A monstrous conspiracy is brewing against the LaNague Federation and the freedoms it guarantees to its member planets-at least that's what Old Pete says. He's come to the offices of Interstellar Business Advisors, a firm he cofounded more than half a century before, to enlist the aid of its current CEO, Josephine Finch. Dubious at first, Jo humors the old man by promising to look into the matter. She does not have to look far before she is convinced...

Steven Dalt should have died in that cave on the planet Kwashi. After all, as the natives say, of a thousand people attacked by the cave-dwelling alaret, nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine will die. Dalt survives, but not without personal cost: he has picked up a passenger: an alien intelligence transferred itself from the alaret to take up residence in his brain. Steven Dalt will never be alone again. But Pard, as Dalt names the alien who shares his life,...

Meet Peter LaNague-citizen of the planet Tolive, devotee of the Kyfho philosophy, revolutionary agent provocateur. But LaNague is planning a unique revolution. One that not only topples the entrenched Outworld Imperium, but fundamentally alters every outworlder's concept of government as well. To accomplish this he must ally himself with a madman, trust the word of the last of Sol System's robber barons, make incisive use of the consummate warriors...