After the crash of the Lexicon research vessel on the world of MVX-5 in the Chordas System, named Eydan by the indigenous people, humans have been stranded. They found themselves alien visitors on a fertile world with a race and culture they cannot quite understand. Lawrence Banister and Joe Ryan must immerse themselves in Eyan culture and travel across a continent to build an observatory and communications station which will allow the stranded colony to contact their own people off-world. But first, they must make their way over land and rail to the capital city of Nodae Eya.