In a desperate battle, Commander Ellen Ryu was forced to surrender to the Union and face charges as a deserter in exchange for the freedom of her crew-and her friends-aboard the starship . Of course, Lieutenant Kael Sidassian wouldn't let her play the martyr alone, so he stowed away and accompanied her to face the Union and her inevitable fate. Now prisoners aboard the Union ship the , Ellen and Kael have never had less power-or more determination-to defeat the woman who nearly ruined Ellen's life. Dr. Arakovic and her cultish telepathic followers the Songbirds grow stronger, controlling strategic individuals like mindless puppets. But the Songbird infiltration goes even deeper than any of them might guess. One more victory, and the Songbirds will be unstoppable. Ellen and Kael know where and when to attack before it's too late. But instead, they're headed to the Union Inner Planets for Ellen's trial and possible execution. And that's if her old nemesis, Colonel Tauber, doesn't track her down first. The chances of an untimely, unceremonious death that does nothing to stop Songbird galactic conquest are pretty good. And will the captain of the , Ellen's former flame, prove a boon or a burden? Ellen and Kael will find that some oaths, once made, can't be easily escaped. And some bonds, once forged, aren't easily broken.