Made hostages for a world whose international leaders didn't know how to behave, we ended up on a new world, one we have to make our own, where every step of civilization has to be earned, all over again. It's meant to be a world to hide the secret of our survival--but not all the aliens believe we have a right to survive. Torn between two rival factions of an alien race, we have to save our keepers, defeat our hunters, and get a message to the stars. And that's just if we want to live. Making a place for our families is another task altogether. NOTE: This novel was originally published under my pen name, Carlie Simonsen, but is now being published under my main author name, C.M. Simpson, and has not been given a series of its own, the Ransomeers. 2nd Edition Changelog: changed spelling to US English, minor word tweaks, new cover. If you own the Carlie Simonsen edition, there are no story changes that will affect your enjoyment of the books to follow.