The first clash between the Q'ran and Huk'na'tans may have passed, but the war is far over. Both systems scurry to rebuild their fleets, terrified that their new foes may seize upon any advantage. All the while, there are those that would work tirelessly to undermine those in control. Ranak's strength waxes as he sets his sights upon the emperor's throne, while the king of Huk'na'ta willingly remains ignorant of the trials his people are suffering-content in his immutable role. Fae'gre, the child of a noble family, gets conscripted to find the world isn't as comfortable as he once believed, as he finds himself immersed in the darker side of human nature. As he finds his new place in the desolate worlds, innocents are starving and the solutions to food shortages are becoming bleak. All the while, the greatest threat that either system has ever faced inexorably marches toward a culmination that will pass beyond the borders of reality.