Nolan's search for Irisa brings him to Angel Arc, where he runs afoul of some old acquaintances. With Datak in prison Alak manages the family business, and Rafe finds the mines increasingly dangerous under Earth Republic control.

Upon their return to Defiance Irisa is arrested by the Earth Rep forces, while Nolan is tasked with investigating a terrorist bombing in the town market. Meanwhile, Datak tries to scheme his way out of prison.

Irisa grows more desperate about her condition when she appears to have committed a murder during a blackout, but continues to hide the truth from Nolan. Alak is caught between the ambitions of his mother and father, and Mayor Pottinger makes a new ally.

Following a humiliating attack in the badlands Pottinger orders Nolan to hunt down those responsible. Meanwhile, Datak reasserts his authority over Stahma and the family business.

When Amanda is terrorized by a stalker, she begins to wonder if her disturbing experiences are hallucinations. Yewll receives an Indogene visitor from her past, and Stahma makes Rafe a proposal.

After a Votan ship crashes near Defiance Pottinger asks Nolan for help in recovering its precious cargo -- only to discover a creature of war escaped and on a rampage. Stahma considers a feminist revolution for the Castithan wives, and Tommy witnesses the creature inside of Irisa at work.

After his mistress turns up dead on Datak's doorstep the Tarr family searches for her killer. Irisa seeks out a fellow Irathient who has appeared to her in visions, but who evidently has no idea who she is, and Alak grows suspicious of his wife.

Nolan interrogates a man suspected of spying for the Votanis Collective in order to prevent a nuclear attack on New York. But Amanda is blackmailed by a stranger holding her sister, demanding she help the prisoner escape.

After Kenya Rosewater returns to Defiance Doc Yewll tries to help her recover her missing memories -- while concealing her own secrets. Meanwhile a shocked Stahma searches for evidence of Keyna's fate a year ago.

A cave-in at the mine traps Amanda and Pottinger underground, and Nolan interrupts Irisa stealing from the Earth Republic. While Alak seeks to reconcile with Christie, his mistress makes it clear she won't take 'No' for an answer.

When Nolan is forced to leave town in search of Irisa, Amanda is deputized to help investigate a very public murder.

Stahma and Datak are abducted on the eve of reconciling, and Amanda finds herself in a moral quagmire. The McCawley kids are reunited with their mother, and Nolan attempts to reach Defiance in time to save Tommy's life. Elsewhere, Yewll makes a stunning discovery beneath the surface.

Nolan finds himself at odds with his friends and the Earth Republic when he plans to save Irisa's life and stop Kaziri the terraforming of the planet -- which has already started with New York City. Doc Yewll returns to Defiance, and Christie's mother tries to convince her and Alak to leave town with her.