Brightness Reef

Strange visitors throw a planet of refugees into chaos in this science fiction adventure by the author of New York Times bestseller The Uplift War.
Book One in the Uplift Storm Trilogy
Centuries ago, the Buyur race abandoned Jijo. Now off-limits to settlers, it's warded by guardian machines who will protect the planet until the Institutes of the Five Galaxies declare Jijo ready-in another million years-for new civilization.
But mere laws and guardians can't keep out the desperate. Clandestine bands of "sooners" have sneaked down to the lonely planet. Six intelligent races-all refugees-have bickered ... then built a new society in the wilds of Jijo, hidden beneath forest canopies. Together they live in harmony-and in fear of the day their illegal colony will be discovered and judgment from the Five Galaxies will rain down upon them.
One day a strange starship finally does appear on Jijo. But its owners do not bring law or judgment. Only dire secrets. And they'll do whatever it takes to keep them ...