First Officer Ward, of the Navy vessel Relentless, is less than pleased when a new commander, hardliner Captain Becket, is appointed. To protect his own corrupt schemes and ambitions, he ruthlessly arranges to have Becket assassinated. Unbeknown to him, the new captain manages to survive, and embarks on a ruthless campaign to fight his way back up through the ranks to seize back control of the ship and claim his revenge. This is an action adventure with the Imperial Navy in the cold reaches of the Eastern Fringe.