After spending time in New Zion training and gathering equipment, the adventurers board the Titanian spaceship Dainty Mauler for their trip to Sheol. The takeoff is rough, but is nothing compared to how they get to the moon. Instead of landing on Sheol, they and their supplies (and Titanian liaison, Blammo) are to be shot of out a giant cannon while encased in bizarre, time-distorting substance. Zerachiel suggests that it is First Ones technology.

After bouncing across the surface, their 'gumballs' dissolve and they set up camp in anticipation of the brief night. Despite being a tiny moon, Sheol has air and gravity like Abaddon, but is covered in sand and gravel. Blammo and Layth try to hunt up dinner while Tasha and Akkers head for higher ground to get their bearings. Gabriel points out a line of debris that points the way to the base, which is hidden beyond the too-close horizon.

Layth and Blammo turn up a strange crablike creature made of glass, which the Titanian tries to eat anyway. With rations for dinner, they turn in for the short night and break camp soon after.

The trek to the downed carrier, Orpheus, is short, and they soon come to the foot of gigantic spaceship. They find a ground level door that's been torn open, and prepare to investigate.