In the 73rd century the vast artificial intelligence known as the Artilect is preparing to make war. Its opponent is the swarms - a vast horde of trillions of micromachines that have wiped out nearly all of mankind. The Artilect wants to engage them in battle before they can destroy Tau Ceti, the last human colony.
But things are not as they seem. The swarms are not the only enemy that the Artilect has to worry about. There is another, much greater foe that has been disturbed after sleeping for thousands of years. It will do everything it can to destroy the Artilect and kill all those it is trying to protect...
