A misstep, a miscue, a misfortune, and a billion light years later, the superdreadnought is lost. The Gate drive is trashed, the locals are hostile, and the crew has run out of beer. The galaxy has chewed up the Reynolds and spit it out. The search is on for the raw materials to make the parts they need to fix the ship. Who can stand up to the superdreadnought in a no-name galaxy at the edge of the universe? It's looking grim for a group hug, leaving the captain and crew with the choice of fight, flight, or diplomacy.