The Sith Empire is in turmoil. The Emperor is missing and presumed dead, while the throne revolt of an overzealous Sith Lord has ended in disaster. Meanwhile, Darth Karrid, commander of the feared imperial battlecruiser Ascendant Spear, is determined to bring the galaxy completely under Sith control. But there is resistance. Theron Shan, the son of a Jedi Master, is doing everything he can to stop Karrid. He is supported by the hot-headed smuggler Teff 'ith and Karrid's former master Gnost-Dural. Side by side, they face a battle-hardened crew of ruthless followers of the Dark Side of the Force - with vanishingly small chances of success.