In this, the last part of the trilogy, which included 2056: Meltdown and The Alien Veil, the plot takes us out among the planets. We find Mars up to its old tricks, but this time with a deadly purpose: to populate Earth. A remarkable weapon is designed by man to quell their ambitions and, working with Jupiter and Yost, the Interplanetary Court of Justice and the United Planetary Nations are created with far greater sanctions than those on Earth. But natural causes still force planes that are about to implode to search the galaxy for a safe haven. Will they succeed in their quest, and what about distant planets who haven't yet signed up?