Standing Alone. Cast Adrift, #2

Five years ago, the human race became independent as the Alphan Empire conceded it could no longer sustain its grip on Earth and withdrew, casting an unprepared humanity adrift on an interstellar sea of troubles.  Since then, humanity has struggled mightily to secure its position in a galaxy full of hungry predators, many of whom see Earth as nothing more than a prize to be won. Now, one of the galaxy's superpowers has set its sights on Earth, launching a covert campaign to weaken and isolate the human race before it moves in for the kill.  As their plan comes into the open, and the scale of the threat becomes apparent, the human race finds itself caught between a war it cannot win and shameful submission to dangerously inhuman race ... ...
And if Earth loses the war, humanity's short-lived independence will come to an end once again.