Alpha One is participating in Omega's very first First Contact diplomatic operation. Unfortunately, it's going to split up the team-the Cortians, a race from the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy, have stringent requirements, and that narrows down the list of "candidate exchange students" to...Echo. ONLY Echo. PGLEIA's top Division One Agent, the man being groomed to be the next Director...and Omega's partner. A plum assignment, for the pick of the crop. But Omega doesn't see it that way, though she can't-or won't-explain why. She is determined to stop the mission from going forward. At any cost. Why is Omega trying to scuttle a diplomatic mission? What is she seeing that more experienced Agents aren't? Why won't the others listen? Is something bigger, more menacing, happening to her-to them? Will-CAN-Alpha One survive?