Revel Pretor was five years old when the trajectory of the human species radically changed. Roger Pretor, his astronomer father, discovered a seemingly obscure object hurtling through space at an unusual pace. Roger issued further instructions for the telescope on the moon's far side to track it and continued his day. Shortly thereafter, the military, domestic, and foreign governments would get involved. Roger, Revel, and the rest of their family are whisked away when Revel's parents are chosen for a task force to try to find the best way to undertake the first human-to-alien contact that may decide the fate of humanity. Humanity is then struck with the revelation that space is teeming with all sorts of life. Some are like the Benevolent, offering aid with the ability to save Revel, his family, and all of humanity. Some, like the Animos, are on a bloodthirsty mission to eradicate all other sentient species in pursuit of a twisted sense of vengeance. And then there are other, more enigmatic species. As Revel ages, he is chosen to go toward the Animos' last known location. Becca, his sister, decides to stay and fight on Earth, while other members of humanity and Benevolent have their own battles to fight in an uncaring, violent galaxy. With the help of the Benevolent, the people of Earth create ark ships to salvage what they can from the onslaught of the Animos. However, against an overwhelmingly advanced species like the Animos, Humanity, and the Benevolent can only run so far and so fast. At some point, Humanity must rise against its adversary. Until then, it is their time to wander.