In the far future the human race has discovered interstellar travel, and colonised far-flung worlds. However the accidental explosion of one of their ships brings the planet Martine to the attention of the most powerful interstellar empire, The aloof Abh - an elven-featured race who expand by incorporating other worlds into their trading empire, rather than by outright military conquest. Faced with overwhelming odds, the ruler of Martine surrenders his world without a shot in exchange for becoming an Abh nobleman, and sends his son, Jinto, to the Abh military academy to be trained as a noble. The main story begins years later when Jinto, now 17 years and a (human) Abh Noble, is picked up by the Abh Princess Lafiel to take his place in the empire. Unfortunately, shortly after the two meet, an incident plunges the Abh Empire into an interstellar war.