Eight months have passed. The Ring arose from Venus and now hangs at the edge of the solar system open to a realm beyond our understanding. The crew of the Albatross returns to Mars, limping in the company of their taken prize and carrying their dead.

With the funds garnered from the botched supply run to Pluto, and the courts finally freeing their accounts from Limbo, things look like they've made a turn. The Tross goes in for a major refit, a time for the crew to relax and recoup after so much loss.

Except Emma get's a call from a former soldier she'd served with in need of help, in deep with the wrong people.