"To her partners at Aether Exploration, Ariane Kedros is the daring pilot of the prospecting ship. She is also a reserve major in the Consortium of Autonomous Worlds who accepts mysterious assignments to fulfill her duty. To the Terran Expansion League, she is a war criminal. Fifteen years ago, she piloted a ship on a mission that obliterated an entire solar system. Those involved in the incident were given new identities and lives in order to protect them from retribution--though no new face or name can wash away the guilt Ariane feels, or chase away her demons. But now her government wants something in return. Twelve of Ariane's wartime colleagues are dead, assassinated by someone who has uncovered their true identities. And her superiors in the Autonomist army have placed her directly in the assassin's line of fire on a peacekeeping mission that will decide the fate of all humanity."--p. [4] of cover.