The Million Cities covered every inch of Earth's surface with a gleaming metal skin - and penetrated almost to the planet's core. Billions of people crowded them, using up the last depleted resources of an aging world. There was no hope for mankind but exploring and colonizing new frontiers beyond the sky.

The Chartists were the only people with the ability to build a spaceship -were within reach of success...

And then the government outlawed space travel - and began a vicious reign of terror against the Chartists!