Synopsis

Humanityachieveddominionoverthegalaxylongago.Oncethatwasaccomplished,theyturnedtheiringenuityinwards.Withtheirprowessoverbiologicalengineering,theytransformedthemselvesintodeificbeingsnowcalledtheGeneTyrants.Forcenturies,theGeneTyrantsterrorizedthegalaxy,designingandabusingtheirgeneticallyengineeredservantsandserfsastheirwhimstookthem.Notyrannycanlastforever,though,andtheGeneTyrantswereeventuallyoverthrown.TherebelsdiscoveredastrangelightofthemindcalledAether,whichgavethemthestrangeandfantasticalpowerstheyneededtoeradicatetheircreators.Oncethatwasdone,however,thatbynomeansmeantpeace.Inthethousandyearssince,thefaceofthegalaxyhaschanged.ThemostpowerfulhumancivilizationiscalledtheSupremacy,thehomelandof'mightmakesright'.IntheSupremacy,acrimecommittedbythestrongisnocrimeatall.WiththeirmilitarystrengthandmasteryofAether,theSupremacyhasspreadacrossthegalaxy--withtheotherpowersabletodolittlebutstalltheiradvance.Thisstrugglehasdevelopedintoacoldwar,andthatcoldwarhasfrozenoverforyearsnow.DraganHadrien,alow-leveladministratorintheSupremacy,caresnothingforanyofthis.Dragan'sprimaryconcernisgettinghimselfapromotionandtakingiteasyfortherestofhisdays.Whenamysteriousprisonerisbroughtaboardhisship,hethinkshehasfoundthemeanstodojustthat.Hownaiveofhim.