The Shongairi conquered Earth. In mere minutes, half the human race died, and the cities lay in shattered ruins. But the Shongairi didn't expect the survivors' tenacity. And, crucially, they didn't know that Earth harbored two species of intelligent, tool-using bipeds. One of them was human. The other, long-lived and lethal, was hiding in the mountains of eastern Europe, the subject of fantasy and legend. When they emerged and made alliance with humankind, the invading aliens didn't stand a chance. Meanwhile, a select few of the blood-drinking immortals are on their way to the Shongairi homeworld, having comandeered one of the alien starships.