It is the age of the Celestial Empire, and the mighty civilizations of Imperial China and Mexica have taken their ancient war into space. Now, as they fight a desperate war of attrition for control of the red planet, Fire Star, two disgraced soldiers are picked to lead a suicide mission, piloting a salvaged Mexica spacecraft to Xolotl, the asteroid stronghold of their enemies. But when they arrive, their ship packed with enough explosives to turn the Mexica base to dust, they find dozens of Chinese prisoners destined to be used as human sacrifices, and suddenly their suicide mission becomes a dangerous rescue operation.