Daniel Leary is a lieutenant in the Cinnabar Navy with no money and no prospects. Adele Mundy is a scholar whose family was massacred by the Government of Cinnabar. Kostroma is a wealthy planet which depends on diplomacy to stay independent through galactic power struggles. 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!