Elizabeth Sinclair lives in a world run by airships, steam, and magic. She was once princess of the Crown, now the young lady is captain of an airship whose voyages occasionally involve skirting the edge between legal and illegal. From small time smuggling to supporting local pirates, Elizabeth and the crew of the Crusader do it all. Elizabeth's wish that her life never change comes to a crashing halt when the new Emperor of the Crown begins to enforce his rule. Military patrols, increased taxes, and harsher laws begin to ferment a deadly brew of rebellion that blows up when the Crusader finds itself fighting toe to toe against the entire Empire.