Alexander Heflin, Imperator of North American, had his hands full: a war was brewing that could destroy the Imperium. Seeking to protect his wife, Lani, from their increasingly powerful enemies, Alex called on the one person he could trust: ex-war hero Rod Garvin.<P> Babysitting an Imperatrix seemed too easy a job for an adventurer of Garvin's caliber. After all, it kept him on Mars, while the action was happening on Earth.<P> Little did he know that Alex was embarking upon a desperate ploy to save his nation by destroying it – and it would be up to Garvin to pick up the pieces!