Old allies go dark . . . New worlds join the fight . . . A rescue from an enemy held world . . . A lone operative with a dangerous plan . . . The Karuzari finally have the support of an industrialized system, but they need time to build their forces. Unfortunately, time is the one thing they may not have. Captain Scott now faces a difficult decision: To risk it all on a single roll-of-the-dice, or to turn his back on an old friend, and a plan that could buy them the time they so desperately need?