Second Contact - Okal Rel Saga, #1

From two cultures that should never meet, come four people who do. Rire. The homeworld of a science-driven and inclusive civilization, underpinned by an AI network and spanning a handful of worlds. Faster-than-light pilots like Ann are essential but heavily monitored due to their reckless personalities. When a new mission will take her to the long-lost Sevolite empire after 200 years of separation, she is accompanied by the brilliant scholar Ranar, a renowned expert on Sevolite culture and language who must mitigate the impending culture clash.
Gelion. In the Sevolite empire, piloting aptitude is hereditary. With their superhuman capacity for reality skimming, Sevolites rule over natural humans. Di Mon is the leader of one of the eight families at the heart of Sevildom's oligarchy. Although a power broker in a corrupt and elitist court, he believes in the equality of all humankind. Meanwhile, at the bottom of society, the beautiful dancer and courtesan Von struggles to survive as a pawn in the power games of his Sevolite superiors.