Chapter Six

Murderbot and the team discover a hatchway leading to an underground Pre-Corporation Rim installation beneath the terraforming site. After opening the hatch and investigating, they find evidence of an active Pre-CR facility with emergency lighting, a hangar with multiple landing platforms, and a parked aircraft—suggesting the missing colonists may have discovered and are sheltering in this ancient site despite its contamination risk.

The team uncovers a large hatch attached to an Adamantine-era landing pad that leads to a cargo receiving area for the original terraforming engine construction. After excavation reveals the hatch, Murderbot descends alone while Iris, Tarik, and Ratthi monitor from above. The cargo area contains two tunnels; one heads toward the terraforming installation while the other angles northeast. Following the second tunnel, Murderbot discovers it connects to a much larger Pre-Corporation Rim site with active emergency lighting—indicating power is still running. The Pre-CR tunnel widens into a massive hangar containing at least six landing platforms and a parked aircraft, suggesting the missing colonist splinter group may still be alive and sheltering here. Despite Murderbot's hesitation about the danger, Iris insists they must investigate. Tarik and Iris take a pre-positioned work vehicle deeper into the tunnels while Ratthi remains with the shuttle. During the drive, Iris reveals that Tarik was formerly a corporate combat squad member, which unsettles Murderbot. The group decides to proceed to the hangar entrance together, with Tarik and Iris providing necessary expertise for making contact with any surviving colonists. As they approach, Murderbot struggles with self-doubt about its competence, while tensions emerge regarding Tarik's previous role and Murderbot's own status within the team.