Star travel is possible but it isn't very quick. Seventeen months to Hope Nation, Terra's colony. Seventeen months of rule under a strict lieutenant who seems to pleasure in disciplining a midshipman. In a UN controlled Ship that followed more the disciplinary practices of the Royal Navy in the 1800's, life can be pure hell. Then the officers start dying and suddenly the Senior middie finds himself in charge, Can he con the ship? According to regulations he can't give command to someone he feels is more competent.. In fact, he feels that he has to carry out the mission. Mutiny, Piracy, Interfering parents and more.. It's no wonder that Captains are generally senior officers.. How else to cope with command? This is the first of at least three books by (to me) a brand new author . This book, is very interesting to read and I found it quite hard to put down once started..

Captain Seafort has got the Hibernia back to Earth and been given another ship, one of the best , and part of the fleet that is going back to the Hope Nation to protect it from the aliens that are becoming a threat. A jealous Admiral takes his new ship, Challenger leaving him with a lesser ship. During the voyage back to Hope Nation Challenger is attacked by the aliens and disabled. Seafort is ordered to take command of the disabled vessel and left with only a limited crew, food, arms, and the "lower class" passengers. Mutiny, a damaged fusion drive, and an enemy attack complicate the problems on the disabled ship, one of which is being stuck 19 lights away form Earth with only a normal drive. This is the second book of this series.. And, as with the first book, I found it quite hard to put down once started..