The first habitable world settled through the ring gates, officially designated New Terra by the United Nations but called Ilus by the Belter colonists who arrived first. The planet becomes a flashpoint for the conflict between established authority and frontier independence when both a corporate survey team backed by Earth and the original Belter settlers claim rights to the world. Ilus harbours dormant protomolecule ruins beneath its surface, including ancient structures that activate when disturbed, triggering planet-wide catastrophes including tsunamis, toxic slugs, and the shutdown of all fusion reactors in orbit. The Rocinante crew is sent to mediate but becomes trapped in the crisis. Ilus demonstrates the dangers awaiting humanity in the ring gate worlds - not just from alien technology but from the ungovernable rush to claim new territory.