SCALZI, JOHN
Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It´s a prestige posting, and Andrew is even more delighted when he´s assigned to the ship´s Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn´t be better...although there are a few strange things going on...(1) every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces (2) the ship´s captain, the chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these encounters (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed. Suddenly it´s less surprising how much energy is expended below decks on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned an Away Mission. Andrew´s fate may have been sealed...until he stumbles on a piece of information that changes everything...and offers him and his fellow redshirts a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives...