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.