When humanity encounters the mysterious beings known as the Manipulators, everything changes. These ancient telepathic aliens possess knowledge that spans galaxies and the ability to reshape worlds. Yet when they choose their first human representatives, they select two unlikely ambassadors: a young boy and a rough edged bootlegger named Al Kroemer. Suddenly thrust into a universe far beyond anything he imagined, Al becomes involved in the struggle to free the Manipulators from enslavement across the galaxy. Their alliance opens the door to extraordinary new technologies, powerful enemies, and complex interstellar politics. As civilizations watch and wait, the future of more than one species may depend on the courage and decisions of the most unexpected diplomats ever chosen.
