Publisher's Synopsis
On the heals of the Black Death a new threat arises for both Earth and Pauline. Small time criminal Mark Coburn sees space as a new frontier for crime. Having seen Dr. Ink's methods and eventual collapse he decides his time has come. Attracting men of the same intent he seeks to establish the Interplanetary Criminal Endeavor Syndicate (I.C.E.S.) to control criminal activity throughout the known universe.To further his efforts he kidnaps women to serve as slaves to mine Condite, the newest and strongest ore, and later to build his own ships. Plus he is willing to kill to achieve his aims.He soon is identified as a new threat which brings both Earth and Pauline forces into a unified military response. Meanwhile the campaign for President of the United States takes place and this new joint effort to seek out and destroy I.C.E.S. threatens to become a political hot potato for Andrea Riddle.