A millennia after the events of Siege of Ardon, the Ineans have recovered from the brink of extinction and are set on getting revenge. They stumble upon a struggling Earth whose inhabitants remind them of the Ardons. They set their sights on conquering the planet and killing everyone. While the government of Earth makes deals with the enemy, one person stands in their way.

Earth's space fleet outguns the Ineans, but the leaders lack the will to fight for their citizens. Captain Shawn Hackett travels to Inea on an old and failing starship to sign the peace agreement, only to uncover a conspiracy embedded in the highest levels of Earth's government.

Hackett must combine forces with another volatile and equally dangerous race to stop a war, save Earth, and return alive.