"Caine Riordan, fresh from serving as envoy to the aliens known as the Slaasriithi, has been given yet another daunting task: apprehend raiders that are terrorizing a distant planet. As difficulties mount, Caine realizes that the mission his superiors sent him on may not be the one they actually hope he will achieve. Which means he may be forced to choose between honoring a promise or following orders--a choice that could put him in front of a board of inquiry...or a firing squad"--