A daring raid deep into the enemy’s rear and the capture of the leaders of the enemy coalition—this, it seemed, should ensure Sergei Belov’s triumphant return to his own side. Unfortunately, not everything is so straightforward. Many influential forces in the capital are unhappy with his decisions and actions, and the ruling elite of the empire has plenty of solid reasons for that.
However, the distrust of the highest authority isn’t the only problem Sergei and his allies face. While the emperor decides what to do with Belov and his captives, events are rapidly unfolding in the Western hemisphere—events that could completely destroy the balance of power established on Earth after the War with the Aliens.