Telios, the homunculus hybrid with the memory unit Tart-prios, was captured by the Priests. When the Heleroen get their hands on him, a syndronic component is implanted in his head that makes him loyal to the Crimson. He is given the mission to infiltrate the UGIch Liberation Front.
While Sahl'and is still desperately searching for his crew, Connar, and Scarlett, together with the UGIch Liberation Front, try to find a way to access the Hemisphere, the Heleroen research module, via the energetic elevator. The space station is in orbit above the planet of the Ich'allen and is considered the seat of the gods.