It almost killed me, but the story's finished and online. I...didn't know if I had it in me. Rather than post all the text here, I'll just direct you offsite:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10035862/1 ... Federation

Please, enjoy.

In case anyone's wondering, this story didn't die. I just kept forgetting to make this one of the places I published updates. Another nine chapters are available here, with the FINALE coming within the month: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10035862/2 ... Federation

Brant drummed her fingers on the arm of the captain’s chair. The Lanius captain was on screen in front of her, staring ahead in total silence and total stillness. This one had the same cracked-ice skin and pointy, jutting features as Killer had, but Brant wasn’t even sure this one had eyes. If not f...

Ensign Toh, in fact, really did not like it. With the ship in jump state, Captain Brant was showing their new recruit around the ship. Two Lanius engineers, their faces all sharp angles and coldness, were holed up in the life support room performing their upgrades, and for the time being Translator ...

They had one steak left, vat-grown by some food chemists who really knew their business. Karl, as the only other one on-board who had ever eaten a steak, volunteered to cook it up. He brought it to her in the medbay, cooked medium, and Brant made unladylike noises as she devoured it. “Neither victor...

“Prognosis: positive. Ahab reports their weapons are too damaged to threaten Kestrel. If we direct fire at clone bay, should have situation resolved after next volley. Do you authorize?” Somehow, between the agony, the sudden shock of the change in her fate, and the stink of vomit, she managed to th...

The footsteps ran right up to the edge of the closed bulkhead to the weapons room, then stopped. Brant kept her pistol trained forward, waiting for the first motion. “Ms. Brant, I have to give it to you,” shouted the Rebel captain from the hall. “You entirely live up to your reputation.” “So, like…a...

TheDreadedPirateTuco wrote:'Let's dance?'
That comes from a book series
was it unwind?

It's by no means unique to any one book. As a line to start a fight with, it's common enough to have its own TV Tropes page: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LetsDance

(It's been a busy year, but I'm still chugging away) This part never got any easier. She’d grown confident and ferocious in close combat, and fear of death was a constant and familiar companion at this point, but she still hated this moment. Standing on unsecured ground, hearing the approaching foot...

In retrospect, that was a foolish guarantee. I got married in August, and I don't know where I got off thinking I'd have time. *BUT,* the equinox is next week! It's still summer for one week! I CAN STILL TECHNICALLY FOLLOW THROUGH! Brant jogged after Killer as she walked off the bridge and into the ...