After an exploration ship from Freehold discovers a planet with intelligent lifeforms--the first humans ever encountered--it should have been the most important event in history. And it might be--for all the wrong reasons.

Michael Z. Williamson was born in , England and raised in Liverpool, and , Canada, before moving to . An 18-year veteran of the US Army and US Air Force, he is a state-ranked competitive shooter in combat rifle and combat pistol. His other books include: Freehold, The Weapon, Better to Beg Forgiveness (all from Baen); the Target Terror series for Harper-Collins; and Hero, a collaboration with New York Times best-selling author John Ringo for Baen. He currently lives in with his wife Gail, their two children, and various cats that are not to be trusted.