That's it Alex, spark an interdimensional diplomatic incident! You go girl!

As part of a small team exploring a new world* Alex has been brought before Princess Eflasia but being a small r republican and anti-monarchist* she hesitates to bow before her (or god-forbid, curtsey), taking this as a grievious slur Princess Eflasia calls Security (General Nyxis) and a duel is quickly arranged.

Aware that she's in trouble but being all about honour and ideals herself Alex is up for a fight. Besides how often does she get to use her sweet magical sword? But she quickly learns that using a firearm is one thing, a sword-fight against someone who does this sort of thing for a living is another thing entirely.

Meanwhile the head of the exploration team is wondering how he's going to explain this one to the powers-that-be back home...

A pic from defiance Defiance on FA (General Nyxis belongs to her!), all her stuff is great but I absolutely love this one, she took a vague idea of mine and ran with it :) Full-res version is on her page on FA, as if you need another reason to check it out!

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13974483/

later in the story Alex is a member of the titular The Seventh Option. Soon after The Change a ferocious battle took place deep in the Chinese interior, little is known about exactly what happened as reports are contradictory and unclear but what is apparent is that the Chinese leadership ended up using nuclear weapons on their own soil to prevent *something coming through a massive Gate, only later when the radioactive dust had settled did they decided this was something outside their area of competence and invite outside assistance. As a result the UN International Control Commission (UNICC) was set up initially based close to the scar in reality left by the collapse of the Xujixiang Gate with the remit to study the phenomenon and provide security against any further incursions.

But people being people and curious buggers that they are a semi-secret sub-department is set up with the UNICC to explore whats on the other side of the Gates, going by the rather bland title of UNICC Direct Research Bureau it has been nicknamed by some science-fiction fan with a quirky sense of humour as the UNICC-OCPD (Outside Context Problem Department) or more commonly as The Seventh Option...

Alex has plenty of respect for rank and title but only those which have been earned by their holder, inherited titles not so much, though she does try not to needlessly offend those born to them, she probably would have bowed but her hesitation was instinctive*

***phew thats a lot of text and exposition for what was basically meant to be a fun idea inspired by Defiance's earlier sword-fighting pic!