Vince Akeeno is a star ship engineer for Space Dynamics, a space trade company. His friend and attorney, Eddy Larch, becomes embroiled in a conflict involving Vince's estranged wife and Bruno Carlton, a famous prizefighter and gangster. Eddy must help Vince fight the sinister syndicate before he's murdered, but Vince actually has bigger problems. He has an idea on how to save humankind from extinction. As soon as he makes his suggestion, however, it quickly becomes clear that no man is more qualified for the job than Vince-but he's not sure he wants to play the hero. Despite his hesitation, the military wrangles him into service and trains him to command a special ship called the Defiant. The Defiant will take the last of humankind to another world. Meanwhile, aliens are invading and attacking civilization. Will Vince, an unlikely redeemer, take command of the Defiant in time to save the human race? Will his personal embroilments get in the way, especially when he develops feelings for Eddy? There is no time for hesitation in this game of life and death, survival and destruction.