Astronauts fight for the survival of humanity against an alien species seeking to control their future among the stars in this science-fiction thriller.

They were humanity's last hope. As the majority of Earth's population uploaded their consciousnesses to embrace digital immortality-free from illness and death in the simulated Metaverse-the Beta Explorers were tasked with expanding their presence throughout the galaxy. They terraformed worlds and created colonies so that humans could live and thrive in physical environments.

But the influence of the Metaverse reached the colonial planets, infecting people with the desire to embrace a carefree artificial existence-a desire implanted as a virus by the Atua, an alien species convinced they are gods, destined to rule over every other race and keep them grounded from space exploration. Symbiotic in nature, the Atua have already bonded themselves with other alien life, controlling their very evolution. They view humanity as a threat to their order and are willing to wage an intergalactic war to destroy every colony and even Earth itself.

The Beta Explorers-Icarus Kishida, Angelique Komene, Atlas Tupu, and Trillion von Neumann-are not about to surrender to the demands of tyrants. However, the Atua are far from the only danger they face. Civil war has disrupted one of the colony worlds, giving rise to an authoritarian government. Now, the Betas must come up with a peaceful solution to one conflict even as they consider developing a planet-killing weapon to protect their race from another . . .