On Marrak IV the people prepare for a once in a generation event: The Black Feast. For the Marraki people, whose culture venerates struggle and endurance, it is a ritual steeped in history.  Centuries ago their ancestors defeated the Lords of Hunger and the Feast marks their tribute in endurance, pain and depravation.

With the opening of the Shackleton Expanse the Marraki government has invited the Federation to observe The Black Feast, eager to show their new ‘neighbors’ one of their most sacred events. Underneath this request lies another: the secular government grows worried as a radical sect known as the Children of Hunger draws converts to their side, preaching the near for “a true sacrifice”. The government fears they will turn the Black Feast into something far darker and hopes the presence of off worlders will deter them or at least serve as a distraction. The Federation harbors its own concerns: with the Shroud no longer covering the Expanse, they fear the cult could spread beyond Marrak IV if they gain enough power on their home world.

The crew of the Merrimack have been dispatched to observe and quietly investigate. They will uncover something horrifying: the Children of Hunger are not just a group wanting to return to the ‘old ways’; they seek a darkness that has been waiting for centuries to be unleashed.