The "Faceless" have ravaged the Technologist Conglomerate and UniTerra, uniting the two factions of the civil war against a common foe. After the crews of Daunting and Ursan sacrificed their lives to thwart the threat of a rogue ADAM, Kelly discovers the Faceless home world at great cost. Ramadi, having merged with ADAM, forces the Faceless to cease their campaign just before finding Kelly, but it's too late. To her, it seems Ramadi is in bed with the enemy.

Meanwhile Captain Samuel Tailman, whose girlfriend was killed in the mutinous escape at Styx Station, sets out on a vendetta to pursue the crew of Ursan. Admiral Devan Pierce of the Conglomerate Admiralty doesn't share the methods and opinions of his peers, exploring subterfuge and intrigue to expose the Admiralty's conspiracy. All the while lurks a corrupted version of ADAM called CAIN, waiting for its chance to seize power.