Nexus's first project: reassemble Space Academy from cold storage. No one's used it in years. Because with lifespans reaching centuries, the Colony Corps simply hires applicants with experience. The friends enjoy their studies in sumptuous luxury on beautiful Sihnon, with leisure and elbow room. Nexus's second project is a mystery to unravel. Humankind first learned of advanced aliens while investigating a dead world. Their hazard buoy remained to warn others away, housed in a history museum to introduce themselves - the violent croc race. The Colony Corps buried the discovery. Because at the time, humanity was too fragile to confront the powerful crocs. But now alien croc and testudo demand to join Nexus at the Academy. What better team to study the ancient facility? The team discovers a devastating secret that could unleash war between croc and testudo, with humans dragged in by the crossfire. Can Nexus harness the Oracle in time to avert a three-way war between powerful species?