Finding a way to Earth through the hordes of enemy Verka systems the scout ship Spider barely makes it back to the colony of Babylon. The ragtag crew of the USS Spider fights against political intrigue, military resistance and corporate power struggles with only their belief in each other to save humanity before the enemy overwhelms all of Earth's allied forces. But the Verka aren't waiting, they have trillions of young to feed, and Earth's teaming masses look good enough to eat.