In "Humiliation," Michael, crown prince of the Space Empire, finds that he is not alone in his quest to build an advanced deep-space battle-ready vessel. Mysterious ships bearing scarlet crosses pursue his convoy and expose conspiracies against the Space Empire from within and without. Michael's adoptive brother Randolph follows him to exile on Earth and a summer of biblical teaching at Jonathan Edwards' camp meetings. Forbidden romance leads to tragedy, political turmoil, and a meeting with representatives of Earth's mysterious Fourth Empire. In "Repentance," Michael reconciles with his father but must find a way to save the Palace, Randolph, and the earth woman Aidan from the attacks of the Church and Earth's hopelessly corrupt system. In "Sanctification," treachery closes in on all sides. Michael makes shattering decisions that may save or destroy the Space Empire's last hope for the future.