A group of astronauts circle the earth in a spacecraft, but they cannot return, as our planet has become uninhabitable. The cause of this remains open: all-out war, outbreak of a new disease beyond control, radiation after the complete disappearance of the ozone layer, or whatever. The crew of the spacecraft has to find a more hospitable place out there in space, and releases a probe from their cargo bay, Galileo. But Galileo--after sending back very disquieting data--has to be sent on a suicide mission. Without our knowledge we have had visitors from outer space for decades. They have come from a planet submerged in water, The Wild Blue Yonder, and their attempts to create a new community on earth have so far not met with great success.