This is the first in a fairly long lived shared world series set in the same universe as the 'The Fleet' stories from the same editors. Humanity is supreme in its own part of the galaxy and is wondering how to decommission the vast forces that had fought the last war. A group of emissaries from the central regions of the galaxy turn up with tales of a vast invasion force from one of the other spiral arms of the galaxy and ask succour of humanity. There were those who wanted nothing of this foreign adventure, especially after they learnt the cost of building a battlestation to carry the necessary personnel forward. This massive undertaking is partially funded by allowing merchants aboard the station and charging rent.

The stories look at various aspects of life aboard the station and in contact with the enemy. Given the fact of the continuing series, this set of stories barely gets us to the front lines, never mind reach anything that might be considered a conclusion and some of the stories are barely connected to the background either. ( )