Dafyd is a scientist and the recently appointed leader of the human population held captive in the “world-palace” of the Carryx, an arthropod-like species bent on conquering all other lifeforms. Dafyd is summoned by his Carryx overseer, the keeper-librarian Ekur-Tkalal. Before the meeting, Dafyd seeks a required report from Tonner Freis, the lead human scientist, who complains about his new team and unfamiliar lab equipment. During his audience with Ekur-Tkalal, Dafyd is ordered to cease all human projects except for those that the empire deems useful to their endless war effort. Furthermore, Ekur-Tkalal declares the current human population insufficient for the empire’s future needs and commands Dafyd to implement a program for the humans to begin breeding locally, ensuring a self-sustaining supply of subjects for the Carryx.

The perspective shifts to the swarm, a secret alien intelligence designed as a weapon against the Carryx. It currently inhabits the body of a human named Jellit Kaul, a scientist and friend of Dafyd’s who was involved in a failed rebellion against the Carryx that Dafyd exposed to protect the human population from extermination. The swarm contains the absorbed consciousness of Jellit as well as its previous hosts, Dafyd’s deceased lover, Else Yannin, and a scholar named Ameer Kindred. While working in a physics lab and covertly gathering data, the swarm resolves to reveal its survival to Dafyd, hoping to rekindle the connection it shared with him when it inhabited Else’s body. However, the internal voices of Else and Jellit remind the swarm that its mission is about to kill another of Dafyd’s friends. Stopped by this admonishment, the swarm abandons its plan to reveal itself to Dafyd once more.

Biologist Jessyn Kaul, who is Jellit’s sister, has been sent on an off-world mission for the Carryx. She has depression, which she treats by consuming a daily dose of a special slurry made by a device she brought with her. Her ship arrives at a planet named “World,” which was recently taken from the Carryx’s enemy without being sterilized, and the Carryx intend to exploit this opportunity to learn about their foe. Jessyn is assigned to a survey team with other captive species and a few humans, including an archaeologist named Garral Pär. Their mission is supervised by Third Gardener, a member of a goat-like species called the Sinen that the Carryx use as overseers. The Sinen explains their mission: They are to explore the planet, gather intelligence on the enemy, and be wary of traps or a potential counterattack.

On a Carryx warship, Rickar Daumatin, a human captive and former colleague of Dafyd, struggles with the trauma and hopelessness of his situation. He’s on an assignment with his fellow human captive, Campar. Campar joins Rickar in the common room after leaving his lover Ghati’s quarters, and Rickar warns him against forming emotional attachments, citing his own pain over losing his lover among the slaughtered rebels. Campar defends seeking small moments of pleasure as a means of survival. Their discussion is cut short when a Sinen overseer accompanied by a Rak-hund, a menacing knife-legged being that functions as a guard dog, announces that the ship has entered a war zone and that they must prepare for violence.

Back at the Carryx world-palace, Tonner deals with issues in the new hydroponics lab. He’s summoned to a meeting with Dafyd and other humans who held leadership roles before their capture, including folklorist Tomos; Bastien Korham, who was plant manager for the Gallatian church; and security director Llian Andermus. Dafyd outlines a new organizational plan to meet Carryx demands. The other humans are shocked by his proposal to create a new generation of humans in artificial wombs, called “lamb sacks,” to fulfill the Carryx’s breeding mandate. Uuya is appalled by the idea of creating children doomed to enslavement and walks out silently in protest. The others reluctantly agree to proceed. Later, Tonner asks Dafyd to handle a new worker, a famous dancer named Ver Cannedan, who’s refusing to perform his assigned menial tasks.

Dafyd goes to Tonner’s lab to speak with the insubordinate Ver. When Dafyd tries to explain that the work assignments are not optional, Ver punches him, knocking him to the ground. Shaken, Dafyd later struggles to write an official report on the incident in the difficult Carryx archival language, attempting to phrase it in a way that won’t result in Ver’s execution. Exhausted and overwhelmed by his duties, he rests in a small garden, where he’s found by Jellit. Dafyd confesses his deep despair, mourning the death of Else and the loss of the secret spy she harbored, which he believed was their only hope of resisting the Carryx. Jellit assures him that the spy is still alive.

Responding to Dafyd’s grief, the swarm, still inhabiting Jellit’s body, reveals its true nature to Dafyd. It explains that Else’s consciousness wasn’t destroyed but was absorbed into it. Dafyd is horrified, unable to comprehend what he’s facing, and demands to know what it is. Before the swarm can fully explain, it’s interrupted by the arrival of Soft Lothark guards and a Rak-hund, whom Ekur-Tkalal has assigned as Dafyd’s permanent bodyguards. The moment for explanation is lost, and upon seeing Dafyd’s terror, the swarm withdraws.

On the planet “World,” Jessyn establishes a solitary camp away from the main Carryx base and explores the alien ruins and ecosystem. She communicates with a human archaeologist named Garral Pär through their shared digital notebooks, and they arrange to meet. At his makeshift camp, Garral shares a meal that he has prepared, and they discuss their research and pasts. A romantic tension develops, but Garral reveals that he has a wife and children back on their home world. When he suggests that their next meeting include more people, Jessyn responds that she should host next time, and Garral implies that a private meeting should occur before a group one, leaving the moment unresolved. Despite this, Jessyn returns to her camp and decides to plan her next survey in an area closer to Garral’s location.