Readying her Galactic Exploration department for a routine debriefing of a Dushau planetary scouting team led by Prince Jindigar, the newly dubbed "Lady" Zavaronne finds that the new Emperor has jailed some of her Dushau as scapegoats for his political failures. Assuming its all a mistake, Zavaronne befriends the team's Artificial Intelligence, Arlai, and breaks the team survivors out of jail. But when the Emperor embargoes the Dushau homeworld, she must decide which side she's on before the Emperor destroys the whole galactic civilzation.

Lady Zavaronne's story continues in the sequel Farfetch, and Prince Jindigar's story in the third book, Outreach reveals the alien Dushau notions of reincarnation and karma.