Decades have passed since an epidemic destroyed most of humanity. The few survivors took refuge in Russia—the last stronghold of the human world. Within its borders, life gradually returned to normal. All that remained beyond them was a wild, primordial world where there was nothing but death and desolation. At least, Lieutenant Goryn believed this—until he received another order: to retrieve a group of settlers beyond the border. From the place where survivors simply could not be.