Matriarch

The narrative explores the impending arrival of the Eqbas, who seek to reclaim Earth as punishment for humanity's past actions against an alien species. Before confronting Earth, they focus on the overcrowded planet inhabited by the insect-like isenj, where attempts to control their population have ignited a brutal civil war. This conflict may ultimately serve the Eqbas' goals, leaving human observers powerless as the situation unfolds. Themes of ecological devastation and moral reckoning are central to the story.