Harry Silver has already had a lifetime of trouble from ordinary Berserkers, the automated killing machines programmed an age ago denude the galaxy of life. Now, when his own family is kidnapped, he faces a deviant machine, a good fit for some or all of the "Galactic Dictionary's" definitions of Rogue: A deceitful, double-dealing evildoer; A fierce elephant or stamodont that has been banished from the herd; Having a peculiarly malevolent or unstable nature; No longer loyal, affiliated, or recognized, and hence not governable or accountable...erring, apostate - "Galactic Dictionary of the Common Tongue". Ordinary Berserkers armed with weapons powerful enough to kill an entire planet were enough of a nightmare. What worse deviltry will a killing machine gone rogue attempt - and even if Silver can stop it, will he ever see his family alive again?