The century-long war was over at last. Attention turns to the lingering threat of the ancient conflict that caused Fractal Space to be built in the first place. The newly-formed Fractal Commission aims to open all the remaining gateways and warn the races beyond of the danger. Only then can everyone be safe.

The Kitrano know nothing of Fractal Space, but that doesn't blunt their determination to explore nearby star systems. Exotic matter specialist Laz Turka begins his career at the Institute of Physics on Kitran, working with scary genius Cayt Noosk. She knows how to create wormholes. All she needs is exotic matter.

They're at a loss when their experiments fail catastrophically. Nothing makes any sense, but they're determined to make it work, one way or another. They have no idea they've attracted the attention of one of the ancient enemies.

The Fractal Commission has problems of its own. New schisms emerge to threaten their mission and keep them unaware of the Kitrano. It becomes an unwitting race against time. Only death awaits the losers - if they're lucky. The final novel in the Fractal Space trilogy.