Eight hours after my self-imposed death march of a shift I am aboard the civilian science vessel in a nice lounge sipping strong distilled spirits with Josef and Uriel. My head is killing me and no non-addictive painkillers work on this type of pain. It's not a true headache or a migraine although it does feel somewhat similar except my entire brain hurts. It's from the overflow of information that gets plugged into the brain from every single ship system as well as fleet diagnostics. There is a reason why there are still multiple people working as bridge crew even though technically only a single person is needed to pilot, command, and gun the ship. This isn't my first rodeo doing a full 8 hours like that but I really shouldn't do it as apparently too much exposure to that can cause brain damage and aneurysms somehow.

Josef and Uriel quietly discuss their science, theory-crafting about the connections between their biological and abiotic sciences. It would be fascinating if it wasn't that every time I learn something new at the moment it feels like a white-hot spike is driven into my brain. Quiet city pop from our shared home and childhood plays in the background making the scene feel like some speakeasy bar or whatever if it weren't for the brightness of the room. After a while of this as I practically melt into the nice couch Uriel looks at me and says in a gentle, but uniquely Uriel-like emotionless voice,

"Barbie, go to bed. You've worked too hard, and at this point, mistakes will start being made. If you're needed then someone can come get you."

I frown both at hearing my old nickname I hated back in the day too, but also being told to go to bed. I have my duties... but she is right. I sigh and stand up heading over to the shuttle docking arm and take the short flight back to the Catfish where like a zombie I head to bed and collapse onto the rather uncomfortable Navy-grade bed. Mercifully there are no dreams, a side-effect of my little 8-hour shift, my brain is far too tired to even give me pictures in my sleep...

After a good 6 hours of sleep I get up refreshed and ready, silently I am thankful for my genetics lowering my sleep requirements as it makes it so much easier to get stuff done. I head over to the bridge and check up on everyone and make sure everything is A-okay for now. While a little shaken from the news, as is expected, this shift didn't know the poor unfortunate soul from the shift before as well, but onboard a navy vessel we are all family and at one point or another they have all met one another or know someone who was friends with the man. Thankfully this crew is veteran, so they are all quite capable of handling it and grieving in their own time. I just have to make sure no one is losing it or killing themselves with overwork as is possible after a tragedy.

With that out of the way, I look through the logs sent from other vessels and get a request from one of the marine transports to do some outdoor drilling. I deny this request for now, but let them know I will work on letting that happen for them. I then go through the recorded footage of the Shipmasters vessel and how it moved through space, simply interested in the workings of the very artistic vessel. Their FTL may or may not be as fast as ours, but it is quite interesting because if there is a more efficient way to sail the stars I want to know for strategic reasons, also especially if I don't have adverse reactions to it like I do to the singularity drives.

I decide to send the footage to the science folks because they might be able to tell something from it that. Regardless it is out of my hands now. I watch the footage of that strange beam weapon the aliens used. It was really cool to watch but overall unimpressive all things considered. A direct energy weapon, even with the help of their "magic" still would have to consume far more energy than what is output there, not to mention their cooling troubles are probably beyond comprehension with that thing too. I also notice a major lack of point defense weapons on their ship, but that could be because they are hidden away in any number of the castle-like structures dotting the surface, or maybe they have a lower setting for those big beams and they sorta swing em around to clear smaller stuff. Regardless I am always interested in learning about novel methods and strategies.

I get a random mental buzz and it's from Uriel who is letting me know that my presence would be greatly appreciated planetside. The details are sparse but it appears that there is going to be some sort of treaty or related thing. The nobility of the planet wants me present and to be a signatory. While annoying because I have spent my entire life avoiding politics, they take rank very seriously here so as the highest active officer at the moment I am required to attend. I leave the bridge to switch from my normal naval officers uniform to the dress uniform instead, only to cover it all up in a spacesuit.

The shuttle burns through the surprisingly thin atmosphere and low gravity of the planet. This makes the ride surprisingly smooth and comfortable as the pilot puts us down right outside of the city that had been designated as our landing zone. Apparently, according to the science folks, their orbital docking and unloading methods are different than ours so they don't have true shuttle ports. I didn't get a good look at the city as we came down thanks to the shuttle having no windows aside from those of the cockpit and I leave that space just for the pilots. The side door opens and I step right into a fucking fairytale.

