Great Ones Tymos and Kryslie know that the Genesis 1 deep space mission is vital to Earth's future, so when Ciriot pirates capture the Earth ship, they act. However, the pirates have discovered Earth's location, seeing it as a planet ripe for exploitation. At first they act covertly, infecting humans with control devices, making them unwitting traitors. When they invade in force, the Great Ones must reveal themselves so that Earth can gain vital help. As Tymos leads the defending space fighters, Kryslie works to remove the Ciriot devices from prominent humans and in doing so, becomes infected. For as long as she can, she resists the pull of the devices and hides her condition from her brother. When she is convicted of treason, and the Tymoreans repudiate her, she still strives to hold to her vow - to serve the cause of peace 'to death and beyond'.