As Prince's Champion of the Federated Suns, Julian Davion struggles amidst political turmoil and the changing fortunes of war, and ex-Knight and now-Senator Conner Rhys-Monroe still leads the fight to destroy the Republic from within. But he is expertly opposed by Countess Tara Campbell, leader of the Highlanders-and the Republic's best hope in a situation that is shifting like blood-drenched quicksand.