The Mesan Alignment, having worked for centuries in the background to establish a new galactic order under which it can impose genetic modification of the human race, has suffered several setbacks in recent years at the hands of the Alliance, especially the Manticore of Admiral Honor Harrington.

While the League has an elected government, executive power is dominated by the Quintet, senior bureaucrats who hold permanent tenure in "Old Chicago," Planet Earth.

The Mandarins are forced to grapple with the Alliance's massive technological and tactical advantages; the Solarian League Navy cannot hope to fight a pitched battle and survive, even with vastly superior numbers.

Alignment agents convince them to authorize "Operation Buccaneer," the complete destruction of all space-borne infrastructure in every star system that continues to trade with their enemies.

In "Operation Nemesis," Admiral Harrington and her Grand Fleet enter the solar system and demonstrate their overwhelming technological superiority, forcing the surrender of the Solarian League Navy without suffering a single casualty.

[6] Don Vicha writing for Booklist praised Weber for "all the hard-and software details and tactical proficiency that [he] delivers like no one else, along with a large cast of well-developed, believable characters, giving each clash of fleets emotional weight.