In deep space, a starship approaches the colony world of Pelicos. A malfunction has killed all passengers and crew en route, but the colonists realise that the dead ship can be used for life: they plan to take the ship back to their homeworld and give whatever aid they can.

When they arrive, the colonists learn that Earth is not a dead planet -- in the decades since the war, society has slowly begun to re-emerge. The people of Earth are united for the first time under a single world government. But not all is as it appears...

Connor Hassan and Val Jaques uncover a conspiracy to seize control of the Earth. A conspiracy that threatens Pelicos itself.