In an early twentieth century forged by the failure of the American and French revolutions, Europe has flung itself into a global war over helium. The world's empires will stop at nothing to guarantee their own supplies while cutting off those of their enemies. It's a brutal war, but Captain Sidney Bowen tries his best to keep his head down as he commands the British Navy's cargo dirigible Saturna. Alongside his official cargoes, he transports French wine, pilfered engine parts, and other oddments, often on behalf of his superiors. A dirty business, smuggling, but it keeps the brass happy and it pays well. Now and then, it even helps the war effort. But when an agent of the King comes to Bowen with some odd and dangerous requests, he must make some difficult choices. Whose orders should he follow? Choose wrong, and his entire crew could be charged with treason. If they survive the trip in the first place . . . Because one thing is for damned certain—no way everyone gets to the end of this mission alive.
