There are few greater tyrants then an Imperial Executive officer. And aboard the Battleship Tomutov I Midshipman Aella Paulloson was rueing the day he had been born. For when an Imperial Executive Officer takes a dislike to you, there is little else to do.
"Did I say you could daydream?", said Lt Commander Josef MacPherson.
Aella said,"No".
"No what?"
"No...sir"
"Louder"
"No...SIR!", said Aella.
Macpherson then said, "I just came from fresher A14. Someone needs to clean it."
Aella said nothing.
Then Macpherson said, "By someone, I of course mean you."
This went on for week after week, month after month. The other midshipmen looked on in sympathy but there was little could be done.
Until at last a letter came. Midshipman Aella read it.
"What does it say?" asked one of his comrades.
Aella replied,"I have leave time. My father is dying."
One of his fellows said, "Were sorry."
Midshipman Aella said,"You know, I hardly knew him. He never got over mother's death and I was raised by family servants. Still he was a good man all things considered and worked hard at his job. He was also never good at showing his feelings. I suppose I'll miss him more now then I did when he was alive. Funny isn't it?"
The other midshipmen nodded sympathetically.
Some time later the Tomutov was in a depot. The midshipmen received a package. They looked on in wonder. There were silver platers piled high with food, feasts they had dreamed of while in their toils and never imagined actually tasting. There were presents for everyone. All horrendously expensive.
Then they looked at the letter. It said,"Thank you for being good friends to me."
They looked at the signature on the letter with shock. Then one of them said, "Oh". And that was all anyone could say.
Lt Commander Josef MacPherson received another package. It had an old fashioned wax seal on it carrying the Imperial Sunburst. He opened it. It said, "From his Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the Third Imperium. Archduke of Sylea, Marquis of Usdiki...", ending with, "Grand Admiral of His Imperial Majesties Navy".
Then down below was a picture of Midshipman Aella. Commander Josef looked at it.
Underneath were the words,"No hard feelings. Just be nice to poor midshipmen."
Then under that the signature,"Strephon Aella Alhaiikoi. Once known as Midshipman Aella Paulloson."
An hour latter, at the sickbay, one Medtech was asking another "What would cause Commander Macpherson to go into a dead faint like that?"