On a planet devastated by an ancient conflict between two violently opposed visions of humanity, former robotics engineer Micah Durham lives a vagrant life exploring the countryside for the lost remnants of forbidden transhuman technology. His carefree life is disrupted when he uncovers secret information which could not only satisfy his hunger for mysterious devices but also make him rich.
Determined to profit from his new-found knowledge, he quickly learns others are willing to kill to gain it for themselves. Hunted by powerful enemies, caught in a web of interstellar political intrigue, he forms an unlikely team with a mechanical spider, a self-indulgent cleric, and a fanatical warrior monk. They follow a trail of theft, deception, and personal conflict which leads to unsettling, dangerous encounters underneath the frozen surface of a distant moon.