All Shall Go to Wrack

Humanity barely holds back the spidery zhizhu, voracious competitors for rare Earth-like worlds. Imperial Fleet ships have disappeared from the Reserve Anchorage near Proxima Centauri. Piracy is increasing along Yi Tan's Reach. Human "Manifest Destiny" fanatics are preparing biological genocide of Tau Ceti IV's non-human bipeds while sympathizers in Fleet itself prepare for open rebellion.