Siblings Malvina and Aleks are Jade Falcon's best and brightest MechWarriors. Each achieved high command at a young age, and their bond is strong, but so is their rivalry. While Aleks believes warriors should protect the weak, Malvina is obsessed with dark visions of power and glory. If the leader of a Clan is destined to rule the Inner Sphere, then Malvina's first step toward seizing that role for herself is to conquer The Republic...or utterly destory it.

On Skye, Tara Campbell forces a major invasion with too few Highlanders to beat it back. Some in the Planetary Council want to negotiate with the invaders to spare Skye from the frightful carnage visited on other worlds. Now Tara-The Republics greatest defender-finds herself fighting dissension at home when unity is needed in the face of Skye's greatest crisis ever...