Hadeya Etsul finds herself consolidated into a Cadian regiment and placed in command of a Leman Russ Demolisher on the war-torn world of Croatoas. Haunted by nightmares, surrounded by a dysfunctional crew, and striving to find her place amidst a proud and insular regiment, Etsul fights to guide her unit to victory. As her regiment rolls out to join a death-or-glory offensive, the crew of Steel Tread must learn to work as one, or die trying.