It has been 187 years since Benito Sandoval destroyed the seed colony on Guan-Yu, since the SHN Persephone found what was hunting beyond the borders of Human-occupied space - and only now has a threat come to humanity's borders.But any knowledge of what existed on Guan-Yu was lost with Sandoval and his allies. If humanity is to survive, it must rebuild from the ashes - and it has precious little time to do so.A young lieutenant crippled by her encounter with the Henth. A scientist with nothing left to save. An admiral choosing who to save...and who to sacrifice. A new father choosing between his son and his species. A young woman whose blood may hold the key to humanity's salvation. In their hands lie the remnants of what was created and destroyed on Guan-Yu...