to ram an alien, only for it to Fuse (accelerate to faster-than-light speed), taking Challenger with it. For sixty days, Challenger remains lodged in the alien, her crew dying of malnutrition until, almost miraculously the Fish Defuses in Earth's solar system. In the aftermath of the voyage, Seafort meets his father in a naval base on the moon, and is given command of his old ship, Hibernia, to return to Hope Nation. Prisoner's Hope Published in 1995. Plot Captain Nicholas Seafort is planetside on Hope Nation while recuperating from injuries, some of which were sustained from a duel with Admiral Tremaine. The injuries include a lung which must be replaced, as well as psychological trauma accumulated due to the many traumatic experiences he has been through. Among the injuries Seafort has sustained is the ruined friendship with his former shipmate, Vax Holser. Vax resents Seafort sending him away from Challenger, wanting to remain with his captain no matter what. The admiral in charge of the United Nations fleet in the sector makes a bargain with Seafort: due to his supposed good relations with some of the planters, he can meet with and report on what their grievances are, and attempt to allay them. Despite being made liaison to the plantation owners of the lush colony planet, this appointment does not sit well with him, as he would much prefer to be assigned a captaincy. However, the UN space fleet retreats Earthward after tangling with the space threat discovered by Seafort in his first voyage on the Hibernia. This leaves Seafort the sole United Nations authority on the planet, which makes him a target. Some of the planters, disaffected by the long history of unfulfilled promises, and seeking greater autonomy in their future, mount a rebellion. The initial casualties include Alexi Tamarov, who is injured in an explosion meant to kill Seafort, but which instead leaves him in a coma. Coming out of the coma, Alexi has suffered amnesia, not knowing his old friend, or anything about his naval responsibilities. Additionally, Seafort has married the former transient Annie Wells, but is left feeling betrayed when she has what she considers a meaningless sexual encounter with an old friend. Seafort must avert the rebellion while dealing with his wounds, both mental and physical, and lead the colonists against the space invaders who have begun to attack not just the fleets in orbit