Okay, time I took my own stab at this:
I too agree with you up there, Arsulon (see above post) about Strephon's knowledge of computers, codes, etc. all that High speed stuff. I did not see a Polity arising in Gushmege like my friend Micheal Koehne does (Wherein Mankind & Sane AI-Viruses (Parent Strains mostly, SOme Hobbyists, and Mother Types) in Rurerayvyn subsector founds a PE based on Trade. But then, as I said, I'm not the only heretic out there).
IMTU, Strephon died of old age on Usdiki, out on his Baronial estate.
Lucan's fate: It was my perception being at ground zero of the Infestation, one of three things could have happened to him.
(A) somebody finally said "enough is enough", and killed him. (Maybe even an Awakened robot, not tied down by fear or emotions), or better still, he choked on food in his quarters, and the robots did not summon aide.(Shades of 5th element!)
(B) The robots of Capital turned on their masters, and are now in charge. Lucan was enslaved, and died in misery, insane, with no one obeying any of his commands any longer.
(C)Lucan was captured by the AI's and is deified in some sort of Unholy Cyborg-Human union.(Welcome to eternal suffering, Lucan!)--a hell on earth.
Margaret's fate.
here I've been torn between two schools of thought, based on what we do KNOW of her.
A) Duchess Margaret Tukera was smart, business wise economic wise, and had a good diplomatic long range plan. I posed this to my 4 sharpest gamers and let em speculate:
They came back with SHe'd have a bolt hole, back in the Delphi Reft to hole up, and defend from.
B) Judging from her latter day performances 1126-onward) when opposed by human rights violations, accused of doing nothing towards those responsible, and confrontation, Maraget's modus operandi was to run/ put out henchmen to "spin" the Duchess' side of things.
The other thought that came of my gamers and me knockin heads on this was, she ran for it. The masses might have done the Marie Antoinette thing,
"Off with her head!" and stormed the Tukera estate/ Bastille. In which case it becomes problematic did she make it offworld or not.
If she did, where would she run to? Towards the Hivers? or the "Bolthole" out in Delphi's Reft (there's places where scarce J-5 & J-6 ships are needed, and some astrographically by J-4, where one could "block off further vampire attacks).
The reason being for this, was She'd let her Navy Commanders have a free hand policing the borders, and according to Hard Times data, had a fair number of her original Domain High Technology Fleet still intact (like the Sector Batron of Tigress Dreadnaughts!!!), as well as elements from the 1021st & 22nd Fleets from Diaspora Sector that had deserted for her cause from Lucan's Navy in the Sol Rim.
IMTU, I decided she made a run for the Hiver Federation, and never made it. She and her children. They might've made it into Lowberths, might not have.
