The Commonwealth's attempt to negotiate with the K'Soth Empire has failed.

Dr Marcus Cuvier is missing, presumed killed by the Emperor's hand along with most of his delegation, and now the Imperial security forces search for the last few survivors who have now become desperate fugitives amidst the vast, sprawling metropolis of the Imperial capital.

Meanwhile, Admiral Rylance marshals her fleet to move against the uprising in the Commonwealth's border systems and prepares to bring the Navy to bear against the human separatist movement calling itself the Shining Dawn. Whilst in the 61 Cygni system, in the wake of a terrorist bombing, the Commonwealth's Intelligence Bureau attempts to root out the culprits and bring them to justice.

But there is a greater threat to all of humanity. The K'Soth Emperor is about to unleash his vast fleets and numberless legions against the Commonwealth and crush all of human civilisation beneath his heel.

Now only the Commonwealth's hopelessly outclassed armed forces stand between humanity and annihilation at the hands of the Empire