[1] Software designer Scott Warden is living with his family in early twenty-first century Thailand after his latest contract has ended.

Pro-Kuin and anti-Kuin political movements spring up, leading to the rise of economic problems, fatalistic cults, and open war.

Scott has become entangled with his former teacher and mentor Sue Chopra, a scientist who has assembled a team of fellow researchers to investigate the chronoliths and learn to predict their appearances.

Sue Chopra comes to believe that Kuin has made the chronoliths in order to inspire fear and defeatism, making the future victories inevitable by gaining support ahead of time.

A militant faction led by Adam Mills attacks their base of operations, takes Chopra hostage, and menaces Scott's family.