Stephen B. Pearl

Ryan and Rowan and their new crew and passengers have reached the dreaded Murack system. The two alien races there are still vying for control of the system, even after the Murack Five disaster nearly caused the Galactic Republic to bomb them both to oblivion. Their techniques now are more underhanded, and they see Ryan and Rowan's relief supply mission as a means to progress their war.

On Gaia, the cloned e-entertainers continue expanding their influence among their unsuspecting peers. Gunther has started recruiting their former alien pirate enemies while Medwin reaches out to inactive clones with other special abilities or connections. Their plans are coming together, but they're still entirely at the mercy of their controllers.

The fight for freedom is nearing its tipping point, but are its soldiers ready to lay down their lives for what they believe in?