Ginnie and the crew of the Helena are hired to bypass the Commonwealth's blockade of a rebel mining colony in orbit around the gas giant Rafe. En route, the Helena is damaged by a space mine leaving Ginnie and Jess, the ship's engineer, stranded on a barren moon. Caught between the Commonwealth and militant separatists--with no weapons and limited supplies--Ginnie and Jess must use their wits and skills to survive!