Putting investigations of smugglers and ghosts on the back burner, the crew leave Mikoa to meet Jeff Lakons in Dewi. The October Corporation are owed millions by the moon-state of Lousanne but the mayor, Bastone Apple, refuses to acknowledge a writ of summons. He is holed up in a private compound just outside the abandoned city of Old Clearmont in the Cembria Highlands. Bounty accepted, they leave Afterglow Starport aboard a modified shuttle, piloted by Lara “Lightning” Harmeen.
After some orbital reconnaissance, a night assault is decided upon. As plans derail, Cinque and Gus turn the compound’s turrets against the defenders. Just as they the mayor is captured, several Dreth ships arrive. With things unravelling, the crew produce the writ of summons, but Apple protests his innocence. Commandant Griswold takes everyone into custody until he can get some straight answers.
The following day, he reveals the writ is spurious, although issued by someone within Torpoint’s legal system. The October Corporation is apparently a shell company; its only assets in the system being an empty bank account and the shuttle, which was imported last year for Transtate Industries. He tasks the crew with tracking down Lakons, reminding them that they stand guilty of multiple crimes against the state, so their performance will determine their fate. As further incentive, he reveals that Cinque was injected with nano-capsules while undergoing medical treatment for injuries sustained during the raid. These will release a neurotoxin in 96 hours. Conrad requests that a body-double for Apple accompany them, which the Commandant arranges. The trooper, codenamed Apple, might actually pass for the mayor at a distance. With the clock ticking, Lara flies everyone back to Afterglow Starport and the investigation gets underway.