A colorful collection of gamblers embark upon the Butterfly’s Gambit, including the Travellers’ old friends Bazen Durana and Troitska. As the title suggests, it’s not long before a foul murder is done, and the Travellers must solve the case before the jump ends and the culprit escapes.
The Travellers fly their new patrol cruiser, now rechristened the Butterfly’s Gambit, back to Boughene, where they hatch a plan to finally deal with the Brothers of Farbauti.
The sabotaged geothermal tap in Research Station Gamma has caused a volcanic eruption. The Travellers narrowly escape the blast, only to learn that their starship is missing!