Elinsys woke up feeling more rested than usual, but annoyed. The sleeping pills did help with her back, but someone knocking on her door didn't.

She checked the camera, her eyes partly shut. Who would bother her at… eight in the morning. She had gotten used to sleeping in, a rarity back home.

The camera flickered on and revealed an eye staring right into it, the familiar Shil'vati gold and black filling the screen.

As it backed away from the camera, the rest of Melora was revealed.

Henora was standing next to her, looking not at all amused by Melora’s antics. Gelln, who was standing next to her, was also sharing her expression. Meanwhile, Nilni was giving Melora’s hijinks a bemused smile.

"Elinsys put on a shirt and some pants, and opened the door to meet the group."

“How may I help you, Commodore?” Elinsys asked, not trying to hide her sleepiness.

“Comman… Solid… Passenger? ” Melora stumbled over her words.

Elinsys’ rank wasn’t clear yet to her. She might have been a leader on her home planet, but was she important now?

“Elinsys is fine, Melora. Guess we are on first name basis by now.”

“Perfect, Eli! Anyhow, come on! I have something beautiful to show you.”

Melora’s voice was enthusiastic, a bit much for just awoken Elinsys.

“Can it wait? I do have to dress.” Elinsys was technically only half dressed, she didn’t even have the time to put her shoes on.

“No. If you don’t come now, we will miss seeing the… well, the surprise!” Melora was basically dragging Elinsys out of her room by this point.

“Let me get dressed first, okay?”

Melora looked at her with her golden eyes for a second. Then after a pregnant pause, she looked away and let Elinsys get dressed.

*

As they walked down the halls of the ship towards the observation deck, Elinsys shoulders started twitching, and knew someone was watching her.

Craning her head slightly to the left, she saw Gelln looking at her intently. When she repeated the motion to her other side, pretending to look at the paintings, she saw Henera monitoring her.

Both thought they were being subtle about it, but could not be more obvious.

When they reached the observation deck doors, Melora stopped them.

“Listen, you need to be prepared. The view will be amazing.” There was a slight smile on her lips. Then she opened the doors.

The view was not amazing, it was stunning and Elinsys froze in place.

The capital of the Shil’vati Empire was before her, a huge ecumenopolis planet. As far as the eye could see, the only things that weren’t purple spots were the blue oceans and seas.

The horizon was filled with space stations of all kinds; resorts, habitations, weapons platforms and even grand palaces of the high nobility.

From the planet itself rose a spire which connected the surface to a gigantic space station. It was the space elevator.

Elinsys approached the fake glass and pressed her hands against it. The stations were rapidly outgrowing the hands which they were hidden behind.

As the ship traveled among them, an officer approached Melora and whispered something into her ear. Melora then came closer to Elinsys and put one of her hands on her shoulder, breaking her out of her trance.

“Elinsys, we should go and prepare for the party. I was informed it was pushed forward a bit.” Melora looked away from Elinsys and turned towards the planet.

“The spires are a thing of beauty, aren’t they? The gardens and palaces, old museums and shipyards filled with old ships now turned into museums.” Melora looked a bit proud, just a small bit.

“Yes, they are. I heard about the capital, but words can’t describe it.”

Henera came up behind them at that moment.

“We will be flying over the Imperial shipyard soon, passengers. Please go to the observation deck if you wish to see the greatest fleet in the universe.” A female voice came over the ship’s intercom.

Elinsys looked at the ships below her. Each one was decorated in symbols of the empire and the empress. Each one also had the symbol of the noble house of the captain. They were holographic.

A banner she had seen before came up. It was the banner of Vessina, Melora’s family. Then she read the name.

“Veneration.” Melora said, her voice lowering quickly.

Elinsys could feel the sadness, or was it worry?

“I have to go and check something. Prepare for the landing. See you at the party, passenger.” Malora rushed off, Henrea following closely at her heels.

*

Elinsys went back to her quarters and packed her things. There wasn’t much, but each one was precious to her.

Her dog-tags, photos of her and other soldiers and a shell of a grenade.

She picked it up and opened the lid on it. There was alcohol in it. This grenade was a dud. Lucky for Elinsys, unlucky for the original owner.

After she finished packing her bag she picked it up and left her room.

