The action-packed sequel to Desperate Measures 
Margaret O'Hearn worked long and hard to earn her own ship. Now, as commander of the Hergest Ridge, she finds herself on an assignment of the utmost importance, heading for Council 5 to deliver the Arcolian delegation to a critical diplomatic meeting -the first real attempt at peace after years of bitter warfare between the intelligent, form-changing aliens and human beings. 
 
 Nothing must disturb the precarious balance between the two races, and to insure this, the Arcolians have been kept isolated in a tightly guarded section of the ship. For one can never be sure what might offend beings who not only communicate among themselves by scent, but who can also use their olfactory skills to determine human emotions... and any lies or malice they reveal. 
 
 With so much at stake, very few circumstances would justify a course diversion. But no spacer can ignore radioactive debris, and not even the Arcolians object when the Hergest Ridge takes time for a seemingly routine salvage mission. Only they salvage more than they bargained for. 
 
 Amidst the wreckage there's a small merchant ship called Angel's Luck its crew-including Captain James May, Maggie's own ex-husband-miraculously still alive. 
 
 The Luck had recently deprived the Yueh-sheng syndicate of certain precious Essence Phials containing the 200 greatest minds in recent history. May's intent was to return the Phials to their rightful owners for a reward. But his pilot, Duke, had been accidentally injected with the essence of one Reckless Eric Dickson-an extremely xenophobic ace pilot who had fought and died during the Arcolian war. So now Duke's personality is split between his own high-spirited self and Dickson's rather unforgiving nature. 
 
 And the unexpected encounter turns out to be merely the start of Maggie's problems. 
 
The copy is in Very Good condition with only minor shelf wear/creasing to the dust jacket. Please reference pictures for item condition details.