Five and a half years after the Battle of the Atlantic, threats to the security of the American Empire are far from eliminated. Constant acts of terrorism by assassins of the Chinese Remnant have taken a tiring toll on Emperor John Dennis; when an opportunity to gain new intelligence about the Remnant threat emerges, he takes it, sending General Chris Jones on a mission with an old flame. Meanwhile, another threat looms on the horizon - or, more accurately, just outside the atmosphere...