"She got the assignment of a lifetime. No one warned her it was a burial." For Ensign Aileen Vessari, her first deployment should have been a dream. Fresh from the Academy, she's assigned to a Mars-class line carrier, she's bound for Thanatos-one of the Solar Federation Navy's most advanced warships. But from the moment her orders arrive, silence surrounds her new posting. No stories. No alumni. No chatter. Only a name. And questions no one wants to answer. As Aileen steps into the cold corridors of Thanatos, she finds herself caught between duty, ambition, and the uneasy truths lurking beneath the surface. In the void of deep space, the line between loyalty and survival begins to blur-and the ship she serves may hold more secrets than she's ready to face. CW: Psychological distress, military themes, verbal abuse, panic attacks This story explores themes of psychological strain and emotional trauma. While intense at times, it does not glorify harm. It's written with care for those who've struggled-and with respect for what it means to endure.