The Raging Bears have begun their occupation of the planet Vega with the hope of restoring order on a planet beset by violence and civil ruin. But their bold move to stabilize Prefecture I for the Republic of the Sphere may be the chance their enemies have been waiting for...

While the military takeover of Vega was no great challenge, setting up a new planetary government and restoring the infrastructure of civilization have proven far more difficult for the peacekeeping forces of the Rasalhague Dominion. An underground resistance stubbornly refuses to cease its operations, and Galaxy Commander Isis Bekker suspects the Draconis Combine is secretly supporting the rebellion.

As the Combine threatens them from without, the Bears also find themselves plagued by betrayal and deception from within. Unless they can expose the dissenting elements in their clan, they may end up as fodder for destruction...or usher in a new understanding of what it means to be Clan, the likes of which hasn't been seen since their return to the Inner Sphere...