Blurb

A human ex-dictator and a mysterious alien artifact face off in a cosmic game of wits.

Summary

Arjun Atumbo, once-dictator of New Chad and now the captain of a Contact Unit, has spent a lifetime outflanking rivals. So when he receives an invitation from a mysterious alien artifact to face off in a game of wits, he doesn't consider backing down. The rules are complex, and the stakes are unknown. Determined to win nonetheless, he squeezes every ounce of computation from the ship and its crew. But as the losses continue to mount, he is forced to look outside the game board for an advantage.