The enemy took the dogs… a big mistake.
Deep in Halcerite space, Frank Cage and Martin Kelvin have one way to get them back: a heist so reckless that even their alien allies call it blasphemy. Pulling it off means splitting up again. Frank’s half of the job requires him to keep quiet, blend in, and sing. He’s bad at all three.
Martin’s half is finding a way home. He’s the only one who can open the door, but each attempt is killing him. And inside the ancient alien machine he’s been tinkering with, he discovers that something besides the empire has heard him knocking.
Back in the Lort System, Thomas Kelvin is fighting a different battle in the same war. With his family safe for now, he heads back behind enemy lines on a mission that could give humanity a fighting chance. If he fails, there won’t be a home left for anyone to return to.