Exo-Archaeologist Stoker Payne, adept at uncovering the stories of alien races, found much more than he expected on Kiana. Not only did his crew's discoveries change everything they knew about the docile Kians, their findings ultimately changed their very lives as well as the expansion of the Coalition of Planets. Sometimes success can cause an unseen defeat. But who, exactly, is the loser?

Stoker Payne loved exoarchaeology, every thing old was always new, Dig N-19 on Kiana was just another elaborate alien puzzle - until they got down to LEVEL SIX and make a discovery that changes his life, and perhaps cosmic history.Welcome to the 32nd century.