An ancient, crashed starship on a new Pact Worlds colony in the Vast draws the attention of the sinister Azlanti Star Empire, who invade and annex the colony, remove an experimental starship drive from the crash site, and kidnap one of the colonists. The heroes must liberate the colony from Azlanti occupation before venturing inside the mysterious Star Empire, in search of both the experimental drive and the kidnapped colonist, who is an old friend of the heroes. Will the heroes rescue their friend and keep the drive out of Azlanti hands, or will the might of the Azlanti Star Empire crush them as it has so many others who have stood against the Aeon Throne?
The Reach of Empire
By Ron Lundeen
Hired to transport supplies to a new Pact Worlds colony in the Vast, the heroes discover that the Azlanti Star Empire has invaded and occupied the colony with a small military force. The heroes must liberate the colony from its merciless oppressors, only to learn that the Azlanti have taken both an experimental starship drive and one of the colonists—an old friend of the heroes—back to the Star Empire!
Escape from the Prison Moon
By Eleanor Ferron
Deputized by the interstellar police force called the Stewards for freeing a colony from Azlanti occupation, the heroes journey to the Azlanti Star Empire to rescue their captive friend from a well-guarded prison moon. After visiting an outlaw space station nearby, the heroes stage a daring breakout and clash against the penal colony's commandant. But the experimental starship drive is still at large, and the heroes must track it down to prevent the Azlanti from making it operational!
The Rune Drive Gambit
By Larry Wilhelm
The heroes must infiltrate a secluded Azlanti science facility and liberate the captive scientists forced to study an experimental starship drive to keep it out of their enemies' hands. They soon learn of the device's reality-warping power first-hand, but standing in their way is the dastardly Azlanti noble who has orchestrated the entire plot!