The third instalment in the acclaimed Structure series sees Delgado and Ashala catapulted into a future Seriatt occupied by the Sinz - a three-species race of humanoid, avian and amphibian form. Cut off from their distant home world of Hascaaza, the Sinz on Seriatt have established a barrier around the planet to protect them while they await reinforcements, plundering its resources as they prepare to invade other neighbouring worlds. But despite their apparent strength, the Sinz are vulnerable, reliant on the basillia - a gigantic subterranean organism - for their existence. Realising this weakness, Structure's Commander Supreme, General William Myson, orders Colonel Viktor Saskov to go to Serriatt to kill the basillia and retrieve the time gate. But there are powerful forces at work which could disrupt their plans. Meanwhile, the integrity of time itself is threatened - and only one man has the power to ensure that stability is maintained, and that the course of events runs true.