The Gray Tempest Fleet had, in fact, already been destroyed by the fleets of the Lost Empires. Every member nation of the Sea of Stars Community contributed funds for a ceremony, respectfully seeing these Fallen Empire overlords off to their respective countries.
Machine Dad took part in none of the festivities. After destroying the Gray Tempest Fleet, they withdrew to their Alpha Complex without a word.
The other three Lost Empires accepted the homage and thanks of the various nations.
The Militant Isolationists and the Enigmatic Observers came to blows again during the ceremony, treating the assembled national representatives to a display of Lost Empire warships exchanging fire.
The Holy Guardians preached incessantly over subspace and psionic communications, their voices like a demonic drone in everyone's ears, frightening the other nations into keeping their distance.
A whole host of spiritualist empires, however, flocked over to mingle with these fanatics.
Once the ceremony ended, the fleets returned home, and the Lost Empires went back to being Lost Empires.
Next came the internal affairs of the Sea of Stars Community.
Minamar Specialized Industries had been badly weakened, then sanctioned by almost every member nation for unleashing the Gray Tempest. Its decline deepened, and it could only return home to lick its wounds in silence.
The Xindari Triumvirate had fractured into three mutually hostile new nations, all of which now faced the threat of the Human Federation.
Not content with annexing a huge swath of territory, the Human Federation now had its sights on the three remaining interstellar states. It was preparing a war of annexation, and hostilities might well resume before long.
Xi Yan, meanwhile, sent officials to take possession of the colony Minamar Specialized Industries had ceded to him.
Xi Yan had no intention of taking direct control of this exclave.