The Planet on the Detergent Box

It has been six hundred years since Calema (pronounced “kah-LEM-mah”) was first noticed by the Galactic Association of Sentient Species, and quietly enrolled in the Protected Planets Ministry. Not much has happened since then. Life is pretty easy on Calema and the Leebs, the dominant species, haven’t felt much need for “progress.” They have no idea that there are hundreds of spies among them, from species all across the galaxy, monitoring their development and ready to give that development a nudge in their own species’ favor. Even more, they are there to keep an eye on each other. Just lately there have been the first stirrings of what might be, at last, Calema’s age of scientific discovery. But now, a mysterious outside force has started introducing advanced weaponry to one of Calema’s nations. And when The Most Valuable Substance in the Galaxy is discovered, a mad scramble ensues as every agent on the planet tries to get a piece of the action. Timo, from that newcomer species, the Humans, is thrown into the fray as well, even though he has never actually done field work and hasn’t completed his “regenning” to blend in as a Leeb. Timo might just save the day anyway—or ruin everything.