Chapter One

Murderbot arrives at HaveRatton Station after an exhausting journey on a transport where it reluctantly served as security for arguing contract laborers. Upon discovering news about the abandoned GrayCris terraform facility on Milu and Dr. Mensah's involvement in investigations, Murderbot decides to investigate Milu to gather evidence against GrayCris, discovering that direct transport routes have been discontinued but identifying a mysterious supply ship as a potential way to reach the station.

Murderbot has developed a pattern of poor luck with bot-driven transports. After missing ART (the research vessel that previously employed it), Murderbot boards a passenger transport to HaveRatton Station, reluctantly becoming onboard security when it lists itself as a security consultant on the manifest. Over twenty-six cycles, it breaks up numerous fights among contract laborers headed to a labor installation, growing increasingly frustrated. At HaveRatton Station, Murderbot rents a private rest cubicle and reviews recent newsbursts about the GrayCris attack on DeltFall and Dr. Mensah's televised comments. Mensah mentions Milu, a location outside the Corporation Rim where GrayCris abandoned a terraform project, and expresses intent to urge an investigation. Murderbot theorizes that GrayCris may have used the terraform facility as cover for mining alien remnants, and decides to travel to Milu to gather evidence that could redirect media attention away from itself and help Dr. Mensah. However, standard transport schedules to Milu have been discontinued except from HaveRatton. Searching updated schedules yields no direct routes, but Murderbot identifies a small bot-piloted cargo ship scheduled to leave within the next cycle with no listed destination—likely a private supplier to Milu station. Murderbot plans to investigate this ship to arrange passage, aware of the security risks involved given GrayCris's potential continued presence on the station.