Fleet Admiral Mikus Padmon, a skilled commander and war hero in his early fifties, is known as a risk taker and a stickler for rules and proper protocol, although he himself often breaks them. A man responsible for winning two wars for the Galactic League, he's recently been reassigned to the academy as a sort of punishment. But when Manbiya petitions for entry into the Galactic League, usually only a formality, the Vercorians protest and Padmon has been called back into active service to lead the mediation. Behind the scenes, a plan is underway for the alien race of Vercorians to resume the invasion plans of the Manbiyan system initiated years ago. The Vercorians believe Manbiyan is a part of their empire and they intend to keep it. Padmon must use all of his skills if he stands any chance of holding off the Vercorians who have partnered with a race of reptilians known as the Ratarans. A fierce war unlike anything previously known is on the verge of commencing.

In the cool of April 1936, scientists Daniel Adams and Charles Chamberlane receive a mysterious package that includes a key and a map of the Belgian Congo. The directions say more packages are to be found, and the end result will be Adams's destiny. The note is signed "The Future." Suffering from unrequited love, Adams accepts the challenge and Chamberlane follows. They travel the world collecting pieces of advanced technology that only once completed and assembled will reveal their true function. Adams and Chamberlane encounter two mysterious men both named Mark-one is trying to stop them at any cost, while the other seemingly tries to help. Adams travels through time-1566, 1938, 2286, 1937, 2517, 1880, and finally back to 2481. Along the way, he encounters a mysterious woman who seems to know both him and the identity of his benefactor and his true motivations. Adams ponders the identity of the mysterious woman and wonders if and when she will reveal all she knows.