Warfare has changed. Long gone are the days of open hostility between humans, corporations rule the land, skies, and space. The only fighting that happens now is between mercenaries and private security. The fighting is a never-ending, carefully choreographed stalemate, by the Yen, over just a few scraps of technology left behind by an ancient race that everyone wants to get their hands on. The Protectors are trying to keep the status quo. Outbound on a routine shipping run. What they discover will change the course of human events.