Freighter captains are supposed to make the numbers, hit the routes on time, never deviate, don't upset any passengers, and always do what the boss says.

Danny Ortega and his ship, the DSRV Ghost, fail every single one of those. No one in their right mind would hire him...

Which leaves the truly odd routes and cargos, and a rep as 'hot shots' that will carry special time sensitive loads anywhere, anytime.

As long as he can keep his ship, his marriage, and his crew together, Danny never worries about a fixed schedule. Pirates, plagues, enemies of his passengers trying to take them out, too little money, too much money, and getting trapped in alien mating rituals, sure, but any semblance of a schedule is merely an unanticipated cascade of opportunities.

Fortunately, his ship is full of surprises, and not all of his crew are who they appear to be...