Magic space dust that makes warp drive work only exists on Giant Worm Planet. Warp drive only works when one of the mysterious navigators eats some, allowing them to "travel without traveling". (Hint, they're giant space worms, I can't remember if this is revealed early in the books or not, but it's right at the start in the movies).

Space Nazis in charge of worm planet made their emperor mad, so he gave the planet to a different clan.

Space Nazis hated that, so they attempt to sabotage the planet handover.

So do the natives of worm planet.

So do the worms of worm planet.

Worm planet natives win with the help of the "prince" of the clan that took over. Prince of that new clan earns the respect of, and becomes the leader of, the worm planet natives, who collectively fight off the emperor and the space Nazi's combined forces at the end of book 1.

At the start of Book 2 (12 year time skip) the pince is the emperor of the known universe.

At some point after this he space prince's son turns into a worm.