In a nearby solar system, on a planet called Zeta 04 orbiting a brown dwarf star, a war is presently being fought between two megacorporations over a rare resource named "Thykion" (tie-key-awn) that can be used as a valuable energy source. These corps are inner-sphere powerhouses, The Farren-Sieg Conglomerate, and Sigma Energy Dynamics.

This story follows the tale of an experimental mechanized unit, the Verdict Battle Group, that belong to a mercenary outfit, Metal Shell.