On the planet Archae Stoddard, the terra-formers of Persia Station are halfway into their ten year mission, guided by a human-computer hybrid known as the Cassandra system. For Commander Marcus Brett, the job of creating a habitable planet hides his desire to be near the woman he loves, even if he cannot have her ever again. But when scientists begin to suffer from a rare form of meningitis and Cassandra warns of unauthorized personnel, their mission suddenly becomes one of survival. As his crew races for a cure, Brett looks for answers, to the strange happenings on his station and to the truth of consciousness itself.