Fifty years have passed since the Terrestrial Coalition's victory against the Sikhis, an alien species native to the planet Urvashi-32b. Since then, the Terrestrial Coalition has imposed its free-market democracy on the new planet.

You are a Sikhi returning from Earth after three years of working at the New York Times and failing to carve a niche for yourself, and now you are set to arrive back on your home planet with a strong sense of defeat.

But something is about to unfold that may provide you with the breakout scoop of your professional career.