With the rebellion dealt a crushing blow at Larahope, Crineal and Cyndora are heading to Branklee, the capital planet of the Imperial Federated Worlds. Crineal particularly is looking forward to a rest from the seemingly endless fighting and the trip to receive the title of Baron of the Empire appears to offer a welcome respite, along with a chance to deepen his relationship with Cyndora. For Cyndora it’s an opportunity to see some of the worlds of the Imperium and discover what they have to offer. Each planet has its own attractions; different landscapes, cultures, life forms and peoples. There is much to see and much to be wary of for a woman fresh from Earth. For Cyndora, it will be a test of her strength as she begins to adapt to galactic life, but she is determined to weather the trial. There are more than just new worlds to deal with however, for they are now entering the murky realm of Imperial politics; an area which can be as dangerous as front-line combat in its own way. And the shadowy figures behind the rebellion aren’t going to sit back idly either. Both Crineal and Cyndora will need to adapt to their new roles in order to survive, and even if they make it through the intrigue, the rebel military is still waiting for them…