To save his father, a Coalition scientist protecting a precious resource, after their ship is attacked, Leo stows away on a strange ship of mercenary space pirates and must decide who to trust--human or alien--to stay alive. When scientists discover a rare and mysterious mineral buried in the Earth's crust, it's not long before aliens show up to our little corner of the galaxy offering a promise of protection, some fabulous new technology, and entry...

August 1944, Asta, her younger sister Pieta, and their mother are caught between the invading Soviet Army and the retreating Wehrmacht in East Prussia and are forced to try and survive in the Romincka Forest with winter coming.