Mercedes Brigham

Born on Gryphon, she joined the Royal Manticoran Navy. She served as Honor Harrington's sailing master (an obsolete position) aboard HMS Fearless. As a lieutenant-commander, she was the executive officer of HMS Madrigal. During the 1st Battle of Yeltsin, the Madrigal battled the Masadan Naval Ship (MNS) Thunder of God and lost. Captured by the Masadans, she (and all other female survivors of the Madrigal) was brutally raped and tortured. By the time Honor Harrington's crew found Madrigal's survivors, Brigham was one of only two women--out of the twenty six captured--still alive (the other was Ensign Mai-ling Jackson). Brigham suffered a mental breakdown as a result of her ordeal, but eventually returned to duty in Flag in Exile, explaining to Honor that she had not been harmed as seriously as had been thought. She was "loaned" to the Grayson Space Navy.