Estrella returns home to New Australia after an eight week journey from Earth, only to find that people hardly knew she was gone.  There is no victory celebration held in her honor.  No medals or citations to be passed out.  They've practically forgotten about her.  What's more, few know anything about her amazing exploits for the past year saving the galaxy.

Not that she should be so surprised.  Most of the work she'd done, aiding the many planet leaders in preventing disaster, was of a top secret nature.  The public never knew of her involvement, let alone the danger they were in.  She chalks it up to experience.  Being a  leader means being a hero whenever called upon; but there's no guarantee one's efforts will ever be fully appreciated.

Pursuing a new chapter in her life, she sets herself to continuing the work of her parents being an advocate for the people.  She tours the planet; traveling around visiting the many tribes.  She now possesses first hand knowledge of their original home worlds - a great benefit in developing relationships.  However there is still a threat looming somewhere out in space and Estrella is to be caught unaware.  The pathogen.  The alien intelligence.  It has not been defeated, in fact it's hatching yet another bold attempt at colonizing the galaxy.