Earth is not the cradle of humanity. It is the Throne. Almost four hundred years the Terran Imperium has languished, an Empire in name only. The young colonies exploded out of the Diaspora Era, supplanting the homeworld in importance as they left a broken world in their wake. Earth's people, guided by the Conwin line, have clawed and climbed from the darkness left the night the lights went out. They built and rebuilt the weary and weakened world they inherited, even when it seemed bent on killing them from sheer spite. For the new generation, such as Young Eryn Aubrey, a new day seems set to dawn with the Empress' Tri-Centennial surprise announcement of hope and empowerment to the people. There are others, however, who are not nearly so enthused with what The Conwin has to say. The Empire is a sleeping giant, goaded awake amidst tragedy, betrayal, and the machinations of conspiracy. Loyalties will be tested, oaths broken, and loyalties reforged. And into the galaxy a confused, angry, woken giant is set loose upon those long used to mocking its existence.

The Earth has been the loving mother of humanity for thousands of years, but now humanity has left the cradle broken in its efforts to reach the stars. Those left behind have not fared well, but the efforts of the Conwin family and others have held the world together... oft time with an Iron Fist, but successfully nonetheless amid the strife since the lights went out. Lian Conwin's assassination has changed everything, though, and the Imperium stirs from it's restless slumber. The cradle is shattered, but the steel Throne of humanity remains, and ambition is harder to kill than hope. Chaos and war engulf the Galaxy as the Imperium moves to take and hold what its new leadership believes to be theirs by sovereign right, fueled by the buried rage of billions. Fleeing the coup, Jinsha Conwin and young Legionnaire Eryn Aubrey must seek allies if they want to survive... but for the likes of Conwin and Aubrey... survival will never be enough.