Seemed to be more of a filler than anything. The usual characters are mostly absent, but powerful religious people appear instead.
Venus produces a device which it sends to the Outer Solar System that creates wormholes to other devices in other solar systems. Venus also appoints Miller to investigate why the aliens that created it have not been in contact.
Another member of the Mao family tries to regain honour for the family.

In places, this book reminded me of the less-interesting parts of the Family D'Alembert series by EE Doc Smith.