At SD 197-07-01 (July 1st, SD 197) we see Dea Htuhok-Kho, now the chairman of the EDF Home Guard in Ekosiak after replacing Shato, checking some data in her computer about Dana, one of the members of the Ekosiak's security forces, in a attempt to find any clues involving Governor Genyanaka in the whole Aito's conspiracy, but she notes something really strange about it: All the data about him were changed, and she cannot get any backup files either, even after checking out the online library and she also notice not only Dana's file were altered, almost all the ConFed's data were also altered as well, to the grade there's no way to continue with the investigation now that the vital files aren't there anymore.
Later on, Dea calls Col. Hitzok by videophone and she tell him the whole situation and he quickly verified what she said in his computer. In that moment, Hitzok went straight to his office and he request loudly to his coworkers to check their personal files on their computers and make quick back-ups, not to mention comparation summaries, as the Net was compromised by someone else, something that Hitzok's fellow workers cannot believe, because the Net cannot be hacked by anyone in-universe. Once Hitzok is in his office, he make a phone call to Governor Genyanaka to warning her about the hacking, but Genyanaka coldly rebbutes the Colonel's advice and she quickly accuse him of being the one behind the hacking and also she also found incriminating information she could use against him anytime.
After hearing such a threat, Col. Hitzok quickly orders his men to record his conversation with the governor, but, in a very smug attitude, she blatantly mocks him out and she orders an aide of her to keep an eye on him, so he couldn't do anything against her, and gloating about it in Hitzok's face. Once the conversation with her was over, Hitzok orders to continue with the Net's check-up, while one of his men tell him that after a very careful analysis, he didn't anything amiss, but he sided with his boss that the information was altered by someone else, but he doesn't know the reasons and he cannot prove it, something that he agrees, as everyone there in Hitzok's office knows that someone hacked the Net and without and independed source, he cannot prove a thing. And, to make matter worse, Genyanaka is using his version as a proof of him being involved into a criminal conspiration against her and she will try to involve both Dea and the whole ConFed to it. Hitzok's assistant points out they should do something for defending themselves, something that Hitzok finds difficult since, now that the Net was hacked, the official events can be changed and bringing the real ones will only incriminate them. The assistant adds Hitzok himself is very popular within the population of Ekosiak and Genyanaka herself cannot jail him so easily, but she could get rid of him by involving him and his closer ones into "unfortunate accidents". After realizing how dangerous Genyanaka can be, Hitzok order his men to sent bodyguards to his family, as Hitzok's official chapperon will likely not object about it. He also request some men for protecting Dea, as she could be a target of anti-EDF "terrorist" forces, and while he still doesn't have a proof of Genyanaka being involved in the whole conspiracy, he is also afraid anyone closer to him will suffer the consequences of the whole mess.
Later on, Hitzok and his men came to Dea's office, offering her their protection, something that Dea herself find it somewhat overkill, but Hitzok wants to protect her anyways, now that the Net is now hacked and no one is safe, as the EDF could fabricate anything and even dissapear them in an instant. Obviously enough, Dea is worried about this, but Hitzok wants to protect the life of the woman he loves, despite Hitzok being a Canine and Dea a Vulpine. After they slept together in the same bed, Hitzok gets up from the bed first and talks to one of his men outside Dea's residence.
Meanwhile in Ish-tako, a year later, we see Erma going to a flying mission in an aerodyne, while leaving her son Rojigo with Toki, something lampshaded by her, as she points out she could take care of the baby, rather than Keena and the members of the Ish-tako's care center, but Erma warns Toki she also had her own duties as well other than taking care of babies. Obiviously enough, Rojigo doesn't want to separate from her mother when Erma was ready to go. Later on in the air base, Alfon came close to Toki and mentions out the baby she got in her hands. Toki went somewhat philosophical since she points out Erma really loves to fly, and while some pilots fly because it's fun for them, Erma flies because it's what she does, in Toki's own words, not to mention her job as Squadron Commander as well. Meanwhile, Rojigo is having a fun time stretching Toki's very large whiskers and pulling out Alfon's lips for extra fun. After that, Toki discuss with Alfon about Erma's life with him, and while Alfon agrees Erma is a very good mother, she hasn't found a balance between being a soldier and a mother as well, while Alfon also points her squadron can also help her to take care of the baby as well. Meanwhile, Rojigo is playing with a spoon and he throws it out straight to another pilot's dinner.
