The end of the third millennium. The hundred-year war with the Lemurians, descendants of earthling colonists who had mastered the secrets of genetic plasticity, depleted the Confederation of Earth, Mars, Venus and the worlds of the Periphery. And somewhere on the horizon, the allies of the Lemurians still loom - the Atlanteans, who have digitized consciousness. The only thing that has so far saved the Confederacy from defeat is the Victorian Order, an association of people with telepathic abilities. Mark Sullivan at one time did not want to join the order - an empath with a low R- and O-indices has nothing to count on there. But he did not refuse the mission proposed by the head of Victorian foreign intelligence. Father Francesco, Mark's lyceum mentor, died in the outer space. It is possible that a missionary from Geoda, one of the most mysterious planets in the Periphery, is involved in the case. Mark is hinted that if he succeeds in accusing the Geodian of murder, the weak empath has a chance to significantly develop his abilities and occupy a very high position in the order...