A million people dead . An epidemic wreaks havoc, having been brought back to earth by an irresponsible commercial enterprise. As the world recovers, the United States, The European Union, China and the East, and The Peninsular Republic join hands to ensure it doesn't happen again . And then . a new approach allows exploration outside the solar system, out into the galaxy. The fourth of the Peninsular Republic novels takes a pair of young women off the planet, out of the Earth's arm of our Galaxy, inward to the Scutum-Centaurus arm and its stars. At home, Gorsky, now General Gorsky, leads the Republic's Intelligence Branch, taking part in an effort to prevent toxic wealth from regaining power.