When Commodore Clare Hartnett takes command of the Terran destroyer Darkside, his hard-edged reputation for daring and luck turns a routine patrol into something far more dangerous. The crew quickly learns that this decorated combat gambler expects discipline, secrecy, and absolute obedience as he leads a battered flotilla into a war against the far more numerous Martians. But Hartnett's real weapon is not force—it is audacity. A coded priority message sends the squadron on a desperate mission to protect a vital isotope, rescue trapped technicians at Station 9, and uncover a hidden Martian superdreadnaught program on Oberon. With the aging Artemis vulnerable in formation, Hartnett devises an outrageous plan: turn the ship into a remote-controlled trap, lure the enemy into range, and use ingenuity to offset overwhelming odds. From Luna Base to Hyperion's airless wastes and the storm-shadowed reaches of Uranus, the mission becomes a tense blend of strategy, sacrifice, and high-risk deception. In deep space, Hartnett and his crew must outthink a deadly enemy before the trap snaps shut. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.