th life, romance, heroism, and treachery as experienced and seen through the eyes of Gayle Zimmon. 'Zim' a young woman successful in war but naive to the machinations of the greater universe, returns from combat to confront genetically engineered humans and discover that she was sent to war not to win but to die.

While fighting the Aldrakin, Zim learns of a prophecy foretelling that the "Starflower," her military call sign, will bloom "in the dark of the darkest night" but never know peace. Not one to accept ancient prophecy, after securing victory, she hopes to rekindle her romance with Mac and return to the peaceful life they left on the frontier.

But she is a major player in a galaxy-spanning intrigue she barely understands. Forces alien and cybernetic hold the stakes and align on both sides. Between dodging assassins, hostile planets, deadly robots, mystical aliens, and ancient relics, she must decide whether to continue running from her prophesied destiny-or try to live up to it.