Earth barely survived the 21st Century. Nuclear terrorism civil war and famine killed billions. Thousands fled on warpdrive ships to planets around distant suns.ampnbspAfter the United Nations gained control over Earth it opened wormholes to the colonies to prevent a repeat of chaos on a galactic scale.ampnbspEnter operative Stone Chalmers. Spy. Assassin. Instrument maintaining the UNamp39s order on the galaxy. Then he encountered a strange new colonial faith that promised all mankind Alignment with the Universe.To All High Emprise ConsecratedOn Minerva while workers prepare a wormhole link to Earth Stone uncovers a plot to shake to the core the UNampmdashand himself.In Public Convocation AssembledOn Earth Stone plays for the ultimate stakes. Success will transform Earth and the galaxy forever. Failure will doom Earth to the greatest chaos of all time.