentedly after three rounds with me, her dark curls spilled across my turquoise silk pillows. Tsumugi was brilliant. She might have been responsible for saving a hundred thousand lives across the Magistracy, if not millions, but she was loyal, content, and submissive. I reached out and traced the curve of her spine with my fingertips, admiring the alabaster of her skin beneath my dusky bronze.

Indulging myself, I leaned over to press a kiss to her pale nape.

A moan, and then a stir. I watched her roll over like a half-awakened kitten, the way her eyes fluttered to life. "What time is it?" she asked drowsily.

"Time for round four," I replied, crawling atop her. Despite being my personal physician, and one of the realm's most talented medical researchers, Tsumugi melted under my touch like a lovesick teenager. I claimed her delicate lips, then her neck, and then more, feeling her surrender as my hands explored familiar territory.

"W-wait, Kyalla…" she gasped.

"Hmm?" I smiled devilishly at her.

"T-the ministers will be here soon," she reminded me innocently, even as she squirmed under my touch.

"Let them wait." I slid lower, tracing kisses down her stomach. "The Magestrix is busy with important matters of state."

By the time I released her, her cheeks were bright red, and her eyes glassy with pleasure. I pulled her against me and cradled her, enjoying the way she nestled into my embrace. So content, so undemanding. Nothing like my jealous husband, or the grasping betas that filled my court. The officials schemed endlessly, each convinced she could climb into my inner circle with the right manipulation. Even my ministers—competent as they were—always had an angle. Sweet Tsumugi wanted nothing from me but my touch and some occasional praise for her medical breakthroughs.

It was refreshing. Saliou was constantly shit-testing me these days, probing for vulnerabilities in my frame. The constant guilt trips and challenges to my authority were tiresome, even for a treasured consort such as he.

But not my Tsumugi. Her submission was as pure as her brilliance was dazzling.

There was a beep. I wasn't surprised. A beta would always show up early when they were desperate to please.

"Magestrix," Minister Linyue Keïta announced from the door. "Forgive the intrusion."

I didn't bother sitting up. Hadn't bothered with nonsense like that ever since I'd consolidated my power.

"You're twenty minutes early, Minister," I said pointedly, still stroking Tsumugi's hair. "Do come in anyway."

Keïta entered with Ministers Ibrahima Ma-Zhang and Saoirse Delaney trailing behind her. Their eyes darted between Tsumugi's flushed form and the scattered remnants of our afternoon: champagne flutes, Tsumugi's clothing, a few toys I hadn't bothered to put away.

Ma-Zhang cleared his throat. I allowed my gaze to run over the high SMV male, enjoy his sexual timidity. Happily married for fifteen years, yet still so desirable that half my court would gladly steal him away. Would, if his wife ever faltered. Had tried, for years. That Ma-Zhang had never faltered simply made them more eager. Men with his combination of competence, looks, and utter loyalty were vanishingly rare.

"Shall we reschedule, Madam Centrella?" he asked, studiously avoiding looking directly at Tsumugi. An artful tangle of sheets covering her body preserved just enough modesty to not make a show of her.

"And waste the time you've so eagerly sacrificed by arriving early? I think not." I waved them towards the settee and armchairs surrounding my bed. "We'll conduct our business here."

Unlike my other lovers, I never asked Tsumugi to leave during state affairs. She was intelligent beyond just her medical expertise, and watching my ministers squirm as they tried not to stare at her naked body was endlessly amusing. Besides, the message was clear: I controlled every aspect of this room, from policy to pleasure.

The ministers arranged themselves on my imported lounge set, noteputers at the ready, while I lounged naked in bed. Delaney—forever the most practical of my advisors, probably because she was asexual—had already poured herself a drink from my private reserve. Smart woman.

"Now," I said, settling more comfortably against my pillows, one hand draped over Tsumugi, "tell me what's so urgent that you've interrupted my afternoon."

"It's about Terra Nova, Your Excellency," Keïta said. I enjoyed the way she forced her gaze to stay above my nose. I'd pegged her for heterosexual, but the Black Aphrodite of Canopus IV was often an exception, regardless of orientation or taste. That was me, by the way.

I sighed dramatically. "Another proposal from ComStar, I presume? I've already told them that their 'joint fleet initiative' is transparent nonsense."