Everything is the wrong color of green as if it were painted or animated rather than the naturally varied shades that real grass and forests have. The sky looks too blue, and in the distance, I can see some majestic mountains. Small multi-colored insects flutter around happily drinking from any number of the thousands of colorful flowers. The sun seems to even have a golden glow to it that fills the air with a sort of dreamlike look. Then the city is about what one would expect an old fairytale city would look like with tall spires of the castle romanticism style. There even is an actual castle on top of a hill in the center of the city made of practically glowing marble. I try to rub my eyes but hit my clear visor. It feels so surreal as all the architecture and stuff feels... familiar, but alien at the same time. This is helped especially by the multitude of different aliens walking through the streets or riding... some strange creatures around like horses. Everything seems... backward... I knew their society was feudal, but... I thought they meant purely in a governmental sense, not this far! If I legitimately hadn't seen their spaceships I would think we landed on some sort of primitive world.

I feel my heart sink as a horseless carriage pulls up. Not a car, but a full-ass carriage with reigns and everything, but no draft animal. My emotions continue to sour as a literal cat boy thing dressed in some absolutely gaudy puffy finery steps from the carriage and bows to me deeply. The cat thing then speaks in their language but with a strange accent which the translator AI for some reason changes to an old-earth Irish accent,

"Good morning to ya Shipmaster Commodore of the United States of America! I welcome ya to my humble village here. I will be driving you to the castle so the formal business can be dealt."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

It was a little off at the end, but I ignore it and respond kindly,

"Ah thank you... um... so I just get in?"

The creature nods and opens the door to me, and inside it is beyond luxury. I notice the whole thing shakes violently as I step in and I can't help but feel fat. I don't have a marine escort thankfully. I sit down in what is probably a really comfortable chair, but the softness is greatly reduced by my suited butt.

I walk into the castle a husk of a man and Shariah approaches me with a similar expression and demeanor. I look her in the eye and say lowly,

"Irish cat thing... furries... I thought...no... no good."

She nods and asks me lowly,

"Uriel... Josef...what about you?"

I hold up a hand and shake my head and I respond,

"I know, I'm sorry you had to see any of that."

We walk side-by-side and head toward what is supposed to be a type of council chamber or something. I am already done with this place, everything seems so cliche, and all the art along the walls continues to prove my negative outlook. Massive multiple-story tall murals and tapestries of great battles against dragons and other fantasy creatures. Magical BS happening all over the place... I just wish things weren't like this. I hoped the magic they were describing was just some weird physics, strange matter and energy, and the like. Unfortunately, this place, this planet proves that it's not... magic, fantasy magic is real... somehow.

I enter the council room and find a massive round table surrounded by all kinds of colorfully dressed aliens. Something that looks elven, the bird fucks, some lizard man thing, and then the shipmaster which I slowly piece together is a dwarf or something. I sit down in an empty chair, moving past the weird goblin-looking thing trying to pull my chair out for me. I slump down and don't listen to the long speeches being said as I come to terms with my whole concept of reality coming undone, and now feel really awkward about always wanting to go to some fantasy reality after reading too much during my childhood. I eventually come back to reality just as the bird noblewoman says to the chamber,

"Alright, let us begin this moment in history with a share in culture. Both parties will begin with their national anthems."

I smile, because this is something normal. The aliens start first with a whole orchestra and chorus who perform an utterly beautiful composition. Even the bird woman joins in song, her shrill calls adding a wonderful high note to it all. The translator has to work overtime, but it reveals some lyrics letting me know the song is about how wonderful their kingdom is as well as how great their king is. I make sure to keep a recording for later. They end after a solid 20 minutes of singing and playing and I can't help but give a quiet applause which seems to catch the aliens off-guard, but they seemingly understand it's a display of enjoyment and seem content.

The room is then quiet as Shariah messes with a speaker before she cusses over closed comms and says to all humans present,

"It's broken..."

