Prince Vespasian Shiraan, leader of the Shadow Daggers Squadron, stands at the center of a conspiracy in the Aura Empire. An explosion impacts a museum in the Core worlds. Edmund Volta, a known revolutionary, blames the mass killing of a hundred people on the Empress's rise. Caspian Acratani plans to conquer the Core, though no one knows how. Could he be involved with the attack and with Volta? What does he plan to do?Vespasian's lieutenant Rochelle Sarakshi receives messages from a man called the Purple Prophet, who reminds her of a cultist she met six months ago. He summoned a beetlelike god that did immense damage to an entire sector of space. Why does he express so much interest in her? When she learns why he is persistent, his revelations make her question her life, her family and her future.Vespasian and Rochelle protect the Aura Empire with diplomacy, subterfuge and giant robots. If they fail, Caspian will conquer the Core and Father Sasha will summon more demon gods from wormholes. The stakes are raised higher in Necessary Lies, Book 2 of Secrets of the Empire.