Suma, a Malay girl adopted by Admiral Rafael Ortega, joins the Fleet as an ensign just as Earth comes under a devastating attack. Their spider foes in this timeline are being aided by other time traveling spiders. This requires a strong response and the new Tau Fleet gears up to deliver it. Suma becomes a fighter pilot as part of the crew of the Fleet Warmoon Ragna Rock.
Admiral Kosciusko's children are coming into adulthood, more or less. They become involved in the effort to survive a new glacial age. Admiral Kosciusko siezes Antarctica and proclaims himself royal head of the Kingdom of South.