Pillar Betsy Doeth's lifelong work has been to protect the general population of Earth from the knowledge of magic and aliens. She has acted as a liaison and diplomat between humanity and other alien races. Some of the friendlier aliens, like the chanzii, have helped her and the other Pillars lock the planet's borders against hostile visitors. As one of the few Earthlings with magic, walking the line between aliens and the majority of people who don't know about either the extraterrestrial or wizardry, had been challenging and exciting enough for anyone's life work.

What Betsy didn't need was an invasion, caught on the internet, instantly informing everyone on the planet of the truth of aliens and magic in one fell swoop.

Following the krottel invasion, Betsy finds her life consumed by being the public face of the Pillars. While her life is taken over with public appearances, only less awful because she's joined by the gorgeous chanziian, Major Violet North, the other Pillars research the effect the influx of magic has had in the world. Betsy splits her time investigating a town of magic users previously unknown to the Pillars. Until this discovery, Betsy and the Pillars believed they were the only magic wielders on Earth.

As a group of five Pillars, can they stay ahead of the number of people suddenly figuring out magic, using its power as a religious hammer, or wanting to research it for their own ends?