In this riveting debut science-fiction techno thriller, a top-notch pilot experiences a disaster during the highest-profile project of her career. Now Helen must unearth the shocking truth: was her discovery due to a betrayal, a business rival-or did she encounter something never before seen in the stars? We are live, we are live, we are live... Helen Vectorovich holds the unique distinction of failing at first contact. Only the most elite operators and navigators pilot space-mining operations. And no one was better than the team of Helen and her navigator, Ted. Together they secured a multibillion contract for establishing an interstellar gate to a distant star. But during a routine mission, what should have been an easy success turns deadly. Helen is grounded in a desk job, yet still dealing with dangerous rivalries. There are overeager junior pilots jockeying to take her place, jealous corporate rivals, and nasty rumors blaming her for the botched job and Ted's death. Someone-or something in space-wants to terminate the project. Helen must find out why in order to survive.