The first phase of the humanitarian crisis on Egesta was examined in the fourth book of the Martian War series, The Independent Squadron. Now Ken Barron completes that story, explaining what took place on the asteroid during the rest of the war. After receiving intelligence from his friend Charlie Peters, Barron travels to Egesta with Belt Squadron veterans Karen McMaster, Wes Pellew, Andrea Kiley and Matt Baxter. What they uncover is both profoundly tragic and politically explosive, and has the power to change many aspects of the Empire - from the way it is governed to the structure of Defense Command itself.