I feel my blood run cold as suddenly all the humans in the room, Uriel, Josef, Shariah, and the others all look at me and I try to shrink down. Shariah then says quietly just to me,

"Please..."

I frown but I stand up turn my speaker onto full and have the translator start pre-translating the national anthem. I have the song saved in my neural link and start the insturmental. Then with a deep breath I begin...

"Oh say can you seEEEEEEEEEEE!

By the Dawns Early Light!"

I try to stare straight forward as my voice has already cracked once. I peek once and see Shariah has her head down, and I can see the corners of her mouth turning upward in a smile and I keep going,

"What so proudly we hailed

At the Twilights last gleaming!

Whose Broad Stripes and Bright stars Through the Perilous fight

over the Ramparts we Watched were so Gallantly Streaming?"

I prepare for the high notes as the marines behind me join in, their rich and deep voices adding to my off-key and cracking voice,

"And the rockets red glare!

the bombs bursting in air!

gave proof through the night!

That our flag was still there!

Oh say does that star-spangled banneeerrr yet waaaavveee?

Ore the land of the freeeeeeeee!!!!

And the home... of the....

BRAAAAAAAVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE!"

My worst crack comes as I belt out the last word and I am left standing there in the silent chamber as I see the shoulders of everyone but the marines heaving through their suits. From what little of their faces I can see under their downturned heads there are smiles. If comms were to come back on I would be sure to hear lots of laughter. I sit down in my chair, my face bright red as the bird noblewoman stares at me with a strange look. She then speaks,

"That...was... amazing...

While the singing was... subpar I could really feel the patriotism behind that voice, the sheer loyalty and pride. Truly a noble song, not long at all but shares your martial history. Thank you Shipmaster Commodore, that was beyond our expectations."

It doesn't make me feel better but I can raise my head. The talks keep going for a while, which feels far more like speeches in some sort of strange ritual, probably some sort of signing ceremony that their kingdom does. From what I can tell, none of it is of actual substance, just listing off their justifications and the rights they were given by the king to do this. I guess it's their version of legal proceedings. Then the doors burst open and a strange...maybe elf with pastel-colored skin bursts in and shouts while bowing,

"M'ladies and Lords! Terrible news, the filthy secessionists have begun an attack on the city and we have reason to believe that some of their forces are headed toward where our guests from another world are located."

I get up quickly as all the aliens' faces go their species version of sour, and some even look afraid. I walk over to where the Shipmaster sits with a grim expression and I ask him in a low tone,

"Shipmaster, I must ask you, what are the secessionists? Should I be worried for my people?"

The Shipmaster gently puts a hand on my shoulder and pulls me in as the nobles begin squabbling over the situation. He then tells me,

"They are those who do not wish to bow down to our King. Usually, they are those who are ignorant and are easily... brought back into the fold. These ones on this planet are... well they believe they are powerful enough to be independent. They are known for their brutal tactics and treatment of prisoners. So yes, your people may be in trouble."

I frown and ask,

"May I request salvation from your kingdom?"

He sadly shakes his head and responds,

"We will be busy defending against them, we cannot spare any knights or mages for a rescue until the situation is solved."

I then ask in a serious voice,

"Then can I rescue them?"

The shipmaster looks me in the eye for a while, trying to gauge my confidence before he responds,

"Yes you may... but please do not utilize attacks from space. It is quite... dishonorable."

I nod and tell him,

"I will do my best to not cause unneeded damage to the planet and especially to your people. Plus orbital strikes would put my own people at great risk."

He nods and tells me,

"I will make sure your quest is not challenged by any of the nobility here, I understand the need to protect you own."

Without a word, I nod and salute the man before walking off. I send comms up to the fleet to prepare for an extraction mission and let the rest of everyone planetside know the situation. I held onto the shuttle and as the ship rises up and off the planet I start getting reports from the drone operators of the approaching enemy and even some reports from the marines on the ground that their group was being tailed. I patch into some drone footage and watch as full-plate-wearing warriors charge the city below me as flames, lightning, and other beams of light begin arcing across the field of battle. I then order more drones to be deployed and have multiple marine gunships load up and ready for launch...