Publisher's Synopsis
After dealing with the problems of settling into life on a new planet, Rene and the rest of her group and colonists on the new planet end up doing battle with some very nasty criminals that were being exiled on the previously peaceful planet.
Unknown to the Federation Committee, another organization had decided to use the planet as a penal colony. The bare bones shelters for the penal colony consisted solely of two bunkhouse style buildings. Nothing more. These building were home to one hundred eighty criminals of the worst sort. Those responsible for putting these poor excuses of humanity on the planet were unaware that the Federation of Planets had already colonized the planet with decent people. Conflict between the colonists and the violent, ruthless inmates was inevitable and bloody.
When that mess was finally resolved, Rene and Michael decided it was time to bring more earthlings to the new planet. Not wanting to be separated from their families during this year long trip to Earth and back, they thought it a promising idea to take their families along.
On its way to Earth, the starship Freedom encountered pirates, and Michael's brave and selfless actions during the ensuing conflict made him a hero to the Freedom's crew.
Once the Freedom was successfully in Earth orbit, Michael and his daughter were on the planet when Michael took her to the coffee company he once owned. They had been there less than thirty minutes when three thugs, minions of the Throne, kidnaped Hope with plans to use her as leverage to force Michael to reveal where to find Rene Sharp and Luka Armstrong.
The Throne leaders believed Luka, who was once high up in the Throne's hierarchy, helped to steal billions of dollars of their money. Money she was to keep safe. The Throne blames Luka and Rene for the theft.
Pete, a man who had been working for the Throne was involved, but unknowingly so, in holding Hope prisoner. However, he ended up helping her escape from the kidnappers and ultimately saved her from being killed as the order had been given to eliminate the child and dispose of her body.
Because he helped her escape, Pete is now faced with keeping his family from being killed by bringing the child, he was supposed to have killed, to them. Pete's family has been taken captive by the Throne to force Pete's cooperation. Rene and Pheolana are determined to help rescue Pete's family.
On the way back to the New World, the Freedom must take a detour to drop off some prisoners at a planet used for housing criminals.
After succeeding in getting the prisoners placed on the planet where they will live out the rest of their lives, however long that may be, the Freedom has resumed its journey to the New World when it intercepts a distress signal. Tracking the distress signal, they come upon what appears to be a severely damaged spacecraft and wonder if anyone could be alive on that vessel. They begin a hurried rescue effort in case there are survivors, and it is Rene's alertness that saves the Freedom from a major disaster of its own.
