Faced with the terror-inspiring might of the reawakened Reezh Kazh, the Church of the Nine that once ruled hundreds of stars, the people of the Dual Republics of Chimera have asked Mars and humanity for protection. For now, the Protectorate is united behind their Mage-Queen. Ambassador Connor O’Hannagain and Mage-Captain Roslyn Chambers are charged to do everything they can—but the reality is grim. The Protectorate is too far away. The Chimera System cannot be saved… but the Chimeran people might be. Even as every warship Mars can spare is rushed forward to their new ally, massive fleets of transports are assembled to carry as many people to safety as possible. The magical power of Mars can save some of Chimera’s people, human and reezh alike, but if steel and magic cannot guard the innocent, Chambers, O’Hannagain and others all face a single harsh question: When Chimera falls, who stays behind?