"No, Madam," Ma-Zhang interjected eagerly. "We've received intelligence concerning the medical technology of one of the Terra Nova powers—specifically, the Cygnia Union."

Now that caught my interest. "Go on."

"They've developed gene therapy techniques that can transform humans already infected with Marcens Disease into what they call 'Immunes'—individuals naturally resistant to EIC contamination."

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed despite myself. I'd read the briefs on Terra Nova and their unfortunate existential crisis. Gene modification? Was their medicine as medieval as their interstellar capabilities, or had they found a way past our centuries old dead ends?

"And ComStar is controlling all access to this technology, naturally," I said.

"Yes, but—" Ma-Zhang began.

"But we have an opportunity," Delaney finished, cutting him off smoothly. "ComStar's quarantine protocols have actually created a vulnerability. They're so focused on controlling military technology transfer that they've left medical exchanges understaffed and under-scrutinised. It's one of the things they explicitly allow."

I laughed. "ComStar? Neglecting something that doesn't go bzzt? I'm shocked."

Tsumugi sat up in bed. The bedsheets slipped from her shoulders, baring her full breasts completely. "What delivery mechanism are they using for the gene therapy? Traditional vectors have always struggled with the blood-brain barrier."

Keïta struggled to maintain eye contact with Tsumugi's face—a battle she was clearly losing. "That's the fascinating part, Dr Vuong. Preliminary reports suggest they're using something like a polyvalent ligand shell with something retrovirus-based. Our virologists believe it could revolutionise our own gene therapy techniques if we could acquire samples."

"A retrovirus-based delivery system with polyvalent ligand shells?" Tsumugi leaned forward, still naked, not that she noticed. Her breasts began to hang temptingly, but scientific excitement overrode every other instinct. "And they've cracked the BBB problem? They must have." Her voice dropped slightly, muttering adorably to herself. "That could shift the whole expression profile. Maybe even bypass silencing entirely…"

I ran my fingers through her hair possessively.

"If they've solved the BBB permeability issue," Tsumugi continued, completely oblivious to her nakedness, "it could revolutionise our entire approach to genetic disorders. We've been trying to crack that problem forever."

I sat up fully, causing my sheets to fall just like Tsumugi's had. My ministers attempted to ignore it, but only Delaney managed. I was physically perfect—the product of the finest cosmetic genetics the Periphery could offer, maintained by regular treatments. Even without my political acumen and excellent social standing, my looks alone would have kept my SMV in the stratosphere.

"This Terra Nova," I announced, "intrigues me. A parallel Earth appearing at Terra's L3 point is bizarre enough, but one with such uneven technological development? 'Mechs that can outmanoeuvre the finest models in the Inner Sphere, orbital elevators stretching into space, and now revolutionary gene therapy. Yet they haven't even developed proper FTL?"

"Their history and technology branched a long time ago, but comparing key events and tectonic patterns seems to put them somewhere in the early third millennium AD," Ma-Zhang began. "It's ill-advised to compare their technological development to ours due to that alone. They've focused intensely on specific domains while neglecting others entirely, but then their EIC Catastrophe propelled them further than normal progress would. "

I nodded thoughtfully, still stroking Tsumugi's hair. "Tell me about these Cygnians. They're the ones with knights and traditionalist values, no?"

"Ostensibly," Keïta said, her eyes finally managing to stay steadily on my face rather than my breasts. Hah. "But their social structure is more complex than initial reports suggested. While they maintain knighthoods and aristocratic titles, their military advancement appears largely meritocratic. It's likely no surprise that they comprise a number of constitutional monarchies. And clearly, they're not so bound by tradition that they've rejected genetic modification."

"Fascinating," I mused. "I suppose as with any culture, there are parts that may seem progressive or regressive depending solely on the viewer."

Delaney, ever the pragmatist, steered us back to relevance. "The political opportunity here is substantial, Your Excellency. If the Magistracy could establish a direct medical exchange program with the Cygnia Union…"

"We become the Inner Sphere power most closely aligned with one of Terra Nova's major factions," I finished, seeing the opportunity immediately. "And not just any faction—the one potentially holding the key to their extinction-level crisis."

"Technically, one of three. We don't know enough to say which is most viable," Delaney explained, but I ignored her.

