The Cortii are mercenaries, for hire to anyone who can afford their services. Every government uses them; no single government can destroy them. A newly discovered world. An opportunity for the Cortiian rebels. And a mission for Wildcat Cortia... The Federated Planets Alliance scouts have discovered a new human civilisation; a civilisation not suited to their usual contact protocol. They want a Cortiian to test the waters, and the rebel faction has a very specific commander in mind for the mission – Ilan of Wildcat. To Ilan, the orders are a convenient pretext. To an ancient feudal culture about to join an intergalactic civilisation, the leaping wildcat and a rider all in black are symbols long foretold - heralding cataclysmic change.