Recently inducted into the Fleet and assigned to a new state of the art ship Captain Adam Stuart and his faithful crew are at it again. Assigned to gather intelligence on the Ottoman Empire the crew of the Fleet Light Destroyer Nyx streak back out into the frontier. Their first stop is once again the star system Clare so Admiral Lune can negotiate a treaty with Governor Grace O'Malley and secure the southern frontier. Along for her first deployment Cadet Katherine Carroll has to battle with cybernetic modifications, bullying Midshipmen, and an unforgiving Lieutenant as she is thrust straight into the world of international space warfare. After being stranded on an unknown planet Cadet Carroll must overcome her fear and insecurities as well as save an entire settlement with only six Marines! Fighting to meet Captain Stuart's expectations, lead her squad, and save her own life teaches this Cadet a lesson that will follow her through her entire career... if she can only make it off the planet.