Philip is no moronic precursor to man, but a member of the elite extraterrestrial Institute, needing help to leave Earth. The problem is that Philip is a liar, a sneak, and a diabolical genius using the Traveler for his own ends. Out in the stars, Bayard discovers a conspiracy backed by ancient military tech and run by the little hominids bent on conquering everything, including Earth. What can one Marine stranded on a deadly alien planet do against an army of technologically superior soldiers? Bayard is about to find out. The Institute is the fourth tale in the Traveler series of a gung-ho Terran taking on the masters of an insidious and ancient alien conspiracy.