Prince Du Mon of Mars is a reluctant officer aboard the starship Socrates. However, he quickly finds himself thrust into danger when his best friend is killed by pirates, and a devastating creature arrives at the edge of inhabited space. The prince quickly learns two things: first, someone onboard wants him captured or dead; second, he must now outwit a terrifying alien foe that he cannot comprehend. Set one thousand years in the future, this debut novel mixes the thrills of space opera and alien contact, with a coming of age story about friendship, learning, love, and loss.