The convoy finally arrives back in Aegis. After Conrad and Gus are briefly delayed at security, the crew make planet-fall and split up.
Cinque, Conrad, and Gus meet up with Alan Quinn, who reveals that he is actually a CIB (Concord Intelligence Bureau) agent, though he was technically working undercover for REC when they last met. Donald Gettys remains a person of interest. Sharkie has been scouting traders for transport runs from Lucullus and Alan suspects the Free Trade Guild are again involved. Mayhem later secures a contact on Highport from Sharkie.
The trio visit Alloy with gifts. Mayhem gives them a lift to Sirensea in the Diandes Archipelago, where they meet Deputy Ambassador Naar al-Haq. Information is exchanged, goodies offloaded, and rewards promised. A cryptic suggestion sends them back to Haven 6, followed by a trip to the officially non-existent Haven 23, where Conrad buys some new toys.
Gus meets with someone at a legal firm. Turns out Ayla Vych-Taron had come through with contact details for Michael Taron’s secretary, Ms. Angela Fenrir. However, they were included as part of a contract, which resulted in Gus taking ownership of Immersive Visions and Ferrous Equine Holdings. The first turned out to be Michael’s personal company; the second, a shell used to funnel money to So’ledrei, who collects funds to help sesheyan escape VoidCorp territory. Checking out VI’s office does not go as planned. A hasty retreat is beaten after Gus naively reconnects offline systems, drawing unwanted attention. However, they do learn of a VoidCorp operative codenamed V0RL. Cinque recalls that the Nariac cyber-mariner encountered beneath Islvych mentioned “Veezro Arel”, which sounds suspiciously similar.