“Going so soon? Off to the party?” Nilni was basically running circles around Elinsys.

“Can’t keep the nobles waiting, sadly.”

“With the bag and those clothes?” Nilni tilted her head in confusion.

“What is wrong with my bag and dress uniform?” Elinsys stopped in her tracks. What was wrong with her uniform?

“Isn’t a bit drab? Well, drab for the nobility. That is the uniform of a marine, not even an officer’s."

“I don’t have another, we didn’t really have the time.”

“Oh… yes. You didn’t.” Nilni was embarrassed and looked at her shoes. They were in a better condition than Elinsys’.

“I know! You can ask Henera for a dress. You are similar in size and build.” Nilni was looking over Elinsys…All over.

“Are you mad? She will get a knife before she gets a dress.” Gelln popped in from one of the side rooms, concern in his eyes.

“Oh come on, Henera isn’t mean. Not that mean. Usually. I think.” Nilni looked at Elinsys and then back at Gelln. “If we ask nicely enough...”

“If you want to scrub the decks for a month, go ahead.” Gelln started to walk away. “Or, just go shopping.”

“That is a great idea! Thank you, Gelln.” Gelln was already down the hallway, but he still gave a wave.

“I’ll pass, I just need to go to my hotel. I am sure I will be provided a uniform before the party.”

While going shopping seemed fun, Elinsys didn’t really have any money. She didn’t go down to the military offices yet. She would sort her paycheck and future position there.

“Well, okay, call me when you have some free time.” Nilni marched off towards where Gelln was going.

*

The ship landed smoothly and Elinsys stepped out onto the landing pad.

There was a bus waiting for the passengers in front of the ship. Elinsys started to walk towards it, but was stopped by a few marines.

“Excuse me ma’am, are you Elinsys?” The officer asked her.

“Yes? How can I help you?” Elinsys felt a bit nervous. She needed to go to the hotel with the others.

“We were told to escort you to a tailor, ma’am. For your new uniform.”

“My new uniform? Is my old one not to the standards anymore?”

The officer looked her over. Elinsys wore a standard dress uniform, for a backwater planet. The capital had different standards.

“Ma’am, it is a marine uniform. You are not a marine anymore. You are a Major officer now.”

“Major? Me? Are you sure? I wasn’t notified of this.”

Even under the best circumstances Elinsys would have a much lower rank, also she wasn't part of the navy.

“Please follow us Major, we have to get your uniform ready.”

Even under the best circumstances, Elinsys was not expecting this. She may have been one of the top dogs of the resistance, but, at the end of the day, she still saw herself as a sergeant. She was expecting to be made a First Sergeant, maybe even turned into a Warrant Officer. But a real commissioned officer? Surely, they couldn't have meant for this to be permanent?"

The ride to the tailor was very short and uneventful, so was her tailor visit. Her measurements were taken and she was shoved out of the door by her escort. Then they reached the military offices. She was then dragged over to a clerk's office. She signed some papers, was given a chip with her back pay for the service during the rebellion and bonuses.

After all of that she was in her hotel room alone. A new chip in her hand, and a perfect dress uniform waiting on the bed. Two of them.

Elinsys collapsed upon the bed. She still didn’t know where she would go now, it felt bizarre being a soldier without orders. And now she was a major?

She felt tired and her back pain was killing her. Maybe now she can afford an actual professional for her back. A good massage.

*

There was knocking on her door again. Elinysy looked around, it was darker. Her clock said two hours passed, she felt tired still.

“Commander please open the door, we have to go now.” A female voice was shouting now.

“Just open it, we can’t be late.” Another replied.

“I am getting dressed, just give me a minute.” Elinsys got up and looked at her uniform. It had all the markings and even her name in beautiful golden letters. It was purple and black with some gold and white embroidery on the sleeves .

Her sleeves were a bit too big, she just noticed. The dress fit her almost perfectly. She couldn’t complain, it was made in an hour or so.

It almost blended in with the transport she was in. The sumptuous black leather seats and golden finish on the wood. The transport was beautiful, agile and quick. It moved in between the buildings like a dancer on a stage.

The pilots were walled off from the passenger cabin. Elinsys was there with a few more soldiers who fought with her. All of them were quiet and were glancing at her every so often. They tried to do it subtly, but most of them failed.

