Behind every legendary ship are the little people who make the incredible discoveries possible.

In the case of the AFV Defender, they really are little: the children of the crew, growing up below decks, learning lessons on faith, honor, loyalty, and what it really means to be a hero. No matter what it costs.

Cadets long before they go to the Fleet Academy for official training, they are preparing for the day the fate of the Alliance, and maybe the Human race, lies in their hands.

Elli arrives on the Defender with her older brother, Dom, an engineer. Their parents died several years ago, and Dom has been taking care of her ever since.

Elli is worried that she won't be able to make friends. Her colony world was hit with an epidemic, and everyone has been living in isolation. Even worse, Elli is afraid to admit that she was exposed to the Rewire Fever.

Something seems to be wrong with her brain. She can smell people's emotions, and she hears sounds that tell her what people are feeling. Elli wants to hide all these strange, new things she can do. Then she meets Tress Lore, who has just learned she can hear what people are thinking. They both become students of Master Maenta, who teaches them that Enlo gives special gifts for specific reasons, and even when something goes wrong, good things, better things can come from it