Life, Crime
It has been six months since the fall of the CONFEDERATION. Wounds have begun to heal, and the flame of war slowly grows cold.
During that time, changes unfold across the Tapani sector and the greater galaxy as a whole. The Empress Katianna abdicates in favor of her brother, Gregor, who has recovered from being poisoned. Regent Aral Vorkosigan retires from his position as regent, and is replaced by Lord Admiral Angelo d'Arcy. In the greater galaxy, Sister-Captain Jenna Martovich becomes Empress Jenna I of the Galactic Empire. She settles on Coruscant with her consort, Yeager Lexics and his daughter Ehlonna. Positive changes begin to emerge in the Empire.
Meanwhile, on Fondor, life returns to normal. A band of four mercenaries returned to a summons over a recently released blockade runner from police impound. To their surprise, they find they are quickly awarded a search and rescue contract by Seven Suns Shipping to recover the cargo from a ruined freighter, the Bedazzled Apple, in the Lynx System before a rival company does …