Kris Longknife is a daughter of privilege, born to money and power. Her father is the Prime Minister of her home planet. Her mother the consummate politician's wife. She's been raised only to be beautiful and marry well. But the heritage of the military Longknifes courses through Kris's blood-and, against her parents' objections, she enlists in the marines.

When an alien race warns them that an unidentifiable force is roaming the galaxy, destroying everything in its path towards human space, Kris Longknife and her crew must take on new roles in order to combat this unknown threat.

With the fleet off on a propaganda mission, former marine Kris Longknife must defend Wardhaven from enemy warships by commandeering every spaceworthy vessel available and convincing every person to risk their lives to save their world.