For his heroics in saving Admiral Hanner, Tylor finds himself promoted, and given the position of captain aboard the battleship Soyokaze. But little does realize the Soyokaze is just a dumping ground for undesirables, and it's just a plan on the part of his superiors to get him out of their hair.

Tylor and the rest of the crew have been demoted. The crew therefore plead to him to appeal the high command's decision in person before a set time.

Everyone on the Soyokaze has heard the tales of how, years ago, a former captain of the Soyokaze and his crew went mad and commited suicide while patrolling the boondocks of space.

Unfortunately, the Soyokaze just happens to be patrolling the same sector of space, on the same date, at almost the same time that the original incident occured!

That can only mean one thing...