Jarrat and Stone are back, and if the Equinox assignment presented a challenge, this one is a rollercoaster. Aurora is an old colony developed by sleeper ship and now booming. Its capital, the city of Thule, is rife with Angel abuse and Tactical has accumulated a vast body of evidence on 'Scorpio.' The syndicate has corporate connections, right back to the homeworlds. Tactical Colonel Kris Janssen -- last generation of a 'First Fleet' family -- has cremated four officers who attempted to investigate the man at its helm.
Young Marcus Brand has been in cryogenic suspension since the early days of the Angel war, 25 years before. His wealthy father bought a sleeper-ship's cryotank to preserve him after Angel overdose. Now eighty years old, Cassius Brand learns of Harry Del’s work with Jarrat and Stone, and contacts Del, wanting him to perform his 'T/87 mutoid' miracles for Marcus. Since the technique remains experimental, Harry refers the request to NARC.
As Jarrat and Stone complete their report on the Equinox Industries operation and take on their new assignment -- Scorpio -- Harry receives clearance to work with Marc’s cryo-frozen body. The tank is shipped to secure NARC labs on Darwin's World, aboard a Starfleet tender. But en route it's assaulted -- Marc almost does not survive in suspension long enough to reach Del's lab. Jarrat, Stone and CMO Kip Reardon realize the truth at once. Someone tried to murder Marcus Brand. To keep secret something he knew 25 years ago? Secrets that could spell the end for Scorpio?
The investigation takes Jarrat and Stone into the hearts of Aurora's super-cities, but the seeds of rot lie as far away as Mars, in Earth's own backyard.
