It's been 48 days since Jo Cygni's father died, leaving her the CS Kismet and its crew of space-born misfits. Despite a lifetime of preparation, Jo never thought she would captain her own ship before her 21st birthday. Broke and determined to prove she is worthy of command, Jo pushes aside her political concerns and accepts a commission from the Galactic Consulate. The job? Launch a load of sealed crates into a nearby star. The catch? Don't open the containers.