In “Expedition into the Unknown”, Wilys Qwen, and his bride Marja Thoma-si, venture on their first archeological expedition to Relkin 5. In the mountains overlooking a wide valley of grass they find a massive city in ruins; but whoever lived there took everything with them when they left. Within the rubble they discover something beyond their wildest dreams; an ancient machine lying dormant among in what is presumed the last of the Predecessor’s laboratory installations.
In “Marja’s Quest”, Admiral Qwen offers Marja an opportunity to determine what really happened to her husband’s expedition. With assistance from a small picket ship and a band of friends she again descends into the mountain where they find the ancient machine still intact after all these years. They are astounded to find that one of the original members of the previous expedition has survived; but he’s not alone. Who else is out there waiting for them?
Although Marja finally discovers what really happened to her husband’s expedition, she also finds the end to her quest, and a new beginning.