Book 5 in the ongoing Spineward Sectors: Middleton's Pride military space opera series. Captain Tim Middleton and the last survivors of the Pride of Prometheus, after the fateful battle at Cagnzyz, now find themselves aboard an alien, derelict ship on the other side of the galaxy surrounded by pirates. Which wouldn't be all that unusual for the intrepid crew—except for the fact that they can't even seem to get their new ship's lights turned on. Complicating matters, Mr. Fei's wounds suffered at Cagnzyz appear to have significantly deteriorated his once unparalleled mind, which will only make the tasks before them that much more difficult as the talented young crewman struggles to deal with the new reality of his strange condition. But he's not the only one who has difficulty with the consequences of Fei Long's actions back at Cagnzyz, which Middleton knows would warrant court martial—or possibly even a summary execution. Balancing these problems—and many, many more—Captain Middleton must navigate the treacherous waters on the far side of the galaxy as he finds himself swept up in a conflict that has been decades in the making, and in which nothing is exactly as it seems. It seems there's never a dull moment in the life of an MSP crew, and this one's survival will depend on their captain's wits, his flexibility, and his tactical acumen—but perhaps more importantly than all, survival will depend on his prejudice.