Earth has won the stars but is losing the war with the Prolaxians, an alien race with superior technology. Eamon Coren has the task of field-testing a new type military warrior against that technology; the Hoplite. Replacing the old robotic system which was basically a mobile weapons chassis, a Hoplite is able to think, learn and evolve. Restrained only by a strong moral code regarding humankind collectively insures the program has its share of enemies to interfere with the Hoplite testing. For better or worse it quickly evolves into something more than its designers envisioned