A master sergeant prowling the back country of the Balkans and a firearms instructor and former Marine find themselves at the center of a growing network of resistance against an invading force of alien, carnivorous Shongari intent on annihilating the human race.

Two civilizations in different universes blunder closer to war. One is a pre-industrial society whose weapon of choice is magic. The other is a Victorian-style culture whose technology is based on steam and psionics.

Hiding secret agendas from their subjects throughout a terrible war in the Charisian Empire, the Emperor and his inner circle of advisors launch a desperate counter-attack against a corrupt Church of God Awaiting that is complicated by a discovery in the Church's Zion Temple.