Two universes joined by a wormhole pair that forms a 'loophole', with an icemoon orbiting through the loophole, shared between two different planetary systems in the two universes. A civilisation with uploaded minds in virtual reality served by artificial humans. A ravening Horde of replicating machines that kill stars. Real humans from a decrepit system of colony worlds. A race of hyperintelligent but somewhat vague aliens. Who will close the loophole... who will exploit it?