The Perihelix. A mythical weapon, long since destroyed, and consigned to the annals of history. So why do two superpowers want to get hold of it? And why is it worth kidnapping two successful asteroid miners? Just because they happen to have an affinity for orichalcum, the strange element that enables instantaneous communications across the galaxy? The element found virtually only in the Viridian system. Well, yes.
Big Pete and the Swede, aka Pete Garcia and Lars Nilssen, have no idea that they might be valuable as well as rich. And their women have no idea how to fly a spaceship. Yet.

Curved Space to Corsair. Now Pete reveals his destiny, to save his people, who are overrun by the Imperium on their planet, Corsair. It is time for action. But Dolores, in training to become a space pilot, takes them down the wrong wormhole. Can they get back to known space while anyone they know is still alive? And would that be due to time dilation, or just a simple war between them and their destination? (contains some adult themes)

Zanzibar's Rings. The war may still be raging, but other forces are at work. Failure of the entire orichalcum communication system leaves Dolores in space, with a very dangerous passenger in her shuttle; Pete in the south of the planet is settling his refugee relatives, and Lars is wondering why everyone has a purpose in life but him. And once Pete works out how to fly spaceships on manual, it's down to him and Lars to rescue Dolores and prevent the last gasp of the war destroying their planet.