Byrr, Fext and Cammo: Hyperbreed human-animal ''splices'' who''ve been given a cushy assignment-board an ancient freighter, transport valuable Explosive Ore to a mining colony, and earn a large delivery bonus. But when they drop out of spacefold, Mak pirates--robot monsters wearing the body parts of vanquished enemies--attack. Fighting against cruel odds, with Mak Yik crystals infesting their ship, our heroes begin to suspect that their lucky break is really a setup for annihilation.