After seventeen years of war, humanity has thrown the Kenmiri Empire back from its borders and into defeat. Colonel Henry Wong struck a killing blow to break the insectoid invaders' will, backed by the immense alliance of rebels and freed slaves forged by the United Planets Alliance he serves. Now the war is over. A great Gathering has been called of the allies who fought the war, but they only ever shared a common enemy. With the Kenmiri in retreat, a thousand new agendas are revealed. Humanity wants peace above all else. The UPA's allies want everything from new homes to new empires – and all too many of them are prepared to do anything to achieve their goals. War was hard enough. Peace may be impossible.