"The Canopian medical expertise combined with their gene therapy breakthroughs could be revolutionary," Tsumugi said, reaching for a robe but apparently forgetting where she'd left it. "Our cybernetic and biomedical technologies probably far ahead of theirs. Certainly our production scale. It could be complementary to their genetic approaches."

"And there's the political dimension," Ma-Zhang added. "The Federated Suns has already bungled their first contact spectacularly. Hanse Davion himself captured trying to steal research secrets. Kurita and Liao are salivating at the opportunity but have no direct approach. Steiner's playing the diplomatic long game."

I laughed, rich and throaty. "And everyone overlooks House Centrella, as always. The advantage of being underestimated."

Technically, the Periphery as a whole, but especially the Magistracy. Nobody expected the Magistracy.

A beep at the door announced another arrival. The door slid open, this time revealing my husband, Saliou Diallo. His expression was a familiar mix of frustration and barely contained anger.

"Kyalla," he greeted me curtly, before noticing my companions, and glaring at poor Tsumugi in particular.

"Magistral Consort," Delaney acknowledged with practised deference.

Tsumugi simply lowered her eyes and murmured, "Your Excellency."

I smiled, amused by his timing. "How lovely of you to join us, husband. We were just discussing Terra Nova."

"Were you?" His tone made it clear he doubted this. "I thought you might be discussing the Andurien diplomat who left your chambers this morning. Or perhaps the Froness bastard from last week."

Ah. Another of his tedious shit tests. As if I hadn't endured enough of those for one lifetime.

"Saliou, darling," I said sweetly, "if you wanted to join me, you need only ask. Though I wasn't aware you had an interest in either gentleman."

His jaw tightened visibly. "I came to remind you that Emma's birthday celebration is in three days. The palace staff needs final approval for the arrangements."

"Emma will have a spectacular celebration," I assured him, though I hadn't given it much thought. My daughter was turning six—hardly a milestone requiring my personal attention. I paid her plenty of attention day to day. "However, we're discussing matters of rather more importance at the moment."

"More important than your daughter ?" There was that guilt-tripping again. So transparent.

"More important than cake flavours and balloon colours, yes. We're discussing a potential diplomatic initiative," I explained, patting the bed beside me invitingly. "Terra Nova's Cygnia Union has developed groundbreaking gene therapy technology. If we can establish a medical exchange program, the Magistracy stands to gain both politically and scientifically."

Saliou remained by the door, too proud to join a naked state meeting. His loss. "And how do you propose to reach Terra when ComStar controls all access?"

A valid question. Behind his masculinity and all its inherent emotional weakness, Saliou was still a capable political mind. It was part of why I'd chosen him—high value males with both beauty and brains were rare finds. Good cock, too.

"We mentioned before you arrived that ComStar explicitly permits medical exchange, if one reads carefully," Delaney pointed out. "They're eager to allow anything that might address the Marcens pandemic and stop a war of aggression by desperate Terra Nova powers. Their quarantine is focused on military technology transfer, not humanitarian aid."

"The virus-based delivery system they're using could revolutionise our approaches to genetic disorders throughout the Periphery," Tsumugi said eagerly. "If it's as good as it sounds, we could adapt their techniques to our expertise in—"

"You're suggesting we position ourselves as humanitarian partners," Saliou interrupted, addressing me rather than Tsumugi. At least he was better about her than he was my male partners. Personally, I suspected he wanted a go at my dear omega as well, but was too proud to say so.

"Exactly," I confirmed, letting my eyes linger on his form. Even angry, Saliou was magnificent. He'd maintained his SMV well indeed. Our daughter Emma had inherited his dusty beige skin and keen intelligence. "The Magistracy offers medical expertise to help refine their gene therapy, establishing us as partners in their survival rather than vultures circling for technology."

"The fact that we'd gain access to revolutionary gene therapy techniques that could advance our medical science by decades is merely a fortunate side effect," Ma-Zhang added with a slight smile.

I stretched languidly, breasts bared, basking in how Saliou's eyes couldn't help but follow the movement despite his anger. "We position ourselves as the compassionate alternative to the Great Houses' naked ambition."

It was even partially true. The Periphery had always been less grasping than the Inner Sphere, and the Magistracy in particular. As long as it didn't much impact our quality of life, we preferred to leave all that violent nonsense alone. We could advance well enough ourselves.

