In 525 AE (After Earth), humanity lives on a lifeless planet due to a disaster that destroyed their home world.

A team of scientists return to Earth to bring back forgotten cultures, extinct species, and technologies that could help humans terraform their new planet. In the time capsule of humanity's past, Elizabeth Lawrence leads a team of engineers to revive lost technologies and record ancient data.

Deep under the icy planes of the American Midwest, Elizabeth finds a lead to the answers they seek. In the macabre details of humanity's darkest hour, she finds questions of trust, stories of heroism, and long-dormant feelings of agony.