Alien Empire

Professor Haral Karden is wry, skeptical, and the longstanding leader of his field - the history of first contacts between cultures. When aliens arrive in a fleet of beautiful ships, with benevolent words, and offering amazing technological gifts, he asks the simple question - what do they want in return? As ambitious politicians attempt to use the situation to seize power, they instead plunge the world into chaos. Karden and a group of quirky brilliant warm-humored friends uncover the true nature of the aliens, the weaknesses of their ancient galaxy-spanning civilization, and what they will do if their offer is refused. In the process, they become the unlikely leaders of a revolution.