The Stormshadow is a new Solomani Confederation ship, captained by the disgraced Lieutenant Simon Crowe. Unfortunately, what was intended to be a series of trials for the Stormshadow suddenly turns into a six-jump patrol — and what should have been a simple patrol uncovers a conspiracy that might burn down the entire Solomani Rim.

Infantry assaults, political espionage, and naval battles are all part of a larger pattern that will write the future history of the Confederation … with the ill-equipped Stormshadow right at the center of them.