Given the choice between prison and life on a new planet, Erin finds the very survival of a whole new world is in her hands
Brought up by a bunch of backwoods rednecks, Erin had done her best to settle inconspicuously into regular society, and almost succeeded. However, when an incident lands her in court, she is given the choice of either going to prison, or being deported to a fledgling colony. The colony is on a new planet and the prospect of being able to abandon so-called civilisation and live the quiet life makes Erin choose Thetis.
How hard could it be? No electricity, no fossil fuels - it would be like going back to the original frontier. What she hadn't counted on, though, was living with thirty other families who hadn't got a clue when it came to surviving without modern conveniences. Bickering, scheming and backbiting give the Protectorate forces who accompany the colonists plenty to keep them occupied, and Erin finds herself caught between 'us' and 'them', a foot in each camp but belonging to neither.
There are others who have their eye on the planet though and Erin is forced to confront one of the biggest challenges of her life when their new colony comes under attack.