Aldo Cassidy, formerly a low born freelancer, finds himself at the heart of a desperate operation to save humanity. With the threat of a seemingly mindless alien force looming at the borders of the Human Empire, a brave group of military personnel work to form an alliance which may give them a chance against an invasion. Heading to a beleaguered outpost, Aldo and his team must rescue an alien delegation. Success gives a union a chance while failure could lead to war. Meanwhile, a conspiracy threatens to upend the inner workings of human civilization. An ambitious man attempts to take power for himself. Investigators battle a criminal organization capable of challenging their authority. And a young woman with ties to the highest echelons of their society contends with betrayal and abduction. These events carry the seeds of destruction for the empire, if the wrong people come out on top.

Aldo Cassidy and his team are tasked with recovering an important relic from an alien station. As they arrive, they find signs of a battle, leaving the entire system in disarray. Without good intelligence, they must take a chance to secure a prize capable of unifying their cultures, or unveil secrets dark enough to keep them apart forever. The planet Constance becomes a hotbed for activity. As Justiciar Caden Raines arrives to rescue a hostage, Sam Levine fights for survival after his ship crashed in the desert. Both men race against time, with the fate of many hanging in the balance. Can they survive the hardships of a system built by a crime family? Or will the corruption consume them both?

Humanity struggles under the pressure of an impending attack. The Gorlan fleet might strike the heart of the empire at any moment. While weapons are upgraded and ships prepared for the assault, Aldo Cassidy waits for his fate to unfold. With his secret uncovered, he may well find himself on death row, unless the alien force gets to Mars first. Sam Levine has also been arrested. Brought to a secret facility, he and his companions have no idea what the government plans to do with them, or if they are even being held by the rightful authorities. When an opportunity arises with the potential to expunge their criminal records, they must work together with an unlikely crew to save the empire. Or burn alongside it.