With Captain Vance's life in mortal danger, Commander Boxer and Doctor Ward take him back to Declo to find a cure for the poison that afflicts him. They find Desche, and she takes them to a Declian shaman on a mountain top to finally cure him. Meanwhile, another mutiny led by Commander Jamison threatens to take the Truxtun back to the Federation without its captain. Can Lieutenant Cullers outwit the senior officer and rescue Vance and Boxer, or will Jamison strand them forever in the Ostrov system? Will they ever find Trin Lestor? Don't miss the exciting conclusion of the middle trilogy!