Having just been killed in a mysterious shuttle explosion, Gethin Bryce is back to uncover what happened. An unusually gifted investigator with the InterPlanetary Council, Gethin is tasked with seeking out the truth behind unexplained anomalies that lie outside IPC control. His investigation takes him from the luxurious enclaves of Earth's elite, to the battered Wastelands beyond civilization's protective thrall. Linking up with an inquiry team from a planet-spanning corporate powerhouse, he also befriends a grim and reluctant outlander who has an important piece of the puzzle-evidence of a sadistic entity which threatens not just civilization, but all life...