In the outer solar system near Saturn, James Holden and the crew of the ice-freighter Canterbury, investigate a distress call from a mysterious derelict ship, the Scopuli. On Ceres Station, Detective Miller begins an off the book investigation of a missing heiress, Julie Mao.

Holden and the crew are taken prisoner by the Martian Congressional Republic Navy. Miller deals with unhappy rioters. Avasarala plays politics and gets severely burned.

Holden and crew find themselves in the middle of a desperate battle while still aboard the Martian battleship. Miller’s partner, Havelock, goes missing.

Holden finds an unlikely ally. Miller’s obsession with Mao intensifies.

Miller gains valuable information from a hidden data cube. Holden and his crew learn their host’s agenda.