A peaceful Earth, five major powers united in global governance. An International Space Service, exploring the stars for new homes and signs of life. An ever-expanding Alternia, convinced of its own supremacy, willing to tolerate no threats, willing to acknowledge no others. A species with a history drowning in its own blood, in turning on itself, in destroying anything that seems other, in taking any excuse for a war. (That last one was humanity. Trolls are about to find out they've made a big fucking mistake.)

It's a cross between an office romance and a hostile alien takeover, and it ends just the way you would expect.

Evgeni Malkin is thirteen when he soul bonds.

The hydrophones have been picking up nonsense for the past three days and Zhenya has had it up to here, honestly.