One hundred and fifty years have passed since Allen Chandliss discovered an "alien" signal. Earth is once again looking to the stars and the Unified Space Survey is busy exploring as well as establishing contact with lost human colonies. Merritt Thackery has dreamed of joining the Survey since childhood and prepared himself well for when the call comes. But when he is called to service, will he be ready for his final mission...to go farther than anyone has travelled before and seek out an all-powerful enemy in a quest that may determine the future of humanity itself.