Cut off from Earth due to a collapsed wormhole, a growing colony of scientifically-minded humans struggles to survive on Novis. They fear their new world could suffer the same fate as its predecessor, where an asteroid wiped out all indigenous land animals. Equipped with an extensive embryo and seed bank of Earth’s plants and animals, they understand the need for population growth while striving to develop an enlightened society, aided by extended lifespans.

After many years, their first tentative steps reach out to the nearby moon and then deeper into their new solar system. Over time, despite efforts to maintain unity, divisions emerge as their population grows. A breakaway group commandeers the community’s latest spacecraft and establishes a rival colony on Condatis, a planet closer to Sol but less hospitable.

From the outset, both communities share the ultimate goal of re-establishing contact with humanity’s birthplace, Earth, some 40 light-years away. After generations, they finally possess spacecraft capable of reaching what some still believe to be their home world. However, will civilization still exist there? It was no secret that armed conflict severed the wormhole connection with Earth nearly 400 years ago. And if a technologically advanced civilization remains, how will they be received?