The Union of Free Planets is crumbling, and chaos looms in the shipping lanes. Ex-Union Navy Officer Cliff Rawlins, stripped of his rank and honor in a rigged court-martial, returns to a galaxy teetering on the edge.
Determined to reclaim his purpose—and his fortune—Cliff seizes a dangerous opportunity: building a mercenary navy to protect interstellar commerce. With shadowy figures who once betrayed him working to dismantle the Union, Cliff faces threats on all sides. Old enemies resurface, and new ones are deadlier than ever.
As alliances fracture and danger mounts, Cliff must navigate a web of deception and violence to succeed. But when survival comes at a steep cost, will Cliff rise as a savior—or fall as a target?