A hundred years ago the Veneer Empire was one of the strongest members of the UPA.And then the Unity attacked.In the devastating aftermath, the Veneer Empire withdrew from the UPA and hasn't been heard from since.Ambassador Caldwell Reynoso is the latest in a long line of dignitaries who spend their days waiting until the Veneer are ready to communicate again. While it is not a lifetime appointment, Ambassador Reynoso will not hold any other position before his untimely death.When an ambassador dies, the political ramifications can be complicated. When an ambassador is murdered, the ramifications can be disastrous.As the mystery of who murdered Ambassador Reynoso slowly unravels, Captain Mitchell and the crew of the Defiance find themselves sitting on a powder keg of galactic proportions. And unless they can stop it, when it goes off, it's going to take half the galaxy with it.