You can never go home. Alannis Giovanni has followed in her family's footsteps and joined the United Colonies Fleet. As a bare Ensign, she's been assigned to the Fleet's newest, most powerful cruiser, the Constellation, on it's maiden voyage: a simple show-the-flag mission that should be good for her to learn what it is to be an officer. But things are never simple. At their most distant port, they come across allies in need. The Ghornath species are in search of their origins and an array of enemies are trying to stop them. The crew of the Constellation will have to face pirates, aliens, and uncover a ten thousand-year-old secret in order not just to save their allies, but to thwart a threat that might well catch the rest of the Fleet off-guard. These battles will test Alannis, force her to grow and become the officer that her position and blood demand of her... yet the greatest threat may be one she is the least prepared to face.