Hugo Award-winner and #1 New Yorkย ย Times bestselling author Timothy Zahn returns toย ย complete his original, acclaimed SF trilogy. Asย both humans and the alien Zhirrzh prepare for all-outย galactic war, a handful of individuals from bothย sides are stunned to discover that the explosiveย catalyst for the impending battle is aย misunderstanding both tragic and profound. Determined to avoidย ย mutual extinction for both their races, this bandย now becomes the focus of the subtle and dangerousย ย force whose goal it is to annihilate and destroy.