You cannot murder a person who never existed. It is not impossible to rewrite history. In fact, when one computer runs the world, changing history happens faster. Those who were heroes have been labeled villains. The alien Melagorns and Dreth, once friends, are now competitors at best. The Regime works to instill loyalty to humanity. Loyalty to brotherhood. Loyalty to the state. Loyalty to the words preached every night. Humanity first. Truth! Those with power are Tainted. Truth! The Tainted prove Loyalty by working for the Regime. Truth! Tainted who hide power seek to harm Humanity. Truth! Hail, Victory! Hail, Humanity! Except not everyone follows the truth. John Dunn fled into a radioactive wasteland, seeking death rather than work in the Regime. What he learns changes humanity forever.

One Heretic. One Apostle. She’s lost in space. He’s being hunted by a world-wide government. How do you cope when you find you’ve lost twenty-eight years and your homeworld is falling apart? How do you fight when you haven’t been taught? How far do you run when the whole world is looking for you? How do you survive in the middle of a radioactive wasteland? Forced from hiding, John seeks a way to bring down the Regime. Joined by an unexpected ally, he flees across the globe seeking both sanctuary and answers. On the edge of known space, the Heretic has to repair a crippled ship and discover the state of the worlds she left behind. John’s faith in a mythical figure return carries him forward. But how will that faith protect him from the Regime? Will the Witch of the Federation return in time to save him and a world that takes her name in vain?

One human is willing to sacrifice hundreds in his desire to force the Dreth to start a war. A war the Dreth will deliver with vengeance. The rumor of the Witch coming back is not enough. Will Admiral Jaleck make the hard decisions? Back on Earth, John is swept up into events that will bring fire down from the heavens. Or his death. Will John, Ivy, Remy, and Amaratne survive the coming challenges, or will the Regime CIO nail their rebel bodies to the wall? Or will he worry about John so much after he destroys the Dreth and has bigger fish to fry? Not if Stephanie has anything to add to the discussion.

She is back, she is pissed, and she has people with her the likes the Regime has never faced. The problem? The Regime is considerably more capable than the Chancellor has acted. Dreth and Meligorn support each other, but the Regime is not stupid. Can the Regime keep the two alien navies separated? Back on Earth, John is being presented as the Apostle. Can he persuade enough of the existing groups to matter for Stephanie’s hopeful return to Earth? Or will the Regime capture him? All Amaratne can do is have John try. Jaleck’s best Admiral is asking for a leave of absence without discussing the why. Will his absence doom Dreth in the moment of need? Not if Stephanie has anything to add to the discussion.

It all comes down to one final fight for the future of the Federation. Even without the Morgana in her head, Stephanie’s attitude has become dark indeed. Now, she has decided the best way to stop a war, is attack. Unfortunately, the Telorans have not arrived, and will likely miss this battle. Stephanie considers the cost in lives of those in cryo-storage and is willing to gamble the whole effort to save those who are still sleeping. Is it the best decision militarily? Probably not. But if she didn’t, she wouldn’t be the Witch of the Federation. It’s the final book, strap yourself in and let’s get started.