Fresh from the battle of Aspen, Mark Martin returns to find his people in turmoil. Sara, his first officer and girlfriend, is missing, and with her his ship The Queen Nephanie. It's a race against time to save the woman he loves from pirate clutches. But back home, his enemies are not sitting idle. The crafty Senator Wayne has been moving behind the scenes. He's got a plan to seize power which spells bad news for Mark. Mark will need a little help from his friends, if he is to have any chance to save the galaxy from the Erethizon menace. Space marines, pirates, deadly assassins, epic space battles, cute fuzzy aliens, evil spiky aliens, pickpockets, political intrigue, and one pint sized mystic that won't take no for an answer.