Set up for ruin by a superior who hates her, Honor Harrington has been exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace. Her demoralized crew blame her for their ship's humiliating posting; the major local industry is smuggling; the merchant cartels want her head; parliament isn't even sure it wants to keep the place; the star-conquering 'Republic' of Haven is making threatening noises; and Honor has only a single, over-age light cruiser with an armament that doesn't work to police the entire star system. But the people who are out to get her have made one mistake. They've made her angry ...