After two thousand years of isolation, the lost colony world of Aashla has reestablished contact with the rest of galactic civilization. Princess Callan of Mordan, and her royal consort, Terran Scout David Rice, were the people who made that happen. Now, they lead the mission to ensure that Aashla’s unique culture is not overwhelmed by the galaxy-spanning Terran Federation.But on a routine inspection tour of Federation scientific outposts, Callan and David are horrified to find an abandoned camp and a mass grave. When an unnatural storm knocks their airship out of the sky, they’re forced to confront their worst nightmare. Someone has smuggled forbidden galactic technology onto Aashla–and whoever they are, their trail of murder and destruction has only just begun…