Seven years in the making, a timeframe that would make George RR Martin proud, here is Part 5! Captain Nathan Daniels and KII agent Winnette are deep in hostile territory, facing a dilemma. Jeremy James, Nathan’s estranged brother, is a puppet of the ruthless Admiral Sokolov, forced to hunt Nathan and Princess Remini under threat of a detonating neural implant. Their desperate plan: stage a dramatic capture on the Nola’s cargo ramp, tricking Sokolov into believing Jeremy—and by extension, the Princess—is dead, all while blocking the deadly signal with a cutting-edge Neutralizer. But the success of their deception thrusts them into the rigid, ritualistic world of the Verstatan, where Princess Remini remains inexplicably catatonic and her mentor, Omany, faces a trial for treason. Nathan and Winnette embark on an arduous, two-day pilgrimage across a scorching desert and up treacherous mountain cliffs to the enigmatic Verstatan Temple, a place humming with ancient, powerful energies. Every step is a test, every ritual a hidden message. Can they truly escape Sokolov's reach, and what will happen with Omany's trial