The Shrehari War ended over twenty years ago, but a new threat is looming over the Commonwealth, this time from within. Centralists, whose dream is to concentrate power on Earth by stripping sovereign star systems of their autonomy, finally have one of their own as Secretary General, the highest office in human space. And she wants to do it as fast as possible. But for that, she needs the Commonwealth Armed Forces, and they're not playing her game. On the contrary.

The Armed Forces also have an agenda, one that's been two decades in the making, and it's about to be unveiled with Admiral Siobhan Dunmoore playing the principal role. And as she steps on the stage, Dunmoore becomes the target of everyone who wants to stop the Fleet from preventing a Centralist victory. Will she survive to reach the final shore?