A deteriorating political situation on Earth makes the asteroid habitat of Rosinante an attractive haven for an odd assortment of refugees. There is the dissident faction of the North American navy, fleeing court-martial, which becomes Rosinante's defensive force There's Skashkash, the twenty-first century AI, who designs a new religion for space, with no awareness of the probable explosive consequences. There is the Japanese Space Navy, assigned to bring Rosinante back under control. And, in the midst of it all, there's Charles Cantrell, the habitat's project manager, who finds himself forced into playing international politics for Rosinante's survival.