Dax Goodman, a Doctor of Theology, finds himself marooned on a frontier outpost far from Earth on a space station that is the ultimate expression of unrestrained, Godless capitalism. His money and possessions lost, his financial situation quickly spirals out of control, causing his travel permit to be revoked until he pays back the money he owes.

When his doctorate is mistaken for a medical degree he is compelled to work as a medic on a grungy salvage ship crewed by eccentric, seemingly suicidal harbour workers until he can find his way home.