While escorting a Commonwealth convoy, Andromeda encounters a group of Nietzschean ships engaged in a battle – the Drago-Kazov are fighting a group of Nietzscheans that Tyr identifies as "orphans", Nietzscheans without a Pride. Three of these ships move towards Andromeda: A Dragan fighter chasing two other fighters. The Dragan destroys one of the others, then fires on the Andromeda. Andromeda destroys the Drago-Kazov, and takes the remaining fighter into her hangar.

Gaiton, the pilot of the fighter, tells Dylan and Tyr that the Drago-Kazov think that the other Nietzscheans have found "Deep Midnight's Voice", a Nietzschean slip-scout that was sent out before the Fall to map the slipstream. This map would be extremely valuable.

Tyr tells Dylan that the legend of Deep Midnight's Voice has circulated among his people. Dylan is surprised that he has not heard of it before. Tyr asserts that the information that it would hold is powerful enough that if the Drago-Kazov had found it, the Sabra-Jaguar pride would ally with them immediately.

Rommie explains to the crew that the map would take the guesswork out of slipstream navigation, so that AIs could navigate it as well as organic pilots.

Gaiton tells Tyr that the Drago-Kazov wiped out his (Gaiton's) family, and he wants Tyr to ally with him.

Dylan and Tyr interrogate Gaiton further. Dylan clearly does not trust Gaiton, who taunts Tyr until Tyr resorts to hitting him.

Through an in-depth analysis of the available information, Rommie extrapolates a possible location of the slip-scout. They set a course and transit to slipstream, but find they are being followed by Nietzscheans. Dylan orders Andromeda to jettison some cargo. The Nietzscheans collide with this, and are destroyed.

When the Andromeda arrives at the system, Rommie quickly locates the probe's crash site, on an inhabited, but "primitive" planet. The planet has radio communications, but not space travel. By examining her database and listening to the radio chatter, she discovers that the planet is, in fact, a colony seeded with humans from Earth by the Perseids, thousands of years ago. However, they have long since lost contact, and this origin has degenerated into an "alien myth" that few people believe. They have not discovered the probe.

Dylan prepares to take Beka, Tyr, and Gaiton to the planet. Rommie is worried about the problems that can occur in First Contact situations, but Dylan reassures her that they do not plan to make contact with the locals.

Harper, having monitored the radio communications with Rommie's assistance, provides the group with fake IDs to allow them to pose as tourists. He also provides "emulators" – real-time, two-way translating devices. Dylan reminds them that they intend to keep contact minimal.

Rommie suggests that they could "update" the planet's technology fairly easily, but Dylan insists that the social structure would not be there, and that the universe is too dangerous a place for a new civilization right now.

The Maru lands at night, so that any observers will take it for a falling star. Dylan confides to Beka that he hopes that Tyr will be able to get information out of Gaiton. Tyr and Gaiton are nervous about the fact that Dylan made them leave their weapons behind.

While searching the surface for the probe, the group hears voices. Dylan sends Tyr and Gaiton to locate the slip-scout while he and Beka will deal with the locals. He tells them to meet back at the Maru, and Beka reminds them that she has the Maru keyed to her DNA code.

A woman, Tori, an astronomer, finds Dylan and Beka. Beka feigns dizziness, and Tori calls for her companion, Dr. Semel. When Semel arrives, Beka plays the "dumb blonde" to the hilt, to gain sympathy. Tory asks if they were here because of the falling star, but Dylan says they are just tourists. She takes them to their observatory, where they can get water and rest.

Gaiton asks Tyr why he serves Dylan. Tyr insists that he does not serve anyone.

Tori tells Dylan of the "alien myth", but he claims ignorance. She is a strong believer in the myth, and does not believe that they are alone in the universe. Semel, however, does not believe it.

Andromeda detects a slipstream event in the outer system – the Nietzscheans have arrived.

Tori is pointing out stars to Dylan, and they seem to be getting close, when they are interrupted by Amory, a government supervisor at the observatory. Dylan's communications bracer beeps, and he excuses himself to check on Beka, who he finds getting friendly with the doctor. He pulls her away, and tells her that the Nietzscheans are in the system and he is concerned that Tory saw his bracer. He tells Beka that he wants to tell Tory the truth.

Gaiton continues to taunt Tyr, until he provokes Tyr to physical violence. Gaiton then admits that he is a Drago-Kazov spy, sent to bring an answer to Tyr, and the answer is "Yes".

Dylan explains slipstream, the Commonwealth, etc. to Tori, and she is overwhelmed. She wants to know everything, and tell the rest of her world. Dylan cautions her that she cannot tell – it is too dangerous right now. Amory, however, overhears the conversation, and calls back to his supervisor.

Dylan and Beka prepare to leave, and Semel gives Beka a field phone, in case of emergency. Before they can depart, Amory moves in with soldiers, to attempt to take Dylan and Beka into custody, but they overpower the soldiers and run.

Tyr and Gaiton find Deep Midnight's Voice, and the map data. A squad of soldiers finds them there, but Tyr and Gaiton take them out.

Andromeda notifies Dylan that the Nietzscheans are headed towards the planet. They hurry back towards the Maru. Dylan insists that they need to keep the civilization on the planet and the Nietzscheans from finding out about each other.

At the Maru, Gaiton tells Tyr that he thinks that the map should not be given to a non-Nietzschean. He tells Tyr that he has heard rumours that the genetic reincarnation of Drago Museveni has been born. He then goes a step further, and admits that the Dragans sent him to get Tyr to lead him to Tammerlaine. He thinks that he and Tyr should use the map and Tammerlaine to seize power for themselves. Without hesitation, Tyr draws his gun and kills Gaiton.

Andromeda confronts the Nietzschean ship, and Trance issues an ultimatum, but they do not respond. Trance orders Andromeda to prepare missiles, but the Nietzschean turns to leave. However, as they are celebrating, the ship turns back towards the planet. Trance contacts Dylan on the Maru, and explains the situation. Dylan tells her to use Andromeda's Exotic Matter Pulsers, and aim them at the sun. This causes a solar flare which destroys the Nietzschean ship, and disrupts communications on the planet enough for the Andromeda to rescue the Maru undetected.

Tori wants to come along, but Dylan declines. He does, however, give her a flexi, so that she can examine it and "invent" the technology, then he kisses her goodbye.

When Rommie analyzes the probe, she observes that someone has already made a copy of the map. She has also been informed that the Drago-Kazov have started establishing bases, preparing for war. Dylan suggests that they wait and watch before acting.

Dylan finds Tyr in his quarters, and informs him that it is "time for a chat".