As communications officer and chief linguist on the U.S.S. Washington, D.C., Lieutenant Sarah Jane Rothko Krieg’s primary function is to make sure they understand what is being said to them, and that the non-Terrans understand what they are saying. Nuance is everything. Her days are spent face-to-face beings from all over the galaxy. Her natural ability for language puts her in a unique position, one she relishes. There are conferences to monitor, crises to mitigate, and diplomats to humor. When a guest diplomat hitching a ride on the Washington decides to stalk the lieutenant as prey, nuance is not enough. Finding herself at the center of an interplanetary scandal, Lieutenant Krieg decides without hesitation she will not be a victim. Using her training, her strength, and her wits, she is determined to be the master of her own fate.