In the universe, there is no such thing as an empty lot.

The mandate of the Great Survey was simple: find "vacant" ground. For three centuries, humanity had hopped from star to star, looking for worlds that were quiet, cold, and—most importantly—unclaimed.

The radio crackled with the frantic voice of his commander. "Elias, get out of there! The sensors are spiking! The whole sector is... it’s waking up!"