"Will they keep their word, though?" asked John.
D'Trelna stood for a long moment, looking out from the Implacable's bridge toward the construction crews, toiling in the first light of day, rebuilding Prime Base.
"What, to stay in Quadrant Blue Nine as our guests and not our foes?" he said, refilling the two Terrans' wine glasses. Except for a few techs performing minor repairs, the trio had the big bridge to themselves. "I think so," said the commodore. "Don't forget, we can make a variant of the plague virus to wipe them out anytime we want."
"But they can do the same to you," said Zahava.
D'Trelna shrugged. "The way of the universe, isn't it? I think we'll each behave. I trust Sutak. Fear Sutak. Trust. Fear. That's what it all comes down to, doesn't it?" They stood watching as K'Ronar's fierce red sun rose above the mountains.
D'Trelna raised his glass toward the star; the wine seemed to catch fire in the sunlight, becoming a bright red jewel held high. "To our dead-may they know peace. To war's end and the transcendent human spirit that endured it. And to the hopeful promise of this new day."