"Can we even begin to understand the motivation of a completely nonhuman race..."

United Earth needs strong colonies who can stand by her as allies, not rebellious subject planets.

Kepler III is peopled by colonists of Asiatic origin, their ruler prepared to lie and cheat for independence, their future threatened by monstrous mutations.

Decoyed into deep space, Commander Tom Bruce finds that the planet which his starship Venturer Twelve was to protect lies at the mercy of an unknown enemy.

On his actions depends the future of the human race...