Engaging the Enemy

Forfansoffast-pacedadventureandcompellingcharacters,themilitarysciencefictionofNebulaAward--winningauthorElizabethMoonistheperfectchoice.ThebrilliantlyunorthodoxKylaraVatta,black-sheepscionofVattaTransportLtd.,oneofthegalaxy'swealthiestmerchanthouses,isaheroinelikenoother,blessedwithakillerinstinctforbusinessandforbattle.Now,intheaftermathofcold-bloodedassassinationsthathaveleftherparentsdeadandtheVattashippingempireshattered,Kylarafaceshergreatestchallengeyet.Thereisatimeforgriefandatimeforrevenge.Thisisdecidedlythelatter.PlacinghercousinStellaincommandofthetradingvesselGaryTobai,KyembarksaboardthecapturedpirateshipFairKaleenonatwofoldmission:tosalvagethefamilybusinessandtopunishthoseresponsibleforthekillings...beforetheystrikeagain.Sincethenetworkprovidinginstantaneouscommunicationbetweenstarsystemshasbeensabotaged,newsishardtocomebyandavailableinformationimpossibletotrust.Butasshetravelsfromsystemtosystem,withStellaastepbehind,Kypiecestogetherthecluesanddiscoversaconspiracyofterrifyingscope,breathtakingaudacity,andutterruthlessness.Theonlyhopetheindependentsystemsandmerchantshaveagainstthispowerfulenemyistobandtogether.Unfortunately,becauseshecommandsashipknowntobelongtoanotoriouspirate-herownrelativeOsmanVatta,whomshekilledforhispartinherparents'deaths-Kyismetwithsuspicion,ifnotoutrighthostility.Rumorsswirlaboutherintent,herveryidentity.SoonevenStellabeginstoquestionhercousin'sdecisionsandherauthoritytomakethem.Meanwhile,theconspiracyKyhuntsishuntingherinturn,withagentsinsinuatedintoeveryspacestation,everyplanetarygovernment,everyarmofthemilitary,andeverymerchanthouse-includingherown.Beforeshecantakethefighttotheenemy,Kylaramustsurviveadeadlyminefieldofdeceptionandbetrayal.