Earth defense - the beginning

mark sully is a software architect approached by a representative of billionaire george ellenberg. he saved a failing project for the billionaire and is now tasked with signing onto a much larger project to build a sentient, sapient ai named tertia.the project will align mark with mia constance, who brings tertia to life. as a team, they detect and stop multiple threats on earth, which leads them to take on a much more significant role - where mark declares himself supreme commander of earth defense.he leads earth defense in building a starship and exploring the galaxy. in doing so, he quickly encounters alien life and finds that the galactic council controls much of the area. earth is on a no-contact list, and mark is given one year to show progress to the council.the galaxy is now aware that earth can reach the stars. will earth recognize his self-imposed title and authority? what will happen at the end of the year? did he just open earth to alien assaults?