The year is 2137. Earth has been drawn into its first intragalactic war with the matriarchal alien race, the Nivchar, over the mineral rich Canaan (asteroid) Belt. Agnostic solider Paul Morphy, evangelical solider Helena Sapphira, and their commander Jim Keck are ordered to go on a suicide mission to the Nivcharvian's home world to rescue a captured spy.
When they find the spy, she is dead, and they realize too late that the Nivchar have set a trap. Commander Keck sacrifices himself so that Paul and Helena can barely escape with their lives. They find refuge in a strange Nivcharvian temple-like building. While hiding out, they witness a ceremony that bears shocking similarities to Christian church services.
After the ceremony, and once all of the Nivchar exit the building, they use a device to translate a Bible-like book. They learn about Shiv'yon, who the Nivchar were apparently worshipping during their ceremony. Her life, death, and resurrection have uncanny parallels to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While Helena is horrified and disgusted by the idea that Shiv'yon could be a Nivcharvian Christ figure, Paul is enthralled and ultimately obsessed with this revelation. This obsession leads Paul on a faith journey to rediscover his belief in God. It also inspires him to use this revelation to try to bring an end to the bloody Canaan Belt War.