Eh-- the alliances needed a bit of a shakeup, anyway. Eve's ongoing duality was getting a bit tiresome. Pity about the hamfisted execution (always a problem where the plot's a railroad) (that's not a criticism, quite-- I know full well that they can't really do it any other way when it comes to the timeline, especially when there are art assets to get ready in advance), but ... eh.
Now we just need the Empress to shelter Tibus Heth from a pack of frothing megacorporations and the circle of mutual acrimony and distrust shall be complete.