The Bio-Invasion

The story begins with a prologue describing the demise of the Steerers, beings sent to avert a catastrophe on a world deploying entropy-accelerating weapons. They fail, and one of them detonates, releasing seed capsules carrying knowledge and life.

In the present, Roger Kruschen, Naomi de Lisle, Enrique Rilla, and Consy Reid, members of the IWF's internal security service, awaken from deep sleep aboard the Ringo to find they've overshot their target, COSMODROM Plato III, due to an unexplained energy drain. They discover Plato III is covered in a strange, green plant mesh and devoid of energy. They also detect swarms of pod-like structures drifting in space.

Kruschen and de Lisle investigate Plato III, finding the crew gone and strange stone plates with golden floral growths. They are attacked by the plant mesh, which transforms de Lisle into a stone plate. Kruschen escapes and uses a Kaiser Force courier ship to flee to Zeuben in the Andrak System to seek help from the League of Free Worlds. Rilla and Reid attempt to return to Maranyn in the Ringo, but are attacked by the pods. The ship is infected with the green mesh, and both are killed. The Ringo, now controlled by the mesh, crashes on Maranyn.

On Maranyn, Planetary Commissioner Marina Wristesh is addicted to "dream-time" through a meta-dreamer and declares the planet self-sufficient, cutting off contact with the Empire. Tarley LeMaire, the IWF branch director, and other Manags plot to remove her from power. LeMaire reveals he sent the Ringo to investigate Plato III, enraging Wristesh. Meanwhile, Dihs Reijonen, a quarter-novice from the Mirhyry, embarks on his "Long Journey," a rite of passage. He encounters another novice, Mahi Drahmen, and they travel together.

A demonstration in Doriaman for food and emotioblockers turns violent. Diskin Myers attempts to loot a food storage facility but finds it empty, leading to widespread rioting. The Ringo crashes, releasing spores that begin to transform the flora and fauna of Maranyn. Animals become aggressive and gather near cities. LeMaire and the other Manags attempt to assassinate Wristesh, but she anticipates their move, using robot decoys to survive. LeMaire learns of the strange animal behavior and Ashram's silence.

In Ashram, the energy storage unit is attacked by insects, leading to an explosion that plunges the city into darkness. LeMaire and the other Manags decide to flee to the abandoned Guard base on the side of Maranyn facing the Red Giant. They launch an attack, but are defeated by the base's defenses. LeMaire's vehicle is destroyed, and he is killed.

Meanwhile, the Driver freighter ZEUBEN I, led by Aren Walczak and Celine Salviat, arrives in orbit. They learn of the Cosmic Spores and attempt to contact Maranyn. Walczak, Salviat, and Kruschen descend in a Ringo to investigate. They are attacked by the transformed settlers. They are rescued by Dihs Reijonen, who reveals the nature of the Cosmic Spores and his people's immunity. Reijonen also reveals the fate of Rilla and Reid. Reijonen uses his abilities to reverse the effects of the spores on the settlers. Walczak and Reijonen fly to the Guard base, finding it destroyed and Wristesh addicted to dream-time. Reijonen reverses the effects of the spores on Wristesh and the other survivors.

The ZEUBEN I alerts the League of Free Worlds, and supply ships arrive. Maranyn joins the League of Free Worlds. Walczak and Salviat leave to help other worlds. Reijonen returns to his unity-community and is accepted as a Whole-Mirhyry, despite breaking a tenet.