Centuries after Earth’s demise, the last untainted human embryos travel through space sleeping in artificial wombs. The orphan generation onboard the Midnight Star, one of the many cradle ships, awakens on Xan Haltar, a verdant world selected by their ancestors’ algorithm. A new home.

However, this lush world is not as untouched as the ship’s probes led it to believe. The Xan, an advanced race who follow a strict code of duty and honor, have deliberately avoided humanity for many decades. But now, when humans land in their backyard, confrontation is no longer optional.

The young survivors, still learning to use their ancestors’ technology, are unprepared for the territorial dispute they’ve unknowingly instigated. They face an impossible diplomatic challenge with no experience or guidance.

Perhaps more concerning is that the Xan possess crucial knowledge about cosmic events that occurred during humanity’s long journey—information that could fundamentally alter everything these orphans understand about their purpose and heritage.