As the Lycians tally their losses and cast a wary eye on Dhurlan ambitions, Earth prepares for invasion. With the Alliance’s forces depleted and the Dhurlan Syndicate indifferent to the fate of humanity, Earth faces the grim prospect of resisting Khadiem's wrath alone. But soldiers and ships are not the only means to win a war. Even in the face of disastrous odds, forces are at work that may yet defeat both the Empress and ancient sinister powers.