Ten years after the incident on Dust, Max Cabot is smuggling families out from under the oppressive rule of a corrupt republic. Over that time, Max has ferried families with unauthorized children to sanctuary on the planet Maisha as he piloted the only ship in explored space that could generate a wormhole without a jump beacon, the Guardian. Now, the Republic has finally caught up with Max. Senator Maria Cahill vowed to eliminate the lawlessness of those like Max after the incident on Dust took the life of her son. She championed the creation of a task force to root out those that sought to undermine the Republic. That task force is closing in on its objective as the driven, devoted agent Djimbe Akimbe has infiltrated Max's operation. Akimbe's mission is clear. Capture Max. Capture unauthorized children like Hannah Cabot, the clone of Max's long dead daughter. Capture the Guardian.