This was a more complicated book. The fight between T.E.R.R.A. and Empire is just a side fight. The main fight is psychological, within agent Hannibal Fortune. Meanwhile, something has affected the timeline on the northern coast of Africa during the Punic Wars. Remember Rome versus Carthage? General Publius Cornelius Scipio's Legions and King Syphax's barbarians against General Hasdrubal of Carthage? But the timeline now shows Hasdrubal and Syphax against Scipio. Rome would be wiped out instead of Carthage. Empire up to its old tricks, but why? Special Agent Hannibal has to find out and set things right for future time to exist as it does. Along the way, we get a long history lesson, as Agent Hannibal intervenes in the fight, posing as a spy for Scipio, and stopping an elephant charge along the way. The story is continued from Agent of T.E.R.R.A. #3, so Webley, Luise, and Ronel are there too, but another symbiote must partner with Agent Hannibal as he battles toward Carthage.