When seventeen-year-old Pala de la Croix and her escort team are deployed to a newly discovered planet, their routine exploration quickly changes to a survival mission. After being targeted by their own weaponry and an unknown virus, the rangers and scientists attempt to make their way back to base camp safely.While Pala tries to unravel the motivation behind the attack, she also has to come to terms with the possible betrayal of her boyfriend and fellow Cadet Marshal, Cabot Isberg. In her search for the source of the deception, she'll discover that not only is intelligent life present on Colossus, but the planet itself may be more valuable than she was led to believe.In this defining journey, Pala learns how little value is placed on the loss of life. And fighting to protect one planet may cost her refuge on the other.