Getting a break was a pipe dream, something that Desmond McLaughlin realized in short order. Fate had her favorite squeaky toy, and its name was McLaughlin. But at least he had his girls to support him and the friends he’d made aboard the Fist of Defiance, as well as the relationships that continue to grow, both into friendships and something more.

In addition to looking after his girls, Desmond is now faced with the unexpected addition of a trio of innocent, trusting lives in the form of the three sevrax they rescued during the final raid against a major base of the Heralds of Whispers. His relationship with the quester in charge ensured they were released to him, but what the hell is he supposed to do with pets like these while he’s fighting to recover from his own injuries?

Deciding to make the best of it, Arsenal heads back to a planetary base to ensure Desmond gets the attention he needs, which will give him the best chance at recovery in the wake of the battle against the upper echelons of the Heralds of Whispers. All the while, the universe continues to spin around him, the gears of time grinding away without a care for those caught within their spokes.

How much of a difference can one man make against the horrors that haunt the spaces between stars? No one is sure, but that isn’t going to stop Desmond, nor will it slow down Clan McLaughlin as they loyally follow in his wake.