"[1] At the onset of the story, aliens called Hyadeans have established contact and friendly business relations with Earth.

Though they are highly interested in studying the planet and its cultures, Hyadeans are far more technologically advanced and have a more accurate knowledge of science.

Many humans accept this alien presence, but there are many who do not trust the Hyadeans and believe they are plotting to take control of Earth.

When a flyer (advanced aircraft) carrying both Hyadean visitors and Terran politicians is shot down, CounterAction is blamed and the Internal Security Service (ISS) is intent on shutting down their organization by any methods necessary.

Because he was formerly married to Marie Cade, a political activist who plays a strong role in CounterAction, the ISS uses him to trace her.

His mistress Julia is secretly an ISS agent, and convinces him to use his contacts with CounterAction to take in her friend, a supposed political dissident.

Julia's friend turns out to be an ISS plant and he is forced to flee with Marie; the government believes he is a part of CounterAction because of his wife’s association with the group.

While Cade and his friends learn that states and regions of the country are seceding, the Hyadean officials take over the increasingly impotent government and use military force to subdue resistance.

Identification is required for simple things such as crossing a state border, and the government has enough technology to track people down easily.

Different cities and states begin to secede from the country, and the Hyadeans take over and start a massive military campaign against them.

"[1] The Legend That Was Earth appears to be a less drastic mix of Arthur C. Clarke's novel Childhood's End and the 2006 film Independence Day.

For example, one Hyadean starts wearing decorative clothing, whereas the standard garb in Chryse is a grey tunic ensemble.

"[1] Don D'Ammassa, in his Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, called it "less than impressive" and "frequently lethargic," but the alien/human relationships "overcome the ponderous plot.