Running a galactic empire isn't easy, and one of the best emperors is calling it quits. On the other side of the galaxy, the Cayl Empire has decided to wind down operations and the Stryx are planning to pick up the pieces. Kelly is tapped to host an open house event on Union Station to tempt the aliens into joining up, but does anybody other than the Stryx actually want the merger to take place?

Start series with first book, Date Night on Union Station On the other side of the galaxy, the Cayl Empire has decided to wind down operations and the Stryx are planning to pick up the pieces. Kelly is tapped to host an open house event on Union Station to tempt the aliens into joining up, but does anybody other than the Stryx actually want the merger to take place?

You can't hold a book fair without physical books. The Stryx offer EarthCent help in reaching out to the wide-spread human communities, but as usual, it comes with a catch or two. Kelly see an opportunity to increase her book hoard, just as publishing on Union Station begins to take off and Donna's daughters enter a friendly competition. But who will publish the most expensive book of all?

The alien ambassadors are learning English, EarthCent worries about humans going native. Over half of Earth's population has left the planet, mainly as contract workers for aliens, and the homeworld is losing relevance to the emigrants. The EarthCent president takes on the task of making sure that humanity isn't permanently stuck in a rut as low-skilled labor. Can the ambassador put aside her new-found obsession with the Galactic Free Press crossword puzzle and help save the day?

Kelly’s attempt to cut back on her working hours at the EarthCent embassy is headed the wrong direction despite handing off responsibility for the All Species Cookbook. The Thark ambassador teaches Consul Ofer how to detect gambling fraud, and Dorothy looks forward to the first season of Mage Search wrapping up so she can spend less time on management. Mike and Fenna discover that not all aliens at the Open University are there with family support, and the McAllisters take on a new project for Tunnel Trips that will require cooperation from the ambassadors of all the advanced species.

Does anybody know what the alien ambassadors are thinking? It's time to walk in their shoes. Kelly is chosen for an honorary exchange with the other tunnel network ambassadors on Union Station in which all participants pledge to represent the interests of the host species for a week. But the aliens have been playing this game for hundreds of thousa

Can humanity play a role in making stone soup? EarthCent bids to take over editorship of the All Species Cookbook, an exercise in galactic togetherness that has somehow gone off mission over the last couple million years. Samuel and Vivian struggle to find a balance between their co-op jobs for aliens and their personal lives. Dorothy seeks to revive the fortunes of her ballroom dancing fashions.