In the Steampunk World of Brass & Steel, sabers are rattling. The International Air Navigation Conference, held in glittering style at the great palace of Versailles in spring 1910, has been a smashing success, with an agreement between Britain and Germany set to lower tensions in central Europe. As the conference closes, a distinguished British scientist has been kidnapped, taking with him the secrets of Project Aphaea – cutting-edge stealth technology. The British have sent a highly skilled special operations team on their most advanced airship to recover him at any cost. But the mission into the German Empire must be completed carefully and quietly or the progress of the conference could quickly be erased.