Traq reunites with Oliver and Jim at Haven Station. Reveals fragments from entity connection: a collective intelligence that has consumed galaxies before. Outlines three priorities: investigate Vaalin system, influence politics to unite factions, and find whatever hurt the entity before.

Abigail waits while the researchers work, fighting the corruption's subtle new tactic of thinking in her thoughts. She makes coffee for the team. Haatim's smile devastates her with its simple preciousness.

Thomas Iscariot arrives with two thousand years of dimensional cartography — maps of the spaces between timelines, documenting the stress fractures that threaten reality.

Lucas Chen struggles to capture Kate's story in his book, battling the inadequacy of language. His breakthrough comes when he reveals the family secret: his great-grandmother Mei Lin Chen sealed a dimensional breach in 2187 and disappeared—170 years before Kate made her sacrifice.

The twelve colony ships - including Sanctuary - were lured into Dominion space. Alexis research reveals the truth: the Hollowing guided them there deliberately. Each corrupted Sanctuary that reached human space weakened the ancient seal further.

Kate's warning accuracy improved to 99%, but small incursion goes undetected—first time Kate misses one. Three soldiers die. Kate experiences psychological fracture. Nigel's testing shows neural patterns becoming anomalous. Chelsea notices Kate's deteriorating emotional state.

Nigel analyzes the ship impossible readings and realizes the AI has not been corrupted - it adapted. The system integrated the Hollowing as a normal variable, now serving the transformed colonists with modified protocols. Agricultural systems run above capacity to meet new nutritional requirements.

Marcus tracks the manuscript to Thomas Iscariot at Chicago Theological Seminary. Thomas is a quiet, haunted seminary student carrying two thousand years of inherited guilt and purpose.

Lyria reveals deeper history of archive theft 47 years ago - stolen autonomy research, Guardian-level wards bypassed, pulse of rogue Guardian power sensed 30 years ago. Sets foundation for Vera reveal.