With Arkonide technology in the hands of the US army, Perry Rhodan and his team mount a dangerous recovery mission. Disguised as the president himself, Rhodan brings alien Thora da Zoltral and telepath John Marshall straight into enemy territory to steal back a starship that far exceeds any of Earth’s capabilities. But can they deceive one of the president’s oldest friends? Back in the nascent city of Terrania, supplies are scarce. What should be the gateway to the stars is still a building site where volunteer workers survive on meager rations. New arrivals Julian and Mildred soon find their disappointment replaced with awe, however, as they meet some of the city’s strangest residents—and when a theft occurs, they step up to help Bull find the perpetrators. Meanwhile, Crest learns that his true reason for traveling to Earth is not as secret as he thought... The world is in chaos and suspicions abound as mankind inches ever closer to the dream of the stars.

Amid crises in politics, climate change, terrorism, and more, humanity’s limited remaining hope lies in science and an increasingly decrepit space program. When a key moon base goes dark, it’s up to chief astronaut Perry Rhodan and his crew to mount a rescue operation - or so the story goes in the press. The truth about Rhodan’s mission, however, is a deeper, greater secret than the public can imagine, and the aftermath of what Rhodan finds will change Earth - if not the entire universe - forever... if there's still an Earth for him to come home to.

While in captivity, Rhodan attempts to learn all he can about his captors, the Naats. He plans on using that knowledge to formulate a plan using psychic communication with his comrades in the hope of saving as many of the Tosoma's survivors as possible. But a power struggle is brewing among the Naats, and Novaal's leadership is unexpectedly challenged by an unlikely opponent, potentially upending the current order. In a base on Rayold’s largest moon, commander Tresk-Takuhn does all he can to defend his lunar fortress against the assailants amid a stunning discovery made by his old friend Hisab-Benkh. With the fate of Topsid at stake, his efforts are desperate—but he has a few tricks up his sleeve that the Naats don’t know about. Meanwhile, back on Topsid, Manoli teams up with the Arkonide robot, Rico, to repair the mysterious transmitter and escape the despot once and for all.

The heat is rising in the Gobi Desert as Perry Rhodan struggles to defend his utopian city-in-the-making from hostile forces. All his alien technology is gone or broken, leaving little room for optimism, and even his enemies are mired in conspiracies and intrigues, with the threat of a nuclear strike from a shadowy cabal looming. John Marshall and his superpowered companions have escaped the nefarious Clifford Monterny, but Sid, the teleporter, is unconscious and struggling to survive. On a remote island, Marshall and a team of similarly gifted individuals join forces to delve deep into Sid’s memories. To save him, they must uncover the truth about his life on the streets of Nicaragua and the “rescue” that brought him to Camp Specter, where all was not as it seemed... Meanwhile, the only alien on Earth is now in Monterny’s clutches. Will mankind ever come together and find its way to the stars?

The utopian city has fallen! Terrania, which was supposed to be a new starting point for all of humanity, ends up in the Chinese army’s clutches after a nuclear explosion. Desperate to avoid arrest, Perry Rhodan and Reginald Bull make a daring escape in a makeshift aircraft. All is not as it seems in Terrania, however. With the help of telepath John Marshall and his companions, General Bai Jun is getting ready to execute a plan that puts him starkly at odds with his government masters. Meanwhile, Arkonide commander Thora da Zoltral is trapped on Venus after being shot down. As she begins to explore a puzzling ancient base, she starts to realize that this might not be the first time the Arkonides have ventured to our solar system. Little does she know that as she investigates these new developments, back on Earth, her foster father is about to stand trial in the United States. With mankind unable to put aside its petty differences and come together, the promise of the stars looks as far away as ever.

Aescunnar follows Hetcher out into the untamed Martian landscape, desperate to save him and find some answers. Meanwhile, the Tosoma has docked at a Mehandor Web for repair, but intrigue and secrets threaten to derail the mission. Rhodan and his crew face off with an alien race while facing uncomfortable truths among their own ranks. On Topsid, the chase is on for Eric Manoli and Khatleen-Tarr, who have been forced to go on the run now that dissidents have turned the streets into a war zone. With a hunter on their trail who will stop at nothing, they are forced to take refuge in the sewers. But these are no ordinary sewers, and Manoli is about to learn why the Topsidans fear descending into them... Back on Earth, Bai Jun is determined to find out what Adams is hiding and sends Lhundup into the depths of the Stardust Tower, where its foundations are being built. Poor Lhundup doesn’t make a very good miner...but who is this mysterious woman he meets there, and what secrets does she hold?

With alien threats out of the way, a new day dawns for humanity. Tragic revelations are afoot, however, as Crest learns he has very little time left and is driven to resume his search for eternal life. When he travels beyond reach, it’s up to Rhodan, Thora, and their team to look for him by using one of the transmitters. But this ancient technology works in mysterious ways. Instead of finding Crest, they emerge on a war-torn alien world with no hope, no compassion...and no way back. Meanwhile, Mildred and Julian take Gucky, the alien Mousebeaver with both telepathic and telekinetic abilities, on a road trip across the USA. Their goal? To find Julian’s father, William Tifflor, who disappeared after defending Crest during his trial. With nefarious forces at play, it’s not long before Gucky is separated from his human companions...and finds himself unable to use his powers. Dangers past and present are lurking around every corner as Earth's heroes take their next step towards the stars.