After a century of peace, the Drenhari armada has returned.  Distracted and divided, caught in the midst of celebration, the Federation scrambles to reach a forgotten entrance to their territory. This entrance lays on the doorstep of humanity, unguarded by their fleets which parade weeks away.  A ghost of the old war, retired Admiral Sterran Kreischer shoulders his old responsibilities once more with the help of an alien Witch. The Federation’s ambassador to humanity, Ohrdin. With limited resources they seek to force an overwhelming enemy down into the valley trenches of HE-1, a frozen wasteland of ice, rock and torrential wind.  A pair of ships, seventeen thousand soldiers, witchcraft and a burning desperation to spare their home the horrors of war. How many of these will be lost trading lives for time? In the face of swarming foes, consuming winter and a seemingly impossible task, will determination be enough or will the promise of devastation awaken an equal cruelty in them?