Zed, a young miner born into a harsh and oppressive society, unexpectedly inherits a spaceship, the SunDog, along with a significant debt and a high-stakes contract from his late uncle—a man he had never met. His inheritance comes with obligations, including fulfilling a risky transportation deal for the Society of the New Faith, which requires delivering materials and cryogenically frozen settlers to their new colony somewhere on the planet Jondd. Failure would mean returning to a life of endless labor in the glass mines, with his wages permanently seized to repay his uncle’s debts which passed on to Zed by accepting the inheritance.
Zed travels aboard a luxurious ramcruiser to the planet Jondd, where his future will be decided. Accompanying him is Magram, an arrogant and disdainful lawyer from the Rithan system, a species that exploits Zed’s people. Magram constantly belittles Zed, mocking his chances of success and making it clear that the legal firm he represents fully expects him to fail. The firm intends to reclaim the SunDog, either by selling it or profiting from its destruction through insurance claims. Magram reveals that Zed’s uncle was a shrewd and possibly infamous trader, skilled at navigating the dangerous world of interstellar commerce, but that his sudden death remains a mystery.
Upon landing, Zed finally lays eyes on the SunDog. Unlike the sleek, futuristic vessel he had imagined, it is a battle-worn but sturdy ship, its scars bearing witness to past pirate battles and daring escapes. Despite its rough appearance, the ship represents a chance for freedom, and Zed feels a deep connection to the legacy left behind by his uncle.
Magram attempts one last time to dissuade Zed, offering him a way out by giving up the ship and returning to his old life. But for the first time, Zed openly defies him, declaring his full acceptance of the inheritance and the challenges that come with it. Magram, amused but indifferent, leaves him with a final remark: from this moment forward, Zed’s fate is in his own hands.
Determined to escape the fate of his fellow miners, Zed steps aboard SunDog, ready to carve out his own destiny in the vast and uncertain expanse of space.
