Melba Alzbeta Koh

Melba is Clarissa Mao, Jules-Pierre Mao’s daughter. Her identity and family name are central to her revenge, and she uses her father’s name as the confirmation code for her attack.

Anna approaches Melba when she sees her alone and distressed. Melba mistakes Anna’s concern for a threat to her secret, briefly considers attacking her, then leaves without harming her.

Melba is the identity Clarissa uses while working with the maintenance team and pursuing her plan against Holden; she imagines returning to Clarissa’s life afterward.

Melba is Ren’s nominal supervisor on the Cerisier. Though initially inexperienced and mistrusted, she admits she needs his help, and he agrees that they should stick together as outsiders.

Soledad is one of the electrochemical technicians on Melba’s team. Melba is responsible for overseeing her work, though their relationship is not close in the excerpt.

Tara is named among the people Melba imagines checking the ship’s maintenance systems.

Melba recognizes Tilly from social occasions involving their families and fears that Tilly may recognize her beneath her assumed identity.

Stanni is one of the technicians Melba supervises. He privately disparages her competence, while she recognizes that his criticism is justified by her inexperience.

Melba blames Holden for the circumstances that made her presence and revenge necessary, and she targets him through a sabotage plot. She frames Ren’s death as Holden’s fault as well.