The surprise attack within the Auriga Star System was worse than brutal-it was heinous, leaving the US Navy's 3rd Fleet devastated. Thousands of crew members are reported dead, including the ship's captain. Reluctantly, the young XO, Galvin Quintos, will be taking command of the fleet's crippled dreadnought, USS Hamilton, while doing his best to bring fleet survivors back to Earth. To make matters worse, a murderer is running loose aboard the ship. Add to that, fuel levels are critically low, and the Grish are back and in fast pursuit-ready to finish what they'd started. Only by sheer luck, along with a good measure of cagey smarts, will Quintos be able to rise to the challenge.