Earth is dead, destroyed by war, pollution, and ineptitude. What was left of the population has escaped to Mars. Hoping not to repeat the mistakes of the past, they have formed two new independent colonies: Aethpis and Zephyria, each with its own government and each with its own guarantees of rights and freedom. The two colonies will balance each other, keeping any single government from running Mars and gaining absolute power.Lunara, a smaller colony on Earth's moon, is charged with catching and mining meteors for desperately needed minerals.But the deep-seated human thirst for domination is not easily defeated, nor is the capacity for deceit and betrayal. All it needs is a powerful catalyst, a prize valuable enough to risk plunging mankind into another destructive war.Seth and Chloe, starwing fighter pilots attached to the mining ship Protector, are caught up in a violent series of events when Lunara is invaded. Seth, Chloe, and the crew of the Protector attempt to sort out who is responsible. A civil war ensues and the tide of suspicion swings back and forth between Aethpis and Zephyria.