The luck runs rough around Theo Waitley. Not only are people trying to killher and capture the self-aware intelligent ship Bechimo to whom Theo is bonded,they’re also trying to arrest her crew members, and throw the dignity ofan important passenger, the duly-constituted norbear ambassador Hevelin, intoquestion.No wonder Theo and her crew felt the need of a break, and retiredto what Bechimo refers to as "safe space."Unfortunately, safe space may notbe so safe, anymore. It seems that things are leaking through fromanotheruniverse, and another time. In fact, whole spaceships are comingthrough. One of those ships is a blasted battleship seemingly fleeing along-lost war. What’s more, its crew may be members of Theo’sancient ancestral line—her relatives. It’s certain that they are indire need of help. Theo has a choice to make. It seems that Bechimo’s“safe space” is about to become deadly perilous.