When the reception for Madame Dextra Haven erupted in a bloodbath, the offworlders quickly realized that Aquamarine's natives were not to be underestimated. But the Aquam were not the only dangers to the Periapt forces. A menace from within her own troops could drastically alter Haven's beneficial plans for Aquamarine--and the secret cyber-personality buried deep within the recesses of one man's mind could be the key to communicating with the terrifying sentient water-entity controlling the planet. With declining resources and limited firepower, the GammaLAW mission faced utter failure, but Haven and her Exts weren't about to give up without a fight--even if it could be their last . . .