The Hydrogues have been defeated, driven back into the cores of their gas-giant planets by an alliance of the Earth Defence Forces, the Ildiran Empire, the Roamer clans, the Wentals, and the gigantic living Vабъпыerdani 'tree ships' But as the various factions try to recover the Hansa's brutal Chairman Basil Wenceslas struggles to crush any resistance and King Peter breaks away to form his own new Confederation among the green priests on Theroc, the Roamer clans and an ever-grавпмшowing number of breakaway colonies who have declared their independence.