A brief history of the Epstein Drive sets the stage for a populated solar system reliant on haulers like the Canterbury, a retooled colony transport now moving ice from Saturn to the Belt. Jim Holden moves through shipboard routines: discussing shuttle maintenance with Chief Engineer Naomi Nagata and Amos Burton, then checking on Cameron Paj’s arm treatment with medic Shed Garvey.

Holden visits Navigator Ade Tukunbo, where their casual relationship collides with his desire for something deeper. Before they can resolve it, Captain McDowell calls Holden to the bridge.

On the bridge, comms officer Rebecca Byers reports a verified emergency signal near an unlisted asteroid. The Canterbury is the closest ship, obligating a response. Despite the risk to cargo and schedule, Holden backs stopping. Ade calculates that a hard flip-and-burn will be required, putting everyone in crash couches and likely battering the hull.

McDowell orders the deceleration and notifies Ceres of the delay, then privately instructs Holden to avoid heroics if anything seems wrong. As preparations begin, Rebecca identifies the source of the beacon: a Martian-registered light freighter named Scopuli.