Aboard his handpicked and recently renamed battleship, the Redemption, Grand Admiral Aatroxiss is sent to take command of the Frontier Fleet located in the outer rim of the galaxy, nearly a year's travel time away from the Imperial capitol of Kruko. His mission is a dual one, for he is also simultaneously the new Regional Governor of the scattered Imperial colonies there... a position that has never existed before.

That's because the Frontier is a trash heap, and the Fleet stationed in it a collection of older ships with crews comprised of officers that the rest of the Empire didn't want. They're cast-offs exiled to die in service far from their homes in wars against numerous alien races that refuse to bend the knee to the Empire's continual expansion.

Embarrassed and frustrated at the lack of progress, the Emperor turns to Aatroxiss, a known enemy of the Empire, and makes a deal to do what his own military commanders cannot... Bring order to the Frontier.

So now Aatroxiss, hated by the Empire's propaganda machine in the minds of the military and civilians alike, must take command of a broken fleet and use his strategic mastery and mysterious Keeno powers to begin mending the Frontier and preparing for a rumored invasion that the Emperor fears from beyond.

Oh, and he also plans to overthrow the Empire when the time is right. That's pretty much out in the air between the two men, but for the moment their goals intersect and they reluctantly agree to work together for the benefit of the colonies in the Frontier.

After that, all bets are off...