Upstart by Steven Utley (F&SF, February 1977) has a (vaguely Malzbergian) opening in which the captain of an Earth spaceship becomes increasing irritated with the intermediaries of the superior alien race which has snatched his ship from FTL flight:
“You take us in to talk to the Sreen,” the captain tells them, “you take us in right now, do you hear me?” His voice is like a sword coming out of its scabbard, an angry, menacing, deadly metal-on-metal rasp. “You take us to these God-damned Sreen of yours and let us talk to them.”
The Intermediaries shrink before him, fluttering their pallid appendages in obvious dismay, and bleat in unison, “No, no, what you request is impossible. The decision of the Sreen is final, and, anyway, they’re very busy right now, they can’t be bothered.” p. 61
The captain eventually loses his temper and physically (and brutally) fights his way through to the Sreen and a climactic encounter.
The amusing last paragraphs crystallise this tongue-in-cheek story’s points about humanity’s belligerence and exceptionalism. (Spoiler: when the titanic Sreen, “masters of the universe, lords of Creation,” etc., ask the captain who he is, he thrusts out his jaw and asks “Who wants to know?”)
This is a slight piece, but it raises a wry smile or two.
*** (Good, if minor). 1200 words.