Having recently acquired the title of Count, Reinhard von Lohengramm is considered increasingly dangerous by the highest officials of the Galactic Empire. However, they cannot move directly against a man so favoured of the Emperor, and he has proven his capacity in warfare. Thus, they intend to send him into a battle that they will ensure he cannot win. In the Free Planets Alliance, Yang Wen-li's friend Jean Robert Lappe intends to propose marriage to their mutual acquaintance, Jessica Edwards. Yang has only just returned home, but his respite will be all too brief: the Alliance soon hears of the intended Imperial invasion, and Yang once more finds himself in a fleet headed for combat. The battle of Astate is about to commence... (thetvdb.com)