The deterioration ravages Belvun. Ambassador Jemal Purnell returns from his expedition to Daliona only to discover political rivals have sought to undermine his policies. Meanwhile, former commercial pilot Carsh Fridon has joined Belvun's Disaster Response Commission to aid civilians impacted by chains of disasters triggered by collapsing ecosystems and atmospheric destabilization. Caught on all sides by civil unrest, environmental degradation, and political upheaval, Belvun is left weakened, divided, and isolated.