While the thrust of the story focuses on humans introduction to multi-species galaxy, some seemingly benevolent and others malevolent. This encounter is complicated due to conflicting romantic relationships between Zach (hacker par excellence), Kaylan (remote viewer), Hicks and Katy. While Zach and Kaylan are the primary protagonists, Hicks and Katy play an important roles as the crew’s security contingent as well as the competing romantic interests of the two.
The SciFi elements are not crucial to the story but they do add to the excitement to the story. For example, the shroud was a means used by the benevolent species to prevent both the detection by humans of other higher-level species as well as guarding their being detected by higher level species until such time as human had evolved enough to be deemed worthy and ready. This type of filter would provide the answer to why aliens haven’t visited us.
My only criticism is that both this book and book 1 were too short in length.