Vladimir, a disillusioned Panther Marine, looking for a life of solitude, takes a job as a solitary space miner only to find evidence of an ancient race buried beneath his mining operation. His introduction to the ancient Quantum AI overseer and their ensuing friendship is beyond belief. With this new, and unlikely partner, Vladimir follows the trail of a Navaren citizen who has brought destruction to his home world and its colonies. The citizen is labeled 'patient zero'. Vlad and the AI take on an investigation of patient zero's travels and, along the way, try to correct some of the horrific and unimaginable damage done over the last 15, 000 years.