Nearly ten years after the unexpected return of the starship "Phoenix," the alien "atevi" have three functioning space shuttles, and teams of "atevi" engineers labor in orbit to renovate the space station. But these monumental advances not only add a dangerously powerful third party to an already precarious diplomatic situation, but rouse pro- and anti=s ace factions in "atevi" society to incendiary levels. To help negotiate these treacherous diplomatic waters, Tabini-aiji, the powerful head of the "atevi's "Western Association, has sent the only human he fully trusts into space: his own "paidhi," Bren Cameron.
However, the threat of possible invasion by hostile aliens who attacked "Phoenix's" station in a far-off sector of space hangs over them all. And when one of the senior captains of the "Phoenix" confesses that this station was not completely destroyed, as had been previously thought, the crew mutinies. How can Bren hope to mediate on a station overcome by a rebellious crew intent on taking the "Phoenix" on a rescue mission back into hostile alien territory?
The long-running "Foreigner "series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. "Defender" is the 5th "Foreigner" book. It is also the 2nd book in the second subtrilogy.