Only one world in the cluster remains in enemy hands.

Admiral Jack Romanoff and his crew have one remaining nut to crack before they can turn their attention to the people that overthrew the Confederation. The Vesuvius system has become a fortress, so it won’t be an easy fight, but it is one they cannot lose and survive.

When force alone won’t do the trick, add guile.

Since brute force won’t work, Jack must turn to guile to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses. Only then can he achieve victory without a tremendous loss of human life. And that’s before an unexpected complication threatens to undo everything they’ve accomplished and plunge the cluster back into brutal war with an enemy determined to exterminate or enslave them.

Confronted by stronger enemies, Jack has to turn their strength against them. Somehow.