The Final Essential may be the completion of the duology Triad, which began using the novel Schism, and which reveals the epic story of what sort of war of galactic proportions first exploded between two great empires and the way the Ruby Dynasty reached maturity. Schism ended using the Skolian Empire torn asunder by personal discord inside the royal family. With THE ULTIMATE Essential, the Skolian Empire comes under all-out assault from its nemesis, the Euban Concord (Investors). They possess undermined the Empire via subterfuge and assassination, departing it ripe for conquest. The Skolian Empire’s only hope? A woman barely out of her teenagers who hasn’t actually completed her schooling like a cadet.