Reeling from loss, Van learns two lessons all over again. Life goes on. And your enemies never rest. As the conflict between old allies heats up, Van is forced to decide which way the Fist of Orion will go—toward a lasting peace that he can gift to his children, or a conflict he doesn't want to establish order and justice once and for all. When the GKU moves to seize territories in known space, the die is cast, and the Fafnir, now a vicious class 16, will be on the frontlines for a fight where no one is really sure who's a friend, who's an enemy—and who holds the cards that will determine the future. But Van isn't entering the fight without something he can use, and plans he set in motion years earlier begin paying off. The Fist of Orion isn't just a region of space—it's a far-reaching offensive empire, and the GKU is about to discover an uncomfortable reality. The long arm of the law can reach across stars, even if that star is dark, and distant, and using secrecy as the ultimate armor.