"While simultaneously securing a technological breakthrough that could elevate Canopian medicine even further," Keïta noted.

"The Cygnia Union needs allies," I continued, my mind working through the political angles. "ComStar are conservative fence sitters. The Great Houses are either openly hostile, like Davion, or waiting to pounce. But we're distant and buffeted enough to pose no martial threat, yet advanced enough in medicine to offer genuine partnership."

"And the other Terra Nova powers?" Saliou asked, finally moving into the room and taking a seat—though noticeably as far from the bed as possible, as though I'd burned him there.

"The Vulturia Alliance and Thalassic Federation will follow the Cygnia Union's lead if their gene therapy proves successful," I predicted, tapping my fingers thoughtfully against Tsumugi's bare shoulder. "If the briefings are accurate, Lunar-mare will stay out of it, as usual."

Then my fingers trailed a little lower, and I saw Saliou seethe in the corner of my vision.

I turned my head to Delaney. "Draft a proposal for a Canopian Medical Mission to Terra Nova. Emphasise our humanitarian intent, our distance from Great House politics, and our complementary expertise. We'll route it through ComStar's proper channels, but I want back-channel communications established as well."

Delaney nodded and made notes on her noteputer.

"And who will lead this mission?" Saliou asked pointedly.

I smiled lazily. "Worried about who I might seduce among the knights of Cygnia, darling?"

His eyes flashed with faked hurt, another transparent attempt to make me feel guilty.

"Just a jest, dear," I said with a laugh. "I was thinking Minister Keïta would head the official delegation. As for the research team…" I glanced at Tsumugi, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Me?" she asked, eyes wide, when she eventually noticed my gaze. Such a cutie.

"Who better?" I said. "Canopus's premier genetic researcher, with specialisations in genetic disorders. Plus," I added with a wicked smile, "a pretty face never hurts."

Tsumugi flushed while Saliou's expression darkened further. Tsk. Our six-year-old daughter Emma deserved a father who could settle down and be a good house-husband, not one constantly challenging his wife's frame. It was true what everyone said about 'boys you fuck' versus 'boys you marry'…

"This could change everything," Tsumugi whispered, her mind already lost in possibilities. "If their delivery system is as advanced as it sounds…"

"Precisely," I said, cupping her cheek affectionately. "And while everyone focuses on their military technology—their 'Strikers' and force fields—we'll secure something potentially far more valuable."

"The power to reshape humanity's genetic future," Ma-Zhang concluded.

I nodded, feeling that familiar thrill of a perfect political strategy taking shape. I hadn't even needed to seduce anyone to get there. Ah well, I would make up for it later.

"Let's move quickly," I instructed. "Prepare the proposal, assemble our finest medical researchers, and draft a personal message from me to… to whomever leads the Cygnia Union."

"That would be President Isolde Lindqvist of the Cygnian Commission," Keïta supplied.

"Is she interested in dark-skinned female ten out of tens?"

"We don't know."

"That's no issue," I said, noting how Keïta eyed my breasts, while Saliou shook like a boiling pot. "We'll frame it as 'woman to woman' then. Emphasise our mutual interest in protecting our peoples, and try to establish a connection that bypasses ComStar's meddling as much as possible."

As my ministers rose to implement my directives, I beckoned Tsumugi closer and whispered in her ear, "Start preparing, my dearest. You're about to make history."

Her flush of pleasure—whether from the prospect of revolutionary science or my continued attentions—was delightful.

Saliou remained seated, watching me with those dark, wounded eyes. Tsk. Still thinking his little jealous tantrums would get him anywhere. Didn't he know that the chase always flipped after marriage?

If he wanted me to fuck around less, he'd catch more flies with honey.

"Husband," I called to him as the others departed, "do stay. I believe we have some matters to discuss… privately."

A parallel Earth had appeared, bringing technologies that could reshape the galaxy, and while the rapacious Great Houses fought over BattleMechs, I would secure the key to humanity's genetic future.

For now, though, I tore Saliou's shirt off, and enjoyed the way my touch melted his tantrum away.

Notes:

Kyalla the Alpha
Linyue the Beta
Tsumugi the Omega
Saoirse the Sigma

At least that's how Kyalla understands the world.