The victim of a hit and run accident David Charlton wakes from a coma after two years to find that his father has gone missing in the depths of space while on a survey mission. With a group of friends and with the help of his godfather he takes his father's old freighter to search for him. Their enemy is a newly discovered alien civilisation that had already tried to stop his father's ill fated voyage from leaving Earth, and by whatever means necessary.
The alien military are plotting to stage a coup on their own planet and the dangers increase for David Charlton when they involve him in their plans.