The Inhabited Systems sit in the ocean of Deep Space. Humanity has developed with Natural born and artificial, Bottle Born, lifeforms. The Bottle Born are second class citizens. Shakbout Mansard is a Bottle Born citizen. He wants a life partner and a peaceful life. No chance. Thousands of years ago a war ravaged The Inhabited Systems, leaving scars that have not fully healed. Plans set in motion when the war stopped are close to reaching their goal. Bottle Born citizens are organising to claim their seat at the table as full citizens. Shakbout is standing on the hinge of history, change is coming and he cannot avoid his part in it. Shakbout is not going to be a victim to the gigantic forcers that surround him.  He will fight for family, friends and all lifeforms in the Inhabited Systems. The final battle of the war has started, the Spoils of War are waiting to be claimed by the victor. Whoever that may be.

Waifs & Strays is a science fiction thriller trilogy by Conor H. Carton. The Inhabited Systems sit in the ocean of Deep Space. Some of the inhabitants of Deep Space have crossed the border into the Inhabited Systems. They are known as Waifs & Strays. Mostly they live in the Rumple Zone, an area right on the border. Some come to trade. Some come to stay. Some have very different plans. Shakbout Mansard, an agent with the Thiegler Public Relation Agency is sent to the Rumple Zone. A low level piece of diplomacy becomes something much more serious as a plan being made for the Inhabited System by the Waifs and Strays become clearer. Shakout will have to fight harder than ever to save the Inhabited Systems from the threat from Deep Space.