A spaceship crashes on Earth carrying an ancient gateway to other worlds. The ship's only surviving passenger is a damaged robot assistant. Now humanity can get to other planets but have no clue what they'll find there. They must navigate dangerous alien worlds, diplomacy, and each other to save Earth from being crushed between unknown titanic forces.

Major Sykes is eager to do a better job with first contact than Europeans did with his people. Dr. Zanna wants to understand different cultures without selling her soul to the military. Lt. Brennan needs to prove herself as a scientist and a person. Specialist Johnston must get over his past if he's ever going to be happy. Together they and an alien butler will save the cosmos!

On one side, the Videshee Empire spreads their web across hundreds or thousands of planets. They are secretive and powerful, with technology far surpassing our own.

On the other side is the Clomera, a seemingly hyper-militant collective of plant species bent on destruction for an unknown purpose.

The story features several POV characters. Military fiction, LGBTQIA+, portal fiction, fun science! Themes include; exploration, what it means to be human, and interstellar ethics.