The Commonwealth rise triumphant over the merciless "Others". The war is over. Pioneers of the Commonwealth race to colonize virgin worlds but do not foresee the chilling Turak with their clear communiqué, "Do not enter Turak space!" Without warning, a deadly offensive is launched on the planet Balat, shattering the fragile uneasy truce between the Alonans and the Commonwealth as blame is wrongly attributed. The prospect of galactic war looms once more. Meanwhile, the orchestrator watches on, biding his time, choosing when he shall return.