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Allison Mackenzie is the captain of the Ticonderoga, a spacecraft built for exploration but primarily used by the United Planet Earth organization as a show of force to control global powers. While on what should have been a short and routine trip taking the ship away from Earth, Ticonderoga experiences a strange set of nearly catastrophic mishaps. Mackenzie also learns that her parents' house on Earth has burned down, and one of them didn't escape.
When Mackenzie finally sorts through the betrayal, she has already lost her ship and commission. However, she can join a force to reclaim her former ship. It doesn't take long before Mackenzie realizes the global picture is much bigger than the loss of her ship, and her return to Earth arrives too late to stop a nuclear event. No longer in command of a space vessel, Mackenzie gets a second chance to stop the actual mastermind of Earth's unraveling. Accepting this mission will have major consequences for her family.
Above all else, McMurtrey has written an adventurous science fiction story with a rapid pace and an entertaining plot. His characters are likable. The emphasis is on action over science, and the tension is felt in the right places. There are several plot twists and plan changes to keep the reader engaged throughout, and it is nice to see the main character occasionally foiled. There are a few issues in certain plot points and character depth, and the protagonist constantly being "caught" in her underwear can come across as a bit gratuitous. Still, those looking for a fast-paced adventure story in a science fiction setting should find this book a fun read over the course of several evenings.