Early in the 25th century, humans ignited a fierce war with the hydrogues. Now the gas-giant planets, once a major source of fuel for Earth, are off limits, and the fearsome hydrogues scour the solar system, incinerating humans and the trees of the worldforest. As political unrest spreads throughout Earth's space colonies, a possible ally is discovered: an ancient race of water-based creatures.

The war between the hydrogues and the faeros rages with the humans and Ildirans caught in the crossfire. The many factions of humanity are bitterly divided as Chairman Wenceslas's vendetta against all independent colonies blinds him to outside dangers--the deadliest being the Klikiss robots that have infiltrated the entire human military and launched their long-planned extermination of all things flesh and blood. Meanwhile, Jora'h, the Ildiran Mage...

In the aftermath of a devastating war, swarms of ancient black robots built by the lost insectoid Klikiss race continue their depredations on helpless worlds with stolen and heavily armed Earth battleships.
Among the humans, the Hansa's brutal Chairman struggles to crush any resistance even as King Peter breaks away to form his own new Confederation among the colonies who have declared their independence.
And meanwhile, the original, voracious...