The USS Damascus has faced her challenges in Delta Quadrant and barely survived its encounter with the Devore Imperium. After returning home with a ship full of rescued people, the Damascus was pulled back through the gate to the nearest shipyard. However, in an unexpected turn of events, an explosion occurs at the shipyard, and all evidence shows that Captain Praugol was guilty of the sabotage.

Captain Praugol gets arrested, her senior staff detained, and her Damascus gets placed in lockdown. Investigator Lashnem Skess and Akke Oyem begin their work investigating what has happened and, most of all, why? To make matters worse, Counselor Nedzill Praugol, mother of Sazra Praugol demands to see her daughter.