The edge of charted space, the last day of a three-year survey. Captain Ren Arakawa is ready to turn the starship Halcyon for home, bring his crew back safe and take up a desk at Admiralty Command. Then an alien vessel rises out of the dark, and one silent pulse of light kills every system aboard. Now a glowing violet tether is clamped to her hull, draining her dry. A science-fiction adventure of wonder, courage and human humour.