His own ship. A patchwork crew. A mission he never should have taken.All Captain Brendan wants is a fresh start - and a paycheck.But when he agrees to transport a sealed cargo to a remote waypoint in the Uma system, he steps straight into a deadly conspiracy.The mysterious cargo? A sentient lifeform his clients want erased. So is he, once the job's done.Accompanied by a neurotic scientist and an unpredictable prototype android, Brendan soon finds himself entangled in secrets that reach far beyond his contract. The discovery of massive alien structures - capable of replacing centuries of hibernation-travel - shifts the balance of power across human space. As old alliances crack and new conflicts flare, Brendan must pick a side... or become the perfect scapegoat.