The Unity Veil Summit aboard the orbital platform *Bridge of Stars* had dragged into its third day. Public sessions were filled with long speeches and careful wording, but everyone knew the real decisions happened in private suites away from the recording drones.
Elizabeth moved through the corridors with purpose. Her reputation still carried weight even after everything that had changed in the empire.
She had spent the first two days locking in support from the easier governors and guild reps. Now only a few holdouts remained, and Governor Harlan was the worst of them.
Harlan came from the rim stations. Battle-hardened, gray at the temples, and stubborn as hell. He had blocked every proposal for expanded resource board seats that would give the core more direct control over supply lines.
Elizabeth sent the invitation after the second day's deadlock. He showed up at her secure suite exactly on time.
