At least our sisters aren't parts of death cults that try ti kill everyone. That's a fun family you've got there, Liao.
Also, Dihm, they're just having a bit of fun
That's all this is.
The St. Ives Compact is welcome to their worlds, and the rest of the Confederation as well while we're at it. Candace or her children would make for vastly improved leadership of a nation that direly needs it. The Capellans aren't a horrible people....they've just got horrible and corrupt leadership.
I'd rather have a strong ally then have to conquer that much space, and I think Victor knew it. He was very much his father, but his mother and friendship with Kai and Hohiro really taught him what their fathers had long forgotten (and were only beginning to remember when Hanse died of a heart attack because of Katherine.)
Peace is possible with St. Ives, it's not with the machinations of the current Liao family in power on Capella.