Biologically altered space pirates are pushed to the edge when the supply of a chemical compound necessary to their very survival dries up. They'll have one desperate chance to escape an agonizing death.

Humanity has built for itself a near-utopia with no more use for violence. Someone has to protect it. Sam Decker is a man without purpose. The perfect, strife-less techno-utopia into which he was born has left him feeling directionless and nihilistic. Without risk or conflict his life has no meaning. Until one day, after a little creative rule breaking, Decker brings himself to the attention of a high-tech, stateless, semi-clandestine military outfit. Now he will have all the risk and conflict he can handle.