Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of war, death, and racism.

The novel opens with a collection of snapshots depicting the bombing of Tyche, a city on Mercury, and Darrow’s mindset as he prepares to attack it. He reminisces about the beginning of the war against the Ash Lord’s tyranny 10 years earlier and wishes for it to finally end, lamenting the toll it has taken and wondering about his son’s future.

Darrow, the ArchImperator of the Solar Republic, returns to Earth after his victory on Mercury, two years after leaving. He is greeted by crowds who equally acclaim him and curse him for the seemingly never-ending war, and reunites with his best friend Sevro, who serves as his Imperator. After being greeted by some other friends and advisors, Darrow finally reaches the assembled Senators of the Republic, led by his beloved wife Virginia, the Sovereign of the Republic. She is also known as Mustang to her loved ones.

Darrow and Sevro take a shuttle to the Sovereign’s Moon retreat and find their respective children, Pax and Electra, dueling with swords. After their practice ends, Electra embraces her father happily but Pax, now 10 years old, is distant toward Darrow.