The universe has fallen into bloody chaos now that the dread empire of the tyrannical Shaa is no more--at the mercy of the merciless insectoid Naxid who, freed from subjugation, now hunger for domination. But the far-flung human descendants of Terra have finally tasted liberty, and their warrior heroes will not submit. Separated by light-years, Lord Gareth Martinez and his one-time comrade and lover, the mysterious guerilla fighter Caroline Sula, each pursue a different road to victory in tomorrow's ultimate battle--for the new order will be far more terrible than the old…unless one last, bold, and desperate stratagem can hold a shattered galaxy together