Three months prior, Itzak Arrat ends in a self-sufficient Enchawah Corp's mining colony trying to adapt himself to a new life outside the EDF and he wonder if he did the right thing and he fears that many of his former crewmembers will not be able to make it alive outside of the hands of the EDF and even if they did it, the culture shock would probably do it for them instead. Later on, Captaint Chanda appears apologizing for not being with him, as he was busy doing business out there, and he offers a offer for him: Offering the captaincy of a spare spaceship for him, something he refuses at first, because he's a military officer, not a glorified freighter, until Chanda explains the ship belongs to Enchawah. Arrat doubts about the offer, as he distrusts Enchawah due to its MegaCorp origins, and while Chanda himself is not a member of the company, Enchawah provides capital to him and sometimes, a hideout when the things goes south for him, something that creeps Arrat out a bit, afraid if the thing could go bad for him as well. In any case, Arrat asks if he can choose his own crew, something that Chanda was expecting him to say.
Meanwhile, a month later in a undisclosed ConFed secret test site in the middle of the outer space, we see the EDF trying to reverse engineering the engine of the human spaceship as a potential weapon of mass destruction taking advantage of its matter conversion abilities. On that moment, two members of the design team, a Feline and a Vulpine were discussing about the current details of the weapon and how they managed to design it in a very advanced state, despite being an experimental prototype and they will finish a operational version by the end of the year. Other developments based on the ship are coming in a slower pace, as they can't reverse-engineer the sensors, despite understanding its physics. They also discovered the Creators are also able to manipulate materials to quantum levels, and such level of sotisfication plays a role in such sensors. The Vulpine asks if they have found something about... the female human corpse, and if she was related with the Creators themselves, something the Feline replies with a no, at least, not conclusively, but he cannot avoid think she could be related with them, as all the clues they found in her body and in her ship leads to the same conclusion. They also cannot avoid feeling creeps each time they see her corpse inside a medical container.
Four months later, now we see Tahdi, the daughter of Col. Tom Dannahasham, with her current boyfriend, Ipcha Tankannahai discussing about their future and she tells Tankannahai her dad is involved into some kind of project, along being promoted as well, and not only Tankannahai could get into the ILR military academy, but also in the ILR military forces as well. Tankannahai is obviously not thrilled to hear that, despite being aware the ILR need some manpower, but Tahdi tells the advantages of working with him, as he could finish his studies in nine weeks, rather than taking a years-long course. Tankannahai refuses at first, because he is not going to be army's cannon-fodder, as he dreams to be an engineer instead. Tahdi tries to convince him by consider the offer as a favor from her father and it would boost his reputation, now that Tahdi's father knows that they are planning to get married later on. Tankannahai finally agreeds with her and he decides to talk with her father about the topic.
Once in Col. Tom Dannahasham's house, he discusses his concerns about the job he is offering to Tankannahai, and while he cannot go to details, other than Tankannahai's decision will not affect his thoughts about him trying to marry Tahdi. He also gives some of the drawbacks, including not receiving allowance for any spouse or dependants in the case they got married, so Tahdi will live with her family or his and he will be lucky if he see her once a month when classes start and, after finishing the course, he could still study through on-duty training, so, after four years, he could be captain of engineers with an excellent war record rather than a Desk Jockey out from the academy.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: It's more than obvious Col. Tom doesn't like Tankannahai at all, judging by the way how he talks to him.
- Dead Guy on Display: The corpse of the human woman is on display inside a secret EDF base when the Matter Conversion Cannon was being built there.
- Femme Fatale: Governor Enko Genyanaka, a very beautiful woman, who is also ready to screw Hitzok and Dea's lives if she wish it.
- Fly in the Soup: Rojigo throws a spoon towards the dinner soup of another soldier when Erma was flying and both Toki and Alfon were taking care of them.
- Interspecies Romance: Between Onni Hitzok, a Canine (wolf) and Dea Htuhok-Kho, a Vulpine (vixen).
