Newly minted Admiral Carrie Faulkner takes command of the Alliance while Lucas Blackburn is off on another mission. Her first mission yields three hundred million kills. Unfortunately, they were all friendly. The spectacular failure leaves her relieved of duty. But someone still needs to investigate the source of the unstoppable Bakkui menace. Although a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines might be suicidal, Carrie decides it's the perfect job for someone who has already hit bottom.