Christie Burke

With the weight of humanity's survival on Tom and Lexi's shoulders, they must defeat Tom's mortal enemy and destroy the Espheni Power Core. Meanwhile, an Espheni bomb is dropped onto Chinatown - immobilising the 2nd Mass and preparing them for Human Skitterizaton.

The 2nd Mass picks up the pieces after an alien attack leaves Maggie fighting for her life... and Hal fighting for Maggie. Tom and Dingaan Botha are cut off from the rest of the group, buried under tons of rubble, where they must rely on an Enemy Ship to rescue them.

Tom and the remnants of the 2nd Mass learn to pilot a Beamer as part of their plan to destroy the Espheni Power Core, and the group draws straws to see who will embark on the dangerous mission.