When the USS Michaelson's sister ship, the USS Maury, is wracked by devastating explosions that destroy its engineering section, Paul Sinclair must find out what really caused the explosions.
A suspicious explosion on board the space warship the USS Michaelson costs an officer his life, and sets in train an investigation to discover why the dead man was working alone at the time of the accident.
Following a successful coup, the leaders of the rebel Midway Star System are struggling to forge a government free enough to please its citizens yet strong enough to secure power.
The authority of the Syndicate Worlds' government is crumbling, and civil war and rebellion are breaking out, despite brutal attempts to suppress disorder.
As war continues to rage between the Alliance and Syndicate Worlds, Captain "e;Black Jack"e; Geary is promoted to admiral-even though the ruling council fears he may stage a military coup.
Captain "e;Black Jack"e; Geary has led the Alliance fleet through Syndicate Worlds space, frustrating the enemy at every turn during the long journey home.
"e;Black Jack"e; Geary has ordered his fleet back to the Lakota Star System where the Syndics nearly destroyed them, a desperate gamble that may give them a fighting chance of survival-or tear them apart.
