The clock is ticking. Tev-Raxia has become isolated from the rest of the galaxy and is fast degrading into a totalitarian state. Soon it will become a prison planet for all of its inhabitants. Ira and his family must get away while they still have freedom enough to prepare. Restoring an old, obsolete starship to flight worthy condition is not as easy as one might think. When in addition one must nurture and protect a group of emotionally injured and frightened children it becomes difficult. When added to this, one stomps on the toes of organized criminals with deep ties inside the government, it becomes nigh impossible. But doing the nigh impossible is what Ira DeSoto and his unusual family are all about.