Did you ever wonder what would have happened if High Ridge had been just a hair more competent? This story is, as will become very obvious immediately, AU as of late in Ashes of Victory (and this story's opening scene is set shortly after the Cromarty assassination).

Sequel to 'Bridge Building', set a little over one year later. Some forces on Earth want out of the League. Admiral Thenuwara watches over the creation of what's intended to be the first of the SLN's modern wall of battle. Rivendell has some new toys from their friends on Manticore and is building more. None of this makes the Mesan Alignment very happy.

A system on the far side of the Solarian League from Manticore discovers a wormhole bridge that connects to the Star Empire of Manticore, and is forced to build new alliances if they want their plans for surviving the fall of the League to prosper.