First published 1992
Nancia enters the Courier Service of the Central Worlds with bright expectations about human goodness. Her first mission destroys those illusions when she witnesses the darker side of the people she serves. The young courier believed she could handle her duties alone, but circumstances force her to work with Forister, a brawn partner she never wanted. Their reluctant partnership faces challenges that threaten not just their mission but the stability of entire worlds. As dangers mount across the galaxy, Nancia must learn to trust her human partner while grappling with her shattered faith in humanity. Together, this unlikely pair discovers that their combined strengths might be the key to preventing galactic catastrophe. The story builds on Anne McCaffrey's universe from The Ship Who Sang, exploring themes of partnership and redemption against a backdrop of interstellar conflict.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, space-opera, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Central Worlds
323 pages · Paperback · Baen