In this episode, newly promoted to Lieutenant Commander Kris Longknife has been assigned to the Rim very near the Greenfeld planets to track down pirates, slavers and drug lords.

After tracking down some pirates over Kaskatos, Kris learns that the planet has taken in so many refugees from Greenfeld's New St. Peterburg that everyone on the planet is starving. Kris's mission to hunt pirates has now turned into a humanitarian mission to transport food and other necessities to Kaskatos. And she has to do it in such a way that it doesn't appear to Greenfeld that Wardhaven is making a grab for more territory.

When she goes to New St. Petersburg, she meets old enemies who just might be allies in this case in the persons of Admiral Kratz and Vicky Peterwald. She learns that a lot of the Greenfeld association is in turmoil. Since Vicky's father had most of his secret service killed, it has become an open field for anyone looking for power.

As they team up to hunt for the pirate's base, Abby's niece Cara is kidnapped by slavers and taken to the planet they have been looking for. Now, Kris and her crew have even more incentive to find that and rescue Cara.

This was another great spacer opera episode in Kris Longknife's career. ( )

Lots of action, and even some advancement of the overall arc of the series - but as far as Kris is concerned, this is mostly a diversion from what's important. Save one planet, help another, wipe out a pirate base (with some interesting ties...). Lose Cara and regain her; meet Vicky (who has noticeably grown up) and strengthen that relationship. Finish off the task her great-grandfather gave her, and get back to inform them that she (and her squadron - one step up from the mosquito boats) are going out to see what's going on beyond Iteeche space. And Crossenshield is possibly too clever for his own good...either he screwed up, or he's pretending he did and he intended it all along. Not sure, and the fact that I'm not sure makes me dislike him - he's definitely a manipulator, just not sure how good he is at it. And ditto for King Ray. ( )

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.com by express permission of this reviewer     Synopsis Kris and Crew, in the process of hunting pirates and preparing to investigate the problem announced by the Iteechee, get involved in a Grenfeld problem. One they can't walk away from, as a certain 12 year old girl, namely Abby's niece Cara, is right in the middle of it.   So Kris must help her longtime enemy, destroy a pirate nest, rescue a youngling and do it all without setting off a war with the unstable Grenfeld empire.   My Thoughts This was fluff. The badguys aren't even really "badguys", just a bunch of wannabe warlords. Vicky Grenfeld gets all pally with Kris. Cara acts like a spoiled brat and is put in a VERY dangerous situation because of it.   Oh, and the author keeps Cara from really experiencing what would have happened to her if she HAD been kidnapped by pirates. I'm not a fan of violence against children, at all, but this was so blatant, so pathetic on the authors part that it completely turned me off.   Everything goes as Kris plans, she wins, they lose. Rah, rah, rah.  Yeah, not too excited or anything about this book. I hope the next book picks things up or it will turn into a snooze-fest.   Rating: 3 of 5 Stars Author: Mike Shepherd " ( )

another great adventure. ( )

another great adventure. ( )