The planet Hydakeen was first settled in AD 3192, more than 300 years ago. In the southern hemisphere there is a large area of desert that locals cal the Outback. Elijah Markand is the chief government ecologist for a part of the Outback known as Region 27, and he has just made a remarkable discovery: the remains of an outpost that geologists says is more than 120,000 years old. It appears that humans were not the first sentient species to settle on Hydakeen. Who were these earlier visitors? What happened to them? Do any of the gadgets they left behind still work? Right now all he has is questions. Until now, there has never been any reason for archaeologists to visit Hydakeen, so Mr. Markand is going to have to look off world for experts to consult.