On Destrire, a far-flung planet at the edge of Humanity's galactic empire, a sleepy little colony is slowly being forgotten by its Imperial guardians. Life on the colony continues, as the human colonials and their new alien neighbors find ways to build a peaceful home for all. But trouble brews on the other side of the continent, thanks to a secret, centuries-old program to form a covert prison on Destrire. Ther, unknown to the colonists, the empire has an established dumping ground for political prisoners. Stripped of the basic necessities, the prisoners have evolved into a barbaric frontier civilization, ready to plunder and despoil the colony. The prisoners begin a brutal series of raids that destroys. Caught in the conflict is one church-going family and their alien friend. In a desperate attempt the reunite with her family, one woman must turn to her alien friend for support. Equally torn by the recent exposure to the horrors that humanity willingly unleashes upon its own, the aliens must now make a choice. Will they support the colony or the offspring of the prisoners? The future of civilization on the planet awaits.