Brad Lansky and Alex John are veteran space explorers. Zara, a life form scientist on Earth, is collaborating on a research project with Sandy Larkin in a distant part of the Milky Way. Sandy has discovered a new intelligent life form, but his transmissions suddenly stop without warning. Soon after, Zara is paid a visit by an alien Nomad who claims to have Sandy’s coordinates, but will only part with them at a price, claiming that a hostile life form at these coordinates destroyed his ship.

Distraught, Zara calls on Brad for help, knowing that he and Sandy were good friends back in flight school. Brad and Alex mount a rescue mission, but how should they best prepare for it? Have the Nomad’s people kidnapped Sandy, or are they dealing with a hostile new life form? And how should they prepare for an encounter with a powerful life form they know almost nothing about?