Synopsis: Spanning the human galaxy, the Empire is all-powerful, its agents everywhere, its military forces huge and technologically advanced. No human or alien forces gave ever been able to stand against its power. But now, on the planet of Accord, at the Ecolitan Institute, the seeds of change have been sown. Jimjoy Earle Wright was a secret agent in the Empire forces - until his employers decided to kill him for political reasons. But Jimjoy survived the assassination attempts and fought his was to safety on Accord. And there the Ecolitan Institute won his loyalty and changed his identity. (adapted from the back cover of the first edition)