Across the deepest darkness of space there comes a deeper darkness. It is the biggest ship in the galaxy, and as it moves it is no more than a silent, menacing shadow until it turns and catches the light from a distant sun. The light flickers along its edges, revealing it: huge, bristling with weapons, blotting out the stars. The ship's name is Peacemaker . Clinging to its belly are small scout ships. Darts, they're called, and each has its own pilot willing to die if ordered to do so. The Dart pilots are highly trained, completely loyal, and they are very young, because none of them tend to survive for very long. Peacemaker has several purposes, but its main mission is to enforce the laws of the StarLeague. What that means is that it looms over planets that might be having rebellious thoughts, bristles its weapons, sends out a few Darts, maybe fires a warning shot across the planet's polar region, and basically reminds the planet and everyone who lives on it that the StarLeague is the galactic government and rebellion will not be tolerated. The ship is huge and terrifying. It is almost the most powerful, most dangerous and deadly force in the galaxy. Almost. But not quite. * Deep inside the ship, in an ultra-top-secret laboratory, an alarm begins to blare. There are screams and shouted orders and the sounds of expensive equipment being smashed to pieces. The alarm spreads like a ripple through the ship: danger, danger, danger, DANGER. The Peacemaker's bridge--its control center--is a vast room with a gleaming metallic floor; there are ranks of control panels, each staffed by an attentive crewmember. In the middle of the bridge is the command chair, which is currently occupied by General Smag, who is one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy. One of the most powerful. But not the most powerful. At a control panel, a red warning light begins to blink: danger, danger, danger. At the same moment, a scientist hurries onto the bridge, her footsteps echoing as she races across the metal deck. "Sir!" she pants, and skids to a stop at the command chair. "Report," snaps General Smag. "The--the--the--" the scientist gasps. "The weapon--it has escaped!" And then all is chaos as the general barks out orders, Dart pilots are summoned to their ships, blasters are charged, and the entire purpose of Peacemaker shifts. The weapon has escaped. The weapon must be recaptured. Danger. Danger. DANGER. Excerpted from Trouble in the Stars by Sarah Prineas All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
