Synopsis: From the back cover of the Aspect first edition: "Gaetan du Cheyne is a 26th century orbital mechanic who once longed for glory in space but now patiently banks his pay, content to settle for lesser rewards. Then a miraculous fluke of corporate power plays suddenly leaves him sole owner of a prototype faster-than-light ship, and able at last to see his dreams... Turn to ashes. For now Gaetan can see for himself how humans have ravaged the worlds they've touched. He witnesses the slaughter of intelligent alien beings, the submergence of entire cultures. And he becomes the only human aware that our race is becoming a target. Rather than allow humans to rule and rampage, ancient beings of unimaginable power are prepared to destroy them. And Gaetan du Cheyne, an ordinary guy, is about to become the center of a desperate struggle, not just for his life, but for all life."