While the USS Polaris responds to a distress call from the Chorad system, the rest of Polaris Squadron continues its survey of subspace topology in the Shackleton Expanse, searching for clues to the Shroud’s origin. Along their journey, they detect the impossible, an anomaly against the cosmic background, an area equidistant from the edges of the expanse exhibiting complete topological flatness without any lingering aftershocks from the Shroud’s collapse.

Intrigued, the USS Juno sets off to investigate, accompanied by the RRW Decius, a Romulan Republic ship operating under secondment to the Fourth Fleet. There, they discover the Atrix system, a place of perfect balance with a people that live in perfect calm and balance. No wars and no chaos, where actions are deliberate, social strata do not exist, and society operates in harmony. When asked how decisions are made, their response is simply:

“We remember what we already know.”

As the Juno and the Decius linger in orbit, looking to learn more about the area and its curious inhabitants, memories begin to surface among the crew, memories that are not their own of a past not of this reality. The answer offers a terrifying revelation about the ancient architects of the expanse.