In the outback of South Australia, in the mystic land formation know as Wilpena Pound, a strange signal is received at the SETI installation. Someone from outside the solar system wants to talk to Jarrod McKinley. McKinley is resting on his family farm in Montana after a campaign to save a religiously misguided SETI Special Command from a scandalous attempt to fake first contact. As he rushes to join his new SETI team, a powerful force tries to capture him to ensure first contact will benefit it more than the people of Earth. At the same time a debate rages on a distant planet. Is Earth ready...