Ejoq needs work. The tramp starship Grizzelda needs a gunner. But what starts as a last-minute personnel replacement soon turns into something far more, with a non-functional duty station, his predecessor's emotional fallout, and a deeply buried secret that will change the course of nations. Through a dark odyssey across a violent, frozen world, and a haze of lies and shadowy clues, Ejoq will face frenzied zealots, frightened elitists, and dangerous mercenaries on an unknown mission. Revolution, intrigue, and battles among the stars... Better take a deep breath!