In The Captain's Shadow

Published by: eXtasy Books

Author : Gabriella Bradley

ISBN :978-1-4874-4389-4

Page :282

Word Count :75000

Publication Date :2026-02-20

Series : #

Heat Level :

Available Formats :

Category : , Science Fiction Romance , Science Fiction

BrandsExtasy Books
Product Code: 978-1-4874-4389-4

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In the vast silence of space, the greatest discovery isn’t what lies among the stars…it’s who you were meant to be.

Remia Bouchard, a starship engineer specialist, is recruited to impersonate a missing captain to preserve an interstellar treaty, but the deeper she steps into the other woman’s life, the more she suspects the mission and her own identity aren’t what they seem.

Commander Dakarai Achebe trains her to become someone else…and she becomes everything he can’t forget.

“You’re wondering why you’ve been called here,” Achebe said, taking the seat across from her. He crossed his arms atop the table, perfectly aligned with the edge.

“The thought crossed my mind, sir,” Remia replied, unable to completely suppress her dry tone despite the formality of the situation.

A flicker of something—annoyance? amusement?—crossed his face before disappearing behind professional composure.

Silence expanded between them, thick with unasked questions. Remia resisted the urge to fill it with nervous chatter, a habit she’d developed during awkward diplomatic encounters on trading outposts. Instead, she met his gaze steadily, though every instinct told her to look away from such intense scrutiny.

Achebe’s dark eyes seemed to miss nothing. They cataloged her features with clinical precision, lingering on her eyes and her hair. The attention made her skin tingle with discomfort, and she wondered if some of her unruly curls had escaped. She felt like a puzzle he was attempting to solve, or a specimen under a microscope.

“Your service record is exemplary, Specialist Bouchard,” he said, finally breaking the silence. “Eight years with the merchant fleet, specialized training in logistics and crisis management, commendations for your work during the Ganymede supply chain disruption.”

“Thank you, sir,” she responded, uncertainty growing by the second. What did her performance history have to do with this meeting?? “I try to do my job efficiently.”

“Indeed.” He tapped the table surface, and a holographic display materialized between them. It was her personnel file, complete with service history and the identification image taken when she’d first enlisted. “Your psychological profile indicates high adaptability, problem-solving capabilities, and a tendency to work independently.”

Remia shifted in her chair. “I wasn’t aware my psychological profile was of interest to Command, sir.”

“Everything about personnel becomes of interest when certain situations arise, Specialist.”

“What situations would those be, sir?” she asked, her patience fraying. “I mean no disrespect, but I’ve been summoned with Alpha Seven clearance, and now you’re reviewing my psychological profile. I’d appreciate knowing why.”

The directness of her question seemed to satisfy something in Achebe. A hint of approval flickered in his eyes.

“Direct and efficient. The file is accurate.” He closed the holographic display with a gesture. “I can’t disclose full details yet, but I can tell you that your summons relates to a matter of significant security interest.”

“I’m a specialist in engineering on a merchant vessel, sir. What security interest could I possibly—”

“The resemblance is…remarkable,” he interrupted, the statement entirely disconnected from their conversation.

Remia blinked, thrown by the non-sequitur. “Excuse me?”

“To Captain Greenway.” Achebe leaned forward slightly. “You could be her twin.”

The name meant nothing to Remia. She searched her memory for any mention of a Captain Greenway or anything about Sector Seven during her years of service.

“I don’t understand, sir,” she admitted. “Who is Captain Greenway, and why does it matter if I resemble her?”

Commander Achebe’s expression remained unreadable, but a new intensity filled his voice.

“Because, Specialist Bouchard, Captain Greenway disappeared recently while on a classified mission, and you may be the key to finding her.”