Synopsis: After the events of "The Reticuli Deception", the Velkaryan ship Carcharodon finds itself in deep space. They divert toward 82 Eridani, a star with a settled planet, Tanith, not far off their course home. Star pilot "Jackie" Roberts just wants to run a little freight for a while and head home to Tau Ceti. But Ducayne's intelligence agency, whom she owes for repairs to her ship, has other plans. He needs her to continue on to 82 Eridani to pick something up from one of his agents. Back at Alpha Centauri, archeologist Hannibal Carson has a near-death experience after a run-in with the Velkaryans. Ducayne suggests he leave town -- in fact the whole star system -- for a while, and sends him to 82 Eridani to examine the object Roberts is retrieving. Carson, Roberts, and the Velkaryans aren't the only ones headed to Tanith. There are aliens involved, in more ways than one, and Carson & Roberts are in for some surprises. Meanwhile, the Velkaryans on both Earth and the settled planets are intent on gaining their own advantage, both political and -- if Ducayne's people are reading the signs right -- military.