The awkward silence was broken when they landed and the sounds of the party entered the transport. The soldiers were quick to exit the transport in search of food and drink.

Elinsys stepped out and the lights hit her eyes. The palace before her eyes was old, very old. There was a sign for a museum which it usually operated as.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” A familiar voice asked behind her.

“Commodore Melora, happy to see you.” Elinsys was glad to see someone she knew.

“Look at you, wearing a Major's uniform Eli, finally got that promotion!” Melora smiled at her.

“Is Henera here? Or anybody else you know?” A part of Elinsys didn’t want Henera here, but another wished she was here. While she did scare her a bit, she was easier to talk to than some uptight noble.

“Sadly not. And even more sadly my sister-in-law is here. The captain of Veneration.” Melora looked toward the city skyline. Then she grabbed Elinsys by her shoulder and walked with her into the palace.

“This, Eli, used to be a home of a very important admiral, but now it is a museum. It even has a gift shop.” Melora pointed towards a side room.

It was indeed a gift shop, with pictures of the admiral, models of ships and propaganda posters.

“A bit in poor taste isn’t it?”

“Somebody has to pay for the upkeep and the lights.” Melora let out a slight chuckle. It died quickly when a female wearing the Interior academy director uniform came into view. Her face filled with dread.

“No… how? It can’t….” Melora couldn’t let out a word. She put forward her hands in disbelief.

The Interior officer grabbed her hands with great speed and clapped them together. “Can you believe it Melora? I got the position I wanted. I am so happy. Not as happy when I married your brother, we celebrated already, but very close.” The woman was younger than Melora, or at least she hid her age better.

”Why?” Melora could barely speak.

“Well, truth be told. Veneration is a nice ship, but it is no place for a future mother.” The woman smiled.

“Eli, this is my sister-in-law. Capt… Director Bae’ti of Vessina. My brother's wife.”

“Yes, you already told her I am your sister-in-law, Melora. You must be so happy for me if you forgot.”

“Yes, happy. Drinks?” Melora looked Bea’ti straight into her eyes.

“I am pregnant, are you feeling well?” She sounded worried.

“Yes, I am just shocked. Congratulations. I hope you have more.”

“We will, we will. You will make a great aunt, being child free yourself.”

Elinsys could feel that punch into Melora’s gut, everybody in the room could.

“I have to go now, goodbye sister.” Bae’ti left quickly smiling to herself.

Elinsys put her hand on Melora’s shoulder, she felt Melora shaking a bit. She quickly dragged her into the gift shop while also grabbing a few drinks.

“That CUNT!“ Melora was shouting, she tried to keep it down, but couldn’t help herself. “How dare she? My position, my future.”

“What do you mean Mel? What position?” Elinsys tried to calm Melora down a bit. Where is Henera when you need her?

“I wanted the position at the Interior academy as a director, or at least administrator. Maybe at the offices. Somewhere safe and powerful.”

“You care about some position? Training noble children to be brats?”

“No. I would have hated it, but my...” Melora was starting to tear up a bit.

“Your what? You will get another promotion, I am sur...”

“Promotion? I don’t want a promotion. I want to go home to my husband. And getting a permanent position somewhere, a desk job. It would allow me to start a family with him.”

Elinsys thought of her home, she missed it after such a short time, Melora was probably gone for months if not a year from her home.

“I am sure if you ask you can get a job...”

“It needs to be powerful, respectable and important. Somewhere where a scandal can’t have me fired.”

“Scandal? Well maybe you could work on your drinking? That would...”

“Drinking? No that is not it. My drinking is not…. well it could be good to work on it… Kar would be happy.”

Kar wasn’t a Shil’vati name, at least not one Elinsys heard before, but she had to admit she hadn't seen much of the universe yet.

“How did you meet Kar?”

“Well we...” Melora stopped when the announcement system chimed.

“Dear guests, please make your way to the grand hall. The award ceremony will begin shortly. To the awardees, please make your way to the room next to the hall.

“You have to go, we can speak later.” Melora rushed out of the gift shop quickly.

Elinsys made her way to the room with the other veterans and a few nobles. The noble was younger than her and her uniform was modified with her family colors. She knew a few other people in the room, but most were strangers. The rebellion wasn't fought only on her home planet.

A noble came up to her. “Major Elinsys. I heard about your exploits. I wish we worked more closely together.”

“Yes, maybe we could have ended the rebellion sooner. Saved more innocents.”

“Yes, and saved our ears from the insults of our families and superiors.”

“I wouldn’t know about that, I wasn’t shouted at yet.”

The noble’s expresion soured, as she realized Elinsys wasn’t a noble.

“Ah yes… Excuse me. I heard someone call me. Goodbye.”

Elinsys waited for the ceremony to start, but then she heard someone mention Melora.

“Do you see that older woman over there? The commodore drinking her guts out?” One of them pointed through the slightly opened door.

“Yes, the one who has daggers for eyes?” A younger female noble asked her older friend.

“Yes, guess what I just found out.” The older one smirked to herself.

“What?” She pulled on her friend’s dress.

“Missus over there has a Rakiri fetish.”

“Really? What’s wrong with that?”

“Well don’t get me wrong. It is fine to sleep with one, but for a noble to marry one? And from what I heard a non-noble at that.”

“And her family allows her here? That sounds like the perfect scandal waiting to break out.”

“Guess who told me that.” The older one leaned in.

“Who? A servant?”

“Her sister-in-law. She told me she used it to stop her promotion to the position of director of Interior academy.”

“That sounds awful, can you imagine a Rakiri lover teaching our future Interior agents? That’s borderline treason.” She chuckled to herself.

Elinsys wanted to punch them, but she would get thrown in jail. She would talk to Melora as soon as she could.

*

The award ceremony started slowly, with everyone clapping as they appeared on the stage. Then they all sat down while an admiral held a short history lesson.

First they gave the noble the awards. That took a while, especially as she decided to speak for a while.

Then some old veterans and minor nobles. They all were short in terms of their speeches, but there were many.

By the time it was her turn most people had left the room and gone back to partying. Only the non-nobles were left. The admiral tried to get through them as fast as possible.

Elinsys got a medal for her loyalty and exceptional devotion to the Empress and the Empire. Melora was sitting in the first row and clapped. The others in the room followed her, she was the highest noble in the room.

Afterwards, Melora and Elinsys sat through the rest of the ceremony.

After it was finally done they left through the window door to the gardens.

It was very dark by now, well, as dark as one could get on the city-planet. The city skyline was beautiful.

They sat down on a bench.

“I hear you love a Rakiri… I just want you to know….” Elinsys started the speech she was working on.

“You support me. You accept me. You don’t care about it. I heard it all before. I love Ker and he loves me.” Melora wanted to finish her drink, but she threw it into a bush.

“He would tell me he is proud of me even if I hide him, he would tell me not to sacrifice my future for him. What is my future without him?”

Melora might have thrown away her last drink. But she did drink quite a few before that. She was stumbling around.

“Melora, I get it. You want a powerful job so nobody can threaten you or him. Did you think about working on some faraway planet? There, nobody could judge you or have a reason to do it.”

“I didn’t, he loves his home and I love it too. I was raised there.” Melora took a long look at Elinsys before continuing on.

“You asked me how we meet one another, well... My family, back then, had control over a smaller portion of the planet. We met during my university days, before I joined the fleet.” She stopped for a second looking towards the bush in which her drink now was.

“He was handsome and caring. Very smart, the smartest Rakiri I ever met. Oh, I miss him so much.” Elinsys could swear Melora was blushing.

“There, there. You will have a chance to see him now that the rebellion is over.”

“I don’t know. I made a few enemies during the rebellion. Including my sister-in-law. I hate her. So snobby and such a brat.”

“We should go somewhere else if you want to rant, this isn’t a private place, really. And we’ve both had a few too many. Come on.”

Elinsys helped Melora up and they walked to the transport.

“Where do you live anyway?” Elinsys asked Melora.

“Not here, ice planet. Here hotel.” Melora was barely standing.

“Fine, my place it is. Let’s go.”

Elinsys and Melora made it back to the hotel and Melora crashed on the bed. Elinsys went to sleep on the bed next to her. Well, the bed she made from some spare pillows and blankets in the closet.