The shuttle landed at the Glasna Kingdom base, ready to reveal Denstra Welmeva and her family. Oak would take the shuttle to the Rooka Forest once Denstra was dropped off. Arsha twitched a bit as the hydraulics of the departure ramp hissed as it lowered. \u201cNervous?\u201d asked Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA bit,\u201d admitted Arsha. \u201cDoes the arrival of a new crew member make a person nervous?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s standard for any position,\u201d assured Oak. \u201cNow, you take care of Denstra, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI certainly hope,\u201d gulped Arsha, \u201cthat she helps take care of the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe will,\u201d promised Oak. The ramp had completely lowered and the new First Officer, Commander Denstra Welmeva, led her family out. Denstra was a heavyset black Cecaelia\/Neko Blender with blood red hair, purple legs, and an aquamarine top with a pendant around her neck. A male green-tailed Naga wearing nothing on his human half then followed her out, followed by a male Drider with red eyes, white hair, and missing his right arm, then came a honey-colored slime with a man\u2019s head, and last came a red-skinned Succubus dressed as a Second Age Housewife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello, hello!\u201d greeted Denstra with the widest smile in all the Realms. \u201cYou must the Captain! What up, Captain Princess?!\u201d She stuck her hand out for a handshake. Arsha tentatively shook it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you,\u201d she greeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, where are my manners?!\u201d Denstra chided herself. \u201cI\u2019m Commander Denstra Welmeva and these are my spouses! Say hello to Jaltor!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowdy!\u201d called the Naga, Jaltor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwirja!\u201d continued Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d asked the one-armed Drider, Twirja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJweltu!\u201d Denstra went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, stranger,\u201d greeted the slime, Jweltu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Twansa!\u201d finished Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello,\u201d called the Succubus, Twansa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd looky who we have here!\u201d chuckled Denstra as she ran her eyes up Oak. \u201cHow are things, Twiggy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust fine, Furball,\u201d replied Oak. \u201cI need to use the shuttle so I can return to my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, you\u2019ve got a baby on the way, don\u2019t you?\u201d mused Denstra. \u201cWell, better not keep you! Good luck!\u201d Oak bowed as he boarded the shuttle. \u201cWell now, Captain,\u201d she purred to Arsha, \u201cpermission to come aboard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPermission granted,\u201d replied Arsha, still not sure what to make of her. The Welmevas followed her onto the Endeavor<\/em>. Twirja whistled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSwanky,\u201d he mused. \u201cThen again, that\u2019s what you\u2019d expect from a Dauntless<\/em>-class skyship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou talk as if you\u2019ve served on one before,\u201d remarked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cServed on the Crelima<\/em>, herself,\u201d replied Twirja. Arsha stopped and gave him her full attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Crelima<\/em>?!\u201d she yelped. \u201cThat ship was destroyed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs was my arm,\u201d supplied Twirja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t bother asking him the exact circumstances,\u201d muttered Jaltor. \u201cHe always changes the story whenever you ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuch as defrauding the Captain himself,\u201d began Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSwiping a valuable engine core component,\u201d supplied Twansa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUsing aerosol spray near a grill,\u201d offered Jweltu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd killing a crewmate with his right thumb,\u201d finished Jaltor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d muttered Arsha. Bashoon then came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, we have a new mission from Realmfleet,\u201d reported Bashoon. \u201cA pink mist is making the machinery of Galthar go haywire. We need to investigate and assist as much as we can. Captain Roozay of the Forge<\/em> is helping us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Ensign,\u201d bid Arsha. \u201cCould you escort the Welmevas to their quarters? Commander Welmeva will join me on the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Captain,\u201d confirmed Bashoon. \u201cSirs, Madam, if you will follow me, I will show you to your quarters.\u201d She led Denstra\u2019s spouses away while Denstra followed Arsha to the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs she the first Realmfleet Goblin I\u2019ve heard about?\u201d asked Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is,\u201d answered Arsha. They arrived on the bridge. \u201cNazay, set course to Galthar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCourse laid in,\u201d reported Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice and easy,\u201d directed Arsha. The Endeavor<\/em>\u2019s engines whirred to life and the ship rose from the Glasna Kingdom and into the sky, on course for the Mid-realm Elven Kingdom of Galthar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was…smooth,\u201d mused Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNazay IS the best helmsman,\u201d replied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, but Dauntless<\/em>-class ships aren\u2019t all that smooth in the takeoff department,\u201d recalled Denstra. \u201cWhat modifications did you guys make?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d ask Chief Engineer Thangred,\u201d directed Arsha. \u201cHe\u2019ll give you the specifics. In the meantime, I need you to give verbal course corrections to Nazay so we can get to Galthar faster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVerbal?!\u201d yelped Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou CAN give verbal course corrections, can\u2019t you?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, yes…\u201d stammered Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen carry out my orders,\u201d Arsha declared with a tone of finality. She rose from the Captain\u2019s chair and directed Denstra to sit in it. Denstra did so, albeit, a tiny bit scared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNazay, course correction of 0.001 starboard,\u201d relayed Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCourse correction of 0.001 starboard,\u201d confirmed Nazay as he moved the x-wheel. The Endeavor<\/em> moved slightly to the right and continued on its way. Denstra continued giving verbal course corrections until…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGalthar in visual range,\u201d reported Malak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough verbal course corrections,\u201d called Arsha. \u201cNazay, time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c2 hours,\u201d relayed Nazay. \u201cWe just shaved a half-hour off the usual flight time from the Glasna Kingdom to Galthar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell done, Commander Welmeva,\u201d praised Arsha. \u201cMeet me in my Ready Room. Nazay, Shalvey, land us.\u201d Denstra followed Arsha into the Ready Room and could hear the door shut behind her. \u201cPlease, sit,\u201d directed Arsha as she gestured towards the chair facing the desk. Denstra sat down. \u201cI apologize for putting you on the spot like that,\u201d she began. \u201cI heard both good and bad things about you and wanted to know a little more about you. Looks like you\u2019re not afraid to take risks in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t afford to be,\u201d replied Denstra. \u201cI realize I come off as reckless at times, but I DO place the ship\u2019s safety high on my list of priorities, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpeaking of priorities,\u201d continued Arsha, \u201cI got a look at your record. You didn\u2019t exactly start life off all that well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, Captain,\u201d confirmed Denstra. \u201cMy Cecaelia mother and Neko father were members of high society. I was feeling so disillusioned with what was going on. In a fit of defiance, I joined a pirate fleet and became the Chief Engineer for the pirate fleet\u2019s flagship. It all changed when we took a job. We got word that there was a mana crystal shipment meant for the Belsnath Citadel. We intercepted the ship and took the crew as our prisoners. The pirate Fleet Admiral was onboard. She ordered the crew\u2019s deaths. I gave my disagreements to the Admiral in full view of the crew. Only a quarter of the crew agreed with me, not nearly enough to stage a mutiny. She ordered me to return to Main Engineering. I blocked off all maho-links, causing the engines to overheat. When they exploded, the ship fell, crashing into a field. The mana crystals were fragmented and their power was gone. The Admiral was about ready to kill me when the surviving prisoners fired on her and got me out of there. I turned myself in and served a prison sentence, then came home. For whatever reason, my parents said nothing, just hugged me as I sobbed in their arms, regretting what I did. It took me a long time, but I mended fences with my parents and became a Realmfleet Officer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…You know, if I were a ship\u2019s counselor,\u201d remarked Arsha, \u201cI\u2019d say the bounciness you project is to hide something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFeelings of guilt and shame, yeah,\u201d replied Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s keep this between ourselves, then, shall we?\u201d suggested Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d like that, Captain,\u201d agreed Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWelcome aboard, Commander Denstra Welmeva,\u201d greeted Arsha in a more warm tone as she offered her hand for a handshake. Denstra accepted and the two exited the Ready Room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve landed,\u201d reported Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDenstra, Bashoon, Dalengor, with me,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDenstra?\u201d asked Dalengor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s just what the doctor ordered,\u201d assured Arsha. They made their way to the landing ramp and exited the ship to meet the two Queens of Galthar, Hindra and Hunmur. Hindra was a Sea Elf and Hunmur was a Stone Elf. They brought Latinora with them as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank the Ones you\u2019ve come!\u201d praised Hindra. \u201cOur kingdom\u2019s industry has ground to a halt because of this mess!\u201d She then noticed Denstra. \u201cAh, excellent! One of Realmfleet\u2019s best engineers before her promotion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI still keep my skills up, Your Majesty,\u201d assured Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell,\u201d groaned Hunmur, \u201cwe need all the help we can get.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour Majesty, are you alright?\u201d asked Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a toothache, something awful!\u201d whimpered Hunmur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI told you not to hit the sweets so hard!\u201d admonished Hindra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy not go visit the dentist?\u201d quizzed Latinora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not having them bleed my gums!\u201d snapped Hunmur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s only because you don\u2019t floss as well as you should!\u201d argued Hindra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t we save that for another time?\u201d suggested Arsha. \u201cI DID hear something about pink mist causing machines to go haywire when the Scarlet Stream Pirates held me.\u201d Denstra\u2019s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she heard that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you say…?\u201d she gulped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll have Thangred, Melandra, and Denstra help you and your teams out, Ms. Langrasia,\u201d Arsha offered to Latinora. \u201cWe\u2019ll bring a swift end to this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d bid Latinora. Arsha turned her communicator on and called Thangred and Melandra while Denstra gulped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought they would have disbanded,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The shuttle landed at the Glasna Kingdom base, ready to reveal Denstra Welmeva and her family. Oak would take the shuttle to the Rooka Forest once Denstra was dropped off. Arsha twitched a bit as the hydraulics of the departure ramp hissed as it lowered. \u201cNervous?\u201d asked Oak. \u201cA bit,\u201d admitted Arsha. \u201cDoes the arrival […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2579"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2580,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579\/revisions\/2580"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}