Operation Chimera by Matthew S. Cox, Tony Healey

again. And now here she was, on the
Manhattan
… one step away from Captain of her own vessel.
    A far cry from her childhood on Mufesta Prime. Once a beautiful Union settlement, it had ultimately been left to its own devices once the Terran-Draxx war started to take its toll on resources. The Union forgot about them, out there on the far reaches of known space. And whilst humanity fought its alien nemesis light years away, the Draxx came calling.
    Weeks of fighting later and Robin, then only eight years old, was interred in a prisoner camp, the settlers herded in like cattle. The men were executed almost instantly. Her Father…
    But she and her Mother survived. They were allowed to live. The Draxx used the women and children as bargaining chips in a brief mediation with the Terran Union, in which the Union did what they could to get them back.
    They let her Mother go first. But the children they released later. It was years until they were reunited with their parents.
    By then, the children they had been were changed forever.
    Commander Teague decided there was time to head to the Officer’s Mess before her meeting with Captain Driscoll. As she walked, she passed a viewport. She stared out through her own reflection at the stars. A strong, confident woman with her career in front of her.
    You’re not that girl anymore. You’re stronger now. They made you that way.
    It was true. None of the children were the same, but they were all tougher than most. It was assumed they would arrive in Union hands, scarred beyond recognition. However, they had adapted to their situation, to the brutality of their reptilian captors.
    You’re a survivor.
    She’d come a long way, and though she had some help in getting her promotions so quickly, she really had herself to thank. Her Commanding Officers saw something in her that had always been there, right from the beginning. Something hard, sharp. Something they could hone, could perfect into something truly awe-inspiring.
    In short, Robin Teague was what the Terran Defense Force happened to be looking for: Command material. The next generation of intrepid leaders for its vast fleet of starships.
    They were looking for survivors…

    The Officer’s Conference Room was a blend of soft greys and blacks, with subdued lighting from above.
    “I took the liberty of getting you a coffee, sir,” Commander Teague said as Captain Driscoll walked in. The room was brightened momentarily by the outside corridor, then became dim again as the door closed behind him.
    “Thank you, Commander. Though I did have one before coming aboard, I’ll never say no to coffee,” Driscoll said. He sat a few seats down from her at the big table. It seemed almost absurd to be using the room for such a small meeting. Just the two of them. At least twenty personnel could fit around the table, not counting standing room. The head of every department aboard could attend any meeting there if needed.
    There was a reason for Driscoll choosing it; the conference room was the one place on the
Manhattan
guaranteed to be free of any bugging equipment. It was completely sealed. If his many years of service had taught him anything, it was to never trust anywhere on a starship to be free of devices listening in on your every word. Not even your own quarters. The Draxx had spies everywhere.
    He took a sip of his coffee. “Ah, yeah. Just the way I like it. Cream, and plenty of sugar. How d’you know? Lucky guess?”
    Teague stifled a laugh. “Actually, I did some research before I arrived at Horizon Station. Got in touch with your previous Executive Officer. Commander Hathi’i was it?”
    The Captain nodded. “Yes. Hathi’i. Good man. Well, Jihir to be exact. What did he tell you about me? Anything incriminating?”
    “Nothing I can’t read anywhere else. Apart from how you like your coffee that is,” Commander Teague said. “Oh, and that you like to make surprise inspections from time to time. I’ve made a point of not