Michael Flynn opened his saga of near-future technology and space exploration with Firestar, in which he introduced a set of characters orbiting around one powerful and determined woman: Mariesa van Huyten, who is obsessed with the need to get humanity back into space and to save Earth from disaster. In Rogue Star, van Huyten's struggles continue.

Three astronauts are headed out beyond Mars on the first human trip to the asteroid belt. In orbit around Earth, a construction crew is building the first permanent space station, owned by van Huyten's consortium. Meanwhile, the president of the United States is trying to force her into making a secret deal to put weapons in orbit so he can intervene in the ongoing wars.

Van Huyten's plan is in place—and some people will kill to stop it.