Through chance, a young Earthman becomes bonded with an intelligent spaceship and then forced into exile from the To'Ach'an, a space-faring race who built the ship. Years later he is forced out of exile by a brutal attack on a young girl he is sworn to protect. In a universe ruled mostly by corrupt officials of an out of control Empire, he must somehow face his own inner demons, and lead his ship into battles which will ultimately determine the fate of thousands of planets. Along the way, Earth must face exposure to a widespread galactic civilization they didn't even know existed, and traditions held sacred for thousands of years must be challenged.