Sub-Major Clement, a reserve officer of the third expeditionary fleet is becoming increasingly disenchanted with the Imperial mission and the constant state of war required to keep the peace. When a strange set of circumstances allow him to take control of a Warmind, one of the highly sophisticated AIs running the conflict, he discovers the true nature of the war and the terrible weapon the AIs are designing. Clement must find a way out before the weapon or whatever is driving the AIs to develop it destroys them all.