High in Earth's orbit, the Fist of Orion has been busy.

With new Shrike attack craft, Van decides it's time to go on the offensive. Despite bringing peace to many of the stars, the war has turned—and come home, bringing with it a new kind fight that Van knows all to well.

Politics.

With that brawl comes money, and with money, the fight gets serious. Retta's network reveals a threat rising in Europe, as various nations struggle to break free of Earth, make bonds among the stars, and find new and exciting ways to turn the planet into something to be packaged and sold.

For a profit, of course.

Earth isn't the only world in danger, and a mystery in deepest space brings a strange connection to Perry's past—one that will unlock a second front on Van's war, all while opening the crew up to danger rooted in the halls of Anvil Dark.

Anvil Dark, and the GKU aren't allies, not really, and Van is faced with old enemies and new recruits in a dirty fight for control of something that should belong to everyone—the law. Using technocrats, criminals, and opportunists, Van's enemies have bought their way into an alliance that will push the Fafnir and her crew into a battle for the ultimate control of earth's future.

And the defense of earth will be waged as Van keeps one eye on deepest space, where an ancient enemy has awakened, eager for vengeance. Eager for the end of all life.

And eager to end the Tudor line, once and for all.