Victor gives the crew of the Athena an assignment to help a research team on the old home world of Cunniculum Rocks. A researcher there believes there might be a tie between what happened to Cunniculum Rocks and what happened to Icrion.
The crew arrives and joins the research team. Splitting into two groups, they search for clues by examining the fossil record, examining the city ruins, compiling astrological data, and examining unearthed historic records. They make the following discoveries.
In addition to these facts, the team also found a remarkably well preserved military bunker. Exploring the bunker, they found a single human preserved in a bio pod. Upon releasing him, he rapidly mummified and started releasing some sort of mist. He also became violent and attacked. He seemed unfazed by having his head shot off, but was subdued by blowing off his legs and arms. However, the mist he was emitting continued to advance in a strangely intelligent manner and proved corrosive. The crew was able to evacuate and capture some of the mist in a canister by reversing the oxygen pumps that were pumping air into the chamber. The rest of the mist condensed into a slug like creature and started eating it's way out of containment. The chamber was sealed in by collapsing the tunnel with demolitions.