The ancient race has awakened, at the very dawn of a new age. Having barely taken the first steps toward rediscovering their culture, they are suddenly thrust into a galactic war, forced to fight in order to keep their new found freedom. What will war do to them? How can the tiny desert planet of Ararat, on the edge of known space, hope to win against the awesome power of the Coalition Empire? And what of Samson, the tigra who led his people out of the darkness? Is he what his people claim? Is he truly the Messiah?