In 2044, the United States and China struggle for global supremacy when an alien artifact is seen orbiting Jupiter, a discovery that may redefine life on Earth. NASA Commander Dylan Lockwood must outrace and outwit a better-equipped Chinese mission to control the mysterious object. The Chinese bested him before, but he won't allow it to happen again. Sara Wells is Deputy Director of the National Security Agency. She commands vast resources - human and AI - to derail China's efforts and find Dylan an edge. If Dylan fails, China will dominate the world stage, and the United States will become a second-rate power. Both sides leverage advanced AI to win the race, AI that begins to become self-aware as the goal draws near...