Synopsis: The Kings of Distant Stars

It's the 23rd century and Man has carved out a vast empire, claiming the stars in a volume stretching 100 light-years from Sol. The Sphere is expanding by the day thanks to the so-called "Sparkheads", the augmented transhumans that have taken it on themselves to expand into the Galaxy, with the baseline humans of Earth following behind...

During a joint scientific expedition to a newly-discovered alien world, Major Gabriel Riley receives a signal from a seemingly dead star beyond the Sphere's frontier - a message containing the mind of Marcus Hannigut, the visionary who took man into space nearly 200 years before. Tormented by memories of torture and burning for revenge, he brings warnings of an extremely advanced intelligence that may have designs on all life in the universe - and one that he may have unleashed.

Back at home, Kyla Seidel works as a deputy investigator for Solar Governance around Saturn, responsible for maintaining security and order in the vast networks that cover the solar system. Kyla has escaped a troubled past, part con-artist, part prankster, and part terrorist, swept up in a criminal enterprise driven by her desire for sentient rights. A chance encounter thrusts her back into her old life, and into events that threaten everyone.

On a remote construct deep in the Galaxy, the reclusive, blind, and insane Michael Lang is watched over by his robotic guardians. Lang has the power of a god, the conscience of a psychopath, and the bloody history to prove it. As alien forces seek to destroy Man, Lang could be the only thing standing between survival and certain death for the entire species. But he's going to need convincing...