There is no law. There is no morality. There is no peace. Compassion is a weakness, and Faith is insanity. Such is the world of Thomas Fremont. Struggling to survive in the desolate terrain of southwestern America, all he knows is violence and cruelty. It has been ten years since the government abandoned the region, collapsing into anarchy. Ten years of pain and fear. In this land, Thomas is but a slave, pressed into serving at the whim of the occupation forces left over from the fall. All he wants is peace and safety from the endless violence. But such blessings come with a price...

The new norm is war, crippling need, and chaos. For the orderly Lewis Varnhill, this norm is trouble. Working as an officer for the Children of Earth Project, Lewis is sworn to complete a mission. This mission: create a team of eight human beings and sustain their lives long enough for the impossibly long voyage to a distant star system. This mission is difficult enough on its own, but becomes endlessly more so when politics and a brewing rebellion are introduced into Varnhill's life. Now, amid all the confusion, he is faced with a constantly delayed launch date and pressure from his...