After their leader is taken, the remaining crew of the USS New World are in danger of losing heart. Freshly minted Captain Jill Baines feels the loss more acutely than anyone, yet she must somehow bring them all together to face the increased threat of an enemy whose power is growing by the hour.

Old friends and new adversaries become embroiled in the confrontation as a devastating new weapon is unveiled. Baines' courage and ingenuity are tested to the limit as she is left with just one course of action - attack, and quickly. The extraordinary wildlife of Cretaceous Gondwana makes survival a challenge, but also provides an unexpected ally.

Political rumblings and further treachery at home threaten to crack the fledgling human society into pieces, and Baines must choose between destroying the enemy weapon and saving her best friend's life. Tim Norris proposes a daring plan to attempt both, which sets him on the darkest journey of all... alone.