Wyman Ford is called up for an expedition to Cambodia to locate beautiful gemstones that do not appear to be of this world. Meanwhile, a brilliant meteor lights up the Maine coast. Two women borrow a boat and set out for an island to find the impact crater. A scientist at the National Propulsion facility discovers an inexplicable source of gamma rays in the outer Solar System. He is found decapitated and the data missing. High resolution NASA images reveal an unnatural feature hidden in the depths of the crater on Mars - and it appears to have been activated.