The Lumari Collective stands on the verge of chaos.
After a prominent member of their society aided a violent mob, security personnel work to undo his efforts. They turn to the humans caught in the middle, Carson Flint and Nell Brooks, outsiders who might provide an edge against the terrorists. But time is running out, and plans are in motion that may bring the entire civilization to its knees before it can be saved.
Meanwhile, the settlement of Castus finds itself in the midst of a civil war. Zeke Weston and his companions must contend with criminals, armed miners, and a man bent on conquering the whole planet in the name of his own ambition. With violence erupting everywhere and betrayal at every turn, they may not survive long enough to restore peace to their tiny part of the Crossroads.