No one is safe during a war of extermination. Especially the civilians.

Rebecca Goldman was a bright and pretty child, a 12 year old with a loving family. Technology allowed them to live comfortably on the most dangerous planet in the Empire, Azure. And then the Ca'cadasans came, and it was suddenly survival of the fittest out in the wilderness. Losing everything, Rebecca has only herself to depend on in a jungle where everything is an enemy.

Cornelius Walborski just wanted to killed Cacas. After losing his wife to the aliens on Sestius, he trains to become a Ranger, the augmented warriors of the Imperial Army. He has never seen anything like Azure, but there are Cacas to hunt, and a mission to perform.

Two unlikely survivors find themselves thrust together, where the man will save the child, and save himself at the same time.