Although presumed dead, Saeed Ismail resurfaces following the events of The Starchild Compact to lead a global Jihad. Aided by Founder Asshur, besieged Israelis on Earth make their way to Mars. Under Rod Zakes, the Iapetus Federation expands to include the human-settled parts of the Solar System, protected by Dmitri Gagarin's Federation Security Force. While global Jihad rages, the Starchild Institute on Iapetus develops a form of worm-hole transportation, but will this new technology be ready in time to rescue Sam Houston and all that is left of the United States, the beleaguered Lone Star Federation? Can worm-hole technology solve the task of moving millions of people from Earth to Iapetus? While Earth sinks into medieval barbarism, off-world humanity struggles to survive and prosper in the far reaches of the Solar System - and beyond.