In the early days of 2019, NASA's Voyager 2 probe mysteriously disappears. Though it was originally written off as a freak accident, when an alien mothership appears in Earth's atmosphere, Dr. Saunders can't help but think the two events are related. Smaller alien spacecraft spread out over the planet while a mysterious message is broadcast all over the world: "Your species has shown time and time again that you are incapable of coexisting peacefully in the galaxy. For the 24 lives you took, we will take 24 of yours. To prevent another tragedy, you must deindustrialize in three years time, or be conquered." True to their word, 24 humans are abducted - Dr. Saunders among them - but their message is incredibly confusing. What did they mean by "time and time again," or by "another tragedy?" Spread among the stars, Dr. Saunders and the other abductees must learn the history of the galaxy, and find their way back home, if they are to have any hope of saving the Earth.