Something strange has again landed on Topside of the Planet Smar. The Great Council has hurriedly put a small team of “volunteers” together to seek out what it is and discover what it’s doing. Sergeant Ha’an, the reluctant leader and soul survivor of a previous expedition to encounter an object from the sky, leads his equally reluctant band of misfits on their perilous journey across Topside. On the way, they meet up with Nerak, a fearless explorer and scientist, and she joins them on their quest. They meet up with Tega, an old scout, who leads them to the landing site and their epic encounter with the strange machines and what lies within them. They battle with their own personal demons whilst forming a lasting friendship. Meanwhile, in the city of Below, an unscrupulous journalist tries her best to get her story no matter who gets hurt in the process whilst the equally unethical Information Bureau does its best to stop her. What does the Great Council really know about the objects from the sky, the ancient civilisation and where the answers are to be found?
Back on Topside and a chance discovery reunites our gang of misfits for a second perilous adventure. With Nerak and Karel remaining on Topside to watch their discovery, Tega meets with his old friends to meet up with the now-released professor Snikwah at the infamous resort of Rocby-on-Sea. There they meet up with Fisah, an old friend of Ha’ans.
Their journey will take them across the Sea of Despair, and along the Ancient Highway. What they find at the end of the Highway amazes and confuses them.
Below and in a secret scientific research centre, a strange device from the landing site emits sounds. Unaware of its significance and unsure of its risk to Below, the Hierarchy sends a reluctant Professor Xoc and the device on the fastest and most terrifying way across Topside to meet up with our crew.
Meanwhile, Raciv, head of the clerics, is aware of what secrets lie at the end of the Highway. He has deemed that no one finds out the truth about the National Library. Jes is despatched to make sure of this, but with his newfound knowledge and friendship with the once abandoned journalist Asil, will Jes obey or defy his master’s orders?
What has Asil discovered and just how far will she go to get revenge?
All this culminates in a historic meeting of Simians and Machine – which would bring about a new era for both.
A new era that will bring about events that will change things forever.
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