Commander Tarik Connar and the rest of his old crew are transported to the star cluster Ursa Major. An ancient threat to the peoples of entire planetary systems seems to have become active again. Connar, bearer of the Ancient Force, legatee, and heir of the Ellio'sh starts with his ship SORROW to a solar system only 160 light years away from Earth, when an unknown TOHIKUM station sends out the call.