Captain Rivik arrives on a barren planet where his crew is paralyzed by fear, having discovered that the ground is not just dirt but part of a sentient mycelial network. After investigating the scene, he learns that the chief botanist has disappeared into the ground, revealing the planet's hostile nature. Just as Rivik plans to destroy the planet and mine for Verudium from the debris, a psychic blast emanates from the planet, killing most of his crew and leaving him enraged. Determined to eliminate the threat, Rivik orders the preparation of nuclear warheads to obliterate the planet.