He and Hrriss are tricked into responding to a distress call in interdicted territory for the purpose of destroying their reputations. If they are found guilty, the penalty is exile from his beloved home. There is intrigue involving Earth government, who still believe that the colony should belong only to Humans, and complications, involving the son of the Reeves' oldest enemy, who comes to Doona to participate in the annual Snake Hunt. Todd Reeve is in the midst of acrimonious negotiations over a new space port on Doonarrala when a giant spaceship, many times larger than anything from Earth, arrives in orbit. Its inhabitants are the Gringg, a huge, bearlike species who appear to be intelligent and gentle - but many of the humans won't trust them.
Xenophobia is still strong in the Earth colonies.
Overcoming the language barrier is only the first problem that faces Todd and his lifelong friend Hrriss. Introducing a third element between Hayuman and Hrruban will change the balance forever. A great space novel that only someone of the caliber of the writing team of McCaffrey and Nye could produce. Serious space exploration can have its lighter moments too. Brainship Carialle and her brawn Keff amuse themselves with a complicated role-playing game to pass the long months in deep space.