In the shadow of the cosmos, an unstoppable alien fleet advances, leaving a trail of conquered worlds in its wake. The Xortaag armada, an epitome of galactic might, now sets its sights on Earth. Yet hope flickers in the most unlikely of heroes: a maverick starfighter pilot with a penchant for movie quotes, a daredevil stuntwoman, a lethal super-assassin, and a cosmic spymaster. Their mission: to shield not just humanity, but billions of other intelligent lifeforms spanning the multiverse.

Commander Noa Sato plans a peaceful leave on her home planet, Luddeccea, but winds up interrogated and imprisoned for her involvement in the Archangel Project. A project she knows nothing about. Professor James Sinclair wakes in the snow, not remembering the past 24 hours or knowing why he is being pursued. The only thing he knows is that he has to find Commander Sato, a woman he's never met.

When Noah sees an advertisement offering him a chance to rent a starship, he’s convinced it has to be a trick. Already having the worst day of his life, he’s willing to do anything for a distraction, including following a random stranger’s directions to the middle of nowhere to see a ship he doubts exists. Except there is no trick. The starship is real. And Noah’s life will never be the same.

Leo MacGavin is not the brightest specimen of humanity, but when he inadvertently rescues a flirty alien heiress, he’s promoted from second-rate lounge entertainer to captain of the galaxy’s most sophisticated cruise ship. Before he can flee in terror, a human-hating executive gives Leo an ultimatum: complete the vessel’s maiden voyage or mankind’s last colony will be turned into a sewage dump. To make matters worse, a militant cyborg is undermining his authority, a giant spider is terrifying the passengers, and a sentient plant keeps stealing all the beer.

Smuggling is a dangerous business, and Reese Daniels has the score of a lifetime within his grasp. However, getting shot down on one of Uranus' moons wasn't part of his plan. Stranded and on the run in the middle of an alien invasion, Reese must work with a group of marine cadets to escape a grisly fate.