 Chronologically, "Once a Hero" directly follows "Winning Colors", even overlapping partially, but the focus distinctly shifts to young Esmay Suiza, who came to prominence after successfully leading a mutiny against her traitorous captain and intervening to decisive effect in the Battle of Xavier (as "Winning Colors" records).Suiza is not immediately praised and feted for her heroism, however, for her actions demand official scrutiny.Thorough and complete, neither the Board of Inquiry nor the court-martial find Suiza guilty of anything, and so she is allowed to take a vacation before her next assignment.