Story prompt: In an alternate universe, in which history's course of events diverged from our own, it is the year 1547 and the 250th anniversary of the formation of the nation of Federal Republic of Insularia.

It consists of the territories that make up, in our world, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hainan, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Despite its indigenous populations of both Austronesian-speaking peoples and Papuans being the majority, it had also become the home of settlers from various civilizations and peoples for centuries. 

From the ancient Egyptians of both the Eighteenth and Nineteenth dynasties, early Phoenicians from Tyre and Sidon, Assyrians of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Persians of the Achaemenid Empire, Greeks from the ancient city-states, later Phoenicians who came from Carthage and called themselves Carthaginian, Romans from the Roman Empire, Aksumites of the forgotten Kingdom of Aksum, Hindu settlers from various dynasties in India, Vikings from the Viking Age, Anglo-Saxons from Wessex during the period of the Heptarchy, several groups of Aboriginal Australians, Japanese from the Kamakura period, Mongols from the period of the Yuan Dynasty, Muslim settlers from across the Middle East, indigenous Hawaiians from Hawaii, Aztecs from the Aztec Empire, Maya peoples from their various city-states across the Yucatan, Inca people from the Inca Empire, Māori from New Zealand, and the final settlers being those who once called themselves citizens of the Mali Empire before several attacks from the Songhai made them leave for Insularia.

All these peoples and their cultures and accomplishments, would intermix with each other and the indigenous populations's for nearly 3,000 years.

The 250th celebration was more significant than the previous 249 due to Insularia's leader, who holds the title of "Presider", has invited leaders around the world in a show of good faith, wanting to form official diplomatic relations, and formally introducing the world of their previously unknown nation, only made known to previous European rulers when Ferdinand Magellan and his crew returned to Spain alive in 1522.

At the capital of Insularia, the invited world leaders had arrived, marveled by Insularia's menagerie of cultures and thriving civilization. Though they were equally intimidated by both the power and influence of Insularia's Presider, and of each other. Charles V of Spain, who held many titles such as being the King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, would never think to meet the Ottoman Empire's Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, here in Insularia, especially since they were the proclaimed protectors of the Catholic and Islamic faiths, respectively, and because of their many wars. King Henry II of France, Edward VI of England, Ivan the Terrible of Russia, and Pope Paul III, much like Charles V and Suleiman, would meet the likes of Emperor Go-Nara of Sengoku Period Japan and the Jialing Emperor of Ming Dynasty China.

The Presider of Insularia knew that tensions between European leaders and their first meeting with the leaders beyond their lands would be complicated at best, but it is, after all, a day of celebration. Best not to have such a day ruined. Problems can be solved later.

Though secretly, what surprised every world leader was that the Presider, with all their power and rule over many lands, was not a man, but a woman.