When the aliens came, the world changed forever, but not even they imagined how.

Professor Haral Karden is wry, skeptical, and the longstanding leader of his field, the history of first contacts between cultures. When aliens arrive in a fleet of beautiful ships, with benevolent words, and offering amazing technological gifts, he asks the simple question - what do they want in return? As ambitious politicians attempt to use the situation to seize power, they instead plunge the world into chaos. Karden and a group of quirky brilliant warm-humored friends uncover the true nature of the aliens and their ancient galaxy-spanning civilization, and what they will do if their offer is refused. In the process, they become the unlikely leaders of a revolution.