Confederate Rising

In the year 2396 AD, Humanity is divided between the Empire and the Confederation, and surrounded by mostly hostile alien races.The Third Solomani Empire recognises the Solomani Confederation as a distinct group mostly so as to prevent the more predatory aliens from taking advantage of the infighting. Tensions, however, continue. Especially on Tau Ceti II, important due to its strategic location, even though it is not a manufacturing planet, being mostly a water-world.Mindful of its importance to the defence of Terra, the Solomani Empire has placed an embargo on Tau Ceti II to prevent insurgency and rebellion, attempting to gradually subjugate it to Imperial will, policing the system with four superclass carriers and increasingly brutal Imperial interference.Tau Ceti II, however, is also considered the spiritual home of the Solomani Confederation, because it was the first human colony outside of the Sol system, established in secret in the remote year of 1999 AD, when most of Humanity was unaware they had antigravity technology and were in a Cold War in space between the Humans of Terra and the Greys, from Zeta Reticuli. In this dangerous situation with opportunity for profit, fame, and victory, as well as loss, infamy and disaster, a fast merchant ship is trying to run the embargo on Tau Ceti II with a very special cargo aboard...