Legacy of the Wayfarers

Legacy of the Wayfarers: Second Advent travels into the future as humankind colonizes the stars in order to escape its own depleted world. Inevitably, alien civilizations are discovered, some friendly, some not.
One such encounter involves a motley group of humans who set down on an unexplored planet in search of oil deposits. Along with the oil, they discover a new intelligent life form and impact with it in a decidedly negative fashion. The indigenous people hail the arrival as the "second advent" of their god, but the leader of the intruders is anything but godly and quickly abuses their trust.
Legacy of the Wayfarers: Second Advent is the first of a series of novels set in the same milieu, exploring ancient legends.