Theirs is a friendship forged in hell . . . DANIEL LEARY is a lieutenant in the republic of Cinnabar Navy with no money and no prospects since he quarrelled with his ruthless, politically influential father. ADELE MUNDY is a scholar with no money and prospects since her family was massacred for conspiring against the Cinnabar government. KOSTROMA is a wealthy planet which depends on diplomacy to stay independent in a galaxy whose two great powers, Cinnabar and Alliance, battle for supremacy. In a few hours, diplomacy is going to fail Kostroma. Daniel, Adele, and the scratch crew they gather aren't much to stand in the way of a powerful invasion fleet; but just possibly they're enough. They have nothing on their side but each other - and heaven help whatever tries to stand in their way!