Once a Hero

Esmay Suiza left her home planet of Altiplano to join the Regular Space Service, even though her family expected her to become the Landbride of their estancia. Altiplano is only an affiliate world of the Familias Regnant; they have no Seat in Council, and Esmay is not a command track officer...until, as the senior survivor of a mutiny, she takes command and saves the day. Now she's under some suspicion--why had she hidden such ability?--and takes a long leave at home where, her grandmother having died, she assumes the role of Landbride. But old wounds return, and she returns to the Fleet, to be assigned to a Deepspace Repair Ship in her "proper" role as technical track. There she meets Barin Serrano, Heris's relative...and there she learns that ability cannot